KILLER PROTISTS

GIARDIA

BACKGROUND

• Common name: Giardia lamblia
• Scientific name: Giardia intestinalis
• Causes Giardiasis

INFECTION

• Known as beaver fever
• Parasites inhabit digestive tract
• Transmitted from contaminated food and water sources

SYMPTOMS

• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Hematuria

AMoEBIC DYSENTERY

BACKGROUND

• Common name: Entamoeba histolytica
• Scientific name: Entamoeba histolytica
• Causes Amoebic Dysentery

INFECTION

• Transmitted through contaminated food and water
• Infecting 50 million worldwide
• Treatable

SYMPTOMS

• Diarrhea
• Severe colitis
• Abdominal bloating
• Dehydration
• Weight loss

Plasmodium

BACKGROUND

• Common name: Plasmodium
• Scientific name: Plasmodium falciparum
• Causes Malaria

INFECTION

• 300 million worldwide human infections
• Transmitted by female mosquitos
• No effective vaccine exists

SYMPTOMS

• Headache
• Fever
• Joint pain
• Vomiting
• Jaundice

trypanosoma

BACKGROUND

• Common name: Trypanosomiasis
• Scientific name: Trypanosoma brucei
• Causes sleeping sickness

INFECTION

• 40,000 human infections worldwide
• Transmitted by tsetse fly
• Also by bodily fluid exchange

SYMPTOMS

• Fever
• Headache
• Itchiness
• Confusion
• Insomnia