Common Protozoan Diseases in Humans

Introduction

Protozoal illness is a parasitic infection caused by protozoans. Although these organisms may spend their lives in humans, many carry out part of their reproductive cycle in insects or other hosts. Mosquitoes, for example, are vectors of plasmodium, the parasite that causes malaria. Entamoeba, Giardia lamblia, and sleeping sickness are other terms for the same thing.

Protozoan allergies are parasitic diseases caused by organisms previously classed as members of the kingdom protozoa. Contact with an infected item or surface is the most common way to contact them, and they include species from the supergroups excavate, Amoebozoa, SAR, and Archaeplastida.

Diseases caused by protozoan infections impact many different creatures, including plants, animals, and certain marine life. A protozoan infection causes many of the most common and severe human diseases, including African sleeping sickness, amoebic dysentery, and malaria.

The commonly known “protozoa” species are not closely related and have just a superficial resemblance (eukaryotic, unicellular, motile, though with exceptions). In current biosciences, the labels “protozoa” (and “protist”) are largely avoided. In medicine, however, this word is still used. This is due in part to the conservative attitude of medical categorization and the necessity of making organism identifications based on morphology.

Malaria

Malaria is an infectious disease spread by mosquitoes that affect people and other animals. Malaria is characterized by fever, exhaustion, vomiting, and headaches. It can cause coma, seizures, yellow skin, or death in severe cases.

Cause

The Plasmodium infection causes malaria. Infected mosquitoes can transmit the infection to humans through bites. Although there are numerous Plasmodium parasites, only five cause malaria in humans.

Symptoms 

• A high temperature of 38°C or above is one of the symptoms
• High body temperature and shivering
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Muscular spasms

Prevention

Malaria may typically be avoided by following the ABCD preventative strategy, which stands for: Risk awareness — determine whether you are at risk of contracting malaria. Bite prevention – use mosquito repellent, cover your arms and legs, and sleep under a mosquito net to avoid mosquito bites.

African trypanosomiasis

African trypanosomiasis, commonly called African sleeping sickness or just sleeping sickness, is a parasite ailment spread by insects that affect humans and other animals. Trypanosoma brucei is the organism that causes it. Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (TBG) and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense are the two kinds that infect humans (TbR).

Cause

African Trypanosomiasis is caused by tiny parasites of the Trypanosoma brucei species, known as “sleeping sickness.” The tsetse fly (Glossina species), only found in Sub-Saharan Africa, transmits the disease.

Symptoms

Sleep sickness symptoms include fever, severe headaches, irritability, intense weariness, swollen lymph nodes, and aching muscles and joints. Some people get a rash on their skin. After an infection, the central nervous system causes progressive disorientation, personality changes, and other neurologic disorders.

Prevention

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and slacks, as well as other protective clothes
• Dress in a neutral color scheme
• Before entering, inspect vehicles for tsetse flies
• Bushes should be avoided
• Insect repellent should be used

Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a parasite disease occurring in tropical and subtropical areas and southern Europe. It’s considered a tropical sickness that’s gone unnoticed (NTD). Infection with Leishmania parasites causes leishmaniasis, spread through the bite of phlebotomine sand flies.

Cause

Infection with Leishmania parasites causes leishmaniasis, spread through the biting of infected sand flies. Leishmaniasis is a disease that affects people in a variety of ways.

Symptoms

• Weight loss 
• Weakness
• A fever that lasts for several weeks or months
• Spleen enlargement

Prevention

• The insecticide should be sprayed in sleeping places indoors
• Sleep on a building’s higher floors
• Between dusk and dawn, stay indoors

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection caused by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, one of the world’s most widespread parasites. Eating undercooked contaminated meat, contacting infected cat feces, or mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy are the most common ways to become infected.

The infection spreads by eating undercooked contaminated meat, contacting infected cat feces, or passing from mother to kid during pregnancy.

Symptoms

• Seizures
• The liver and spleen are enlarged
• The skin and eyes turn yellow (jaundice)
• Infections in the eyes are severe

Prevention

• When gardening or handling soil, wear gloves
• Meat that is raw or undercooked should not be consumed
• Kitchen utensils should be carefully cleaned
• All fruits and vegetables should be washed

Cryptosporidiosis

Cryptosporidiosis (often abbreviated as Crypto) is a highly contagious intestinal ailment. Cryptosporidium protozoa, which grow in the intestines of humans and other animals and are excreted through the stool, cause it.

Cause

It’s caused by Cryptosporidium protozoa, which are minute germs. Cryptosporidium can be discovered in water, food, soil, or on surfaces or filthy hands that have been contaminated with the parasite’s excrement from humans or animals.

Symptoms

• Cramps or pain in the stomach
• Dehydration
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever

Prevention

• After using the restroom and changing diapers, and before handling or eating any food, wash your hands
• While swimming, avoid swallowing water
• After coming into contact with farm animals, pets, animal waste, or animal habitats, wash your hands
• Untreated water from lakes, rivers, springs, ponds, and streams should not be consumed

Conclusion 

Parasitic diseases have huge health, social, and economic impact and are especially prevalent in tropical areas. Malaria and schistosomiasis, both caused by protozoa and helminths, account for most parasite-related illness and mortality, with an estimated 1.1 million fatalities per year. The lack of licensed vaccinations adds to the global burden of these diseases, making safe and effective medications essential for their prevention and treatment. Unfortunately, where treatments are available, parasite drug resistance poses a growing danger to their effectiveness. A global need for new medications drives antiparasitic drug discovery research, and it necessitates a variety of inventive tactics to ensure a long-term pipeline of lead compounds.