Biol 474: Microbiology
Names of Microorganisms: Protozoa
This list is designed to provide students with a working knowledge of parasitic species frequently involved in infection.
For more comprehensive descriptions and images of the diseases see the following government website: http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/DPDx/
SCIENTIFIC NAME PHYLUM GROUP DISEASE DESCRIPTION
1. Babesia microti Apicomplexa Apicomplexan,
Sporozoan
Babesiosis (a
malaria like disease)
Symptoms: Fever, chills, sweating, myalgias, fatigue,
hepatosplenomegaly, and hemolytic anemia.
Vector: Tick (Ixodes)
2. Cryptosporidium parvum Apicomplexa Apicomplexan Cryptosporidiosis Symptoms: Cholera-like diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, fever, and
fatigue.
3. Cyclospora cayetanensis Apicomplexa Apicomplexan, Cyclosporiasis Symptoms: Watery sometimes explosive diarrhea, substantial gas
production, bloating, loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, fever,
fatigue.
4. Cystoisospora belli
(Syn: Isospora belli)
Apicomplexa Apicomplexan Cystoisosporiasis
(Isosporiasis)
Symptoms: Acute nonbloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and pain,
malabsorption and weight loss with extended infection.
5. Plasmodium spp. Apicomplexa Apicomplexan Malaria Symptoms: Beginning with shaking chills, then burning fever, then
sweating. Remission for a few weeks to a few months. Relapse.
Vector: mosquito (Anopheles)
6. Toxoplasma gondii Apicomplexa Apicomplexan Toxoplasmosis Symptoms (Acute): Lymphadenopathy (Lymph node swelling) and
complications from tissue necrosis including retinitis (retina swelling)
7. Balantidium coli Ciliophora Ciliate Balantidiasis Symptoms: Persistent diarrhea, occasionally dysentery, abdominal pain,
and weight loss.
8. Acanthamoeba spp. Sarcomastigophora
Sub-phyla: Sarcodina
Amoeba Granulomatous
amebic encephalitis
Symptoms: Severe headache, fever, vomiting, and rapid progression to
coma and death.
9. Dientamoeba fragilis Sarcomastigophora
Sub-phyla: Mastigophora
Flagellate Dientamoeba
fragilis Infection
Symptoms: Diarrhea, abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, fatigue,
and weight loss.
10. Entamoeba histolytica Sarcomastigophora
Sub-phyla: Sarcodina
Amoeba Amebiasis Symptoms (Invasive intestinal amebiasis): Dysentery, colitis, and
appendicitis
Symptoms (Invasive extraintestinal amebiasis): Liver abscess, peritonitis,
pulmonary abscesses, and cutaneous lesions.
11. Giardia intestinalis
(syn: Giardia lamblia)
Sarcomastigophora
Sub-phyla: Mastigophora
Flagellate Giardiasis Symptoms (Acute): Diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and
vomiting.
12. Leishmania spp. Sarcomastigophora
Sub-phyla: Mastigophora
Flagellate Leishmaniasis Symptoms (Cutaneous): Raised or scabby sores and swollen glands.
Symptoms (Visceral): Fever, weight loss, and enlarged spleen and liver.
Vector: sandfly
13. Naegleria fowleri Sarcomastigophora
Sub-phyla: Sarcodina
Amoeba Primary amebic
meningoencephalitis
Symptoms: Severe headache, fever, vomiting, focal neurologic deficits and
rapid progression to coma and death.
