Protozoa are unicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms. they’re both loose-living or parasites. There are around 65000 species of protozoans labeled in distinct agencies. They lack a cell wall. there are numerous specific mobile organelles, that perform various obligations finished by using extraordinary organs in higher animals, e.g. mouth, anus, intestinal tract, etc.
There are numerous protozoa, that reason numerous sicknesses in animals and humans, e.g. Plasmodium (malarial parasite), Trypanosoma (slumbering sickness), Trichomonas (trichomoniasis), and many others.
The protozoa have many levels of their existence cycle. a number of the ranges of the lifestyles cycle are infectious.
The cyst degree is dormant and proof against environmental strain, the trophozoite degree is reproductive and causes disorder.
Desk of content material
Standard traits of Protozoa
Protozoa classification and Examples
Examples of illnesses caused by Protozoa
Protozoan diseases in humans
General characteristics of Protozoa
Habitat- Protozoa are observed within the aquatic surroundings. They stay in freshwater or oceans. a few are loose-living and some are parasitic in flowers and animals. mainly they’re cardio however a few are anaerobic and present in the rumen or human gut.
a number of the species are determined in excessive environments like hot springs. a number of them shape resting cyst to triumph over dry environments.
Length and shape- the scale and form of Protozoa vary significantly, from microbial (1µm) to massive enough and can be visible via the naked eye. The shell of unicellular foraminifera could have a diameter of 20 cm.
They lack a rigid mobile wall, so they may be flexible and discovered in various shapes. Cells are enclosed in a skinny plasma membrane. some of the species have a hard shell at the outer surface. In some of the protozoans specifically in ciliates, the cellular is supported with the aid of Pellicle, which may be bendy or rigid and provide organisms the particular shape and assist in locomotion.
mobile structure- they’re unicellular having a eukaryotic mobile. The metabolic capabilities are achieved with the aid of some specialized inner structures.
- They mostly have one membrane-certain nucleus within the cellular
- The nucleus has subtle appearance because of scattered chromatin, the vesicular nucleus contains a principal frame known as endosome or nucleoli. Nucleoli of apicomplexans have DNA, while amoeboids lack DNA of their endosome
- Ciliates have micronucleus and macronucleus
- The plasma membrane encloses the cytoplasm and other locomotory projections like flagella, pseudopodia and cilia
- A number of the genera have a membranous envelope known as pellicle, which offers a exact shape to the cellular. In some of the protozoans, epibiotic bacteria connect to the pellicle by their fimbriae
- The cytoplasm is differentiated into outer ectoplasm and inner endoplasm, ectoplasm is obvious and endoplasm consists of cell organelles
- Some of the protozoa have cytostome for eating food. food vacuoles are gift, wherein ingested meals comes. Ciliates have a gullet, a frame cavity which opens outside
- The relevant vacuole is gift for osmoregulation, that eliminates extra water
- Membrane-certain cell organelles, like mitochondria, Golgi our bodies, lysosomes and different specialised systems are present
Vitamins- Protozoa are heterotrophic and have holozoic vitamins. They ingest their food with the aid of phagocytosis. some of the protozoan agencies have a specialized shape known as cytostome for phagocytosis.
The pseudopodia of amoeboids assist in catching the prey. hundreds of cilia present in ciliates force the food-laden water into the gullet.
The ingested food involves the food vacuole and gets acted on via lysosomal enzymes. The digested meals receives dispensed throughout the cell.
Locomotion- most of the protozoa species have flagella, cilia or pseudopodia. Sporozoa, which don’t have any locomotory shape, have subpellicular microtubules, which assist inside the slow motion.
Lifestyles Cycle- The existence cycle of most of the protozoa alternates between dormant cyst stage and proliferating vegetative degree, e.g. trophozoites.
The cyst degree can continue to exist harsh situations without water and nutrients. it can stay outdoor the host for a longer period and get transmitted.
The trophozoite degree is infectious, and they feed and multiply for the duration of this degree.
Duplicate- on the whole they reproduce via asexual way. They multiply by using binary fission, longitudinal fission, transverse fission or budding.
In some of the species, sexual replica is present. The sexual reproduction is by way of conjugation, syngamy or by means of gametocytes formation.
Also see:
- MCQs on Protozoa
- MCQs on diseases due to Protozoa
Protozoa category and Examples
Protozoa is a phylum having unicellular heterotrophs. It comes underneath country Protista.
Protozoa are divided into four predominant businesses based totally on the structure and the part concerned in the locomotion:
1. Mastigophora or Flagellated protozoans:
- They’re parasites or free-living.
- They have got flagella for locomotion
- Their frame is included by way of a cuticle or pellicle
- Freshwater bureaucracy have a contractile vacuole
- Duplicate is by binary fission (longitudinal division)
- Examples: Trypanosoma, Trichomonas, Giardia, Leishmania, and so forth.
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