KILLER PROTISTS

PLASMODIUM

• It causes malaria through the vector of a mosquito
• Gives around 300-500 million cases of malaria every year
• Causes 1.5-2.7 million deaths a year mostly in South America or Africa
• It gives you headaches, fever, vomiting and flu like symptoms
• It lives in the blood stream and kills blood cells by clogging capillaries

TRYPANOSOMA

• The vector is the tse tse fly
• It occurs mostly in sub Saharan Africa
• It causes fevers, headaches, and joint pain
• Then it attacks the central nervous system and causes confusion,
• Uncontrolled sleepiness, uncoordination without treat ment host will die

GIARDIA

• Caused by protists in unclean water like in streams and outdoor water
• Causes very severe diarrhea and vomiting
• It lives in the hosts digestive tract and causes a lot of harm
• Uses flagellum to navigate through digestive tract

CRYPTSPORIDIUM

• Caused a major health problem in Detroit when their water was contaminated
• Causes gastrointestinal illness with diarrhea in humans
• The protist that is isolated in HIV positive patients with diarrhea
• Treatment is fluid rehydration, pain management and electrolyte replenishment
• Usually short term but can be fatal and long lasting for younger people

CITATIONS

• http://www.biologycorner.com/bio1/parasitic-protists.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptosporidium