Killer Protists
By: Alyssa Hoppie
Plasmodium
Plasmodium is a protist that causes the deadly disease called malaria. About 300-500 million cases of malaria occur each year. If malaria is not treated it can become very deadly. Roughly 1.5-2.7 people died from malaria each year. Malaria occurs mainly in Africa. Malaria is carried by mosquitoes who have bitten infected people. The parasites multiply quickly in the liver and attack the red blood cells. After getting malaria, symptoms began to appear about two weeks after. Symptoms include, fever, headache, and vomiting. The protists live in the bloodstream and eventually clog the capillaries and leads to death.
Trypanosoma
Trypanosoma is a protist that causes the disease of African sleeping sickness. This disease is transmitted into humans through the tsetse fly. This disease occurs mostly in the Sub- Saharn Africa. Symptoms include fever, join pain, headaches, followed by confusion, lack of coordination, and uncontrolled sleepiness. Without treatment the human will die.
Amoebic Dysentery
This infection is caused by the protist Entamoeba histolytica. It is transmitted by consumed contaminated water and food or by not washing your hands and disinfecting. Symptoms include diarrhea, bloating, dehydration, abdominal cramps, and weight loss.
Giardiasis
This protist causes diarrhea. The protist infection is transmitted by humans coming in contact with other infected humans. It can also be transmitted when a person does not wash their hands or keep proper hygiene. Symptoms include vomiting, bad breath, and abdominal cramps.