Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Tractable Mammalian Cell Infections with Protozoan-primed Bacteria
13:54

Tractable Mammalian Cell Infections with Protozoan-primed Bacteria

Published on: April 2, 2013

Zoonotic enteric protozoa

R C A Thompson1, A Smith

  • 1WHO Collaborating Centre for the Molecular Epidemiology of Parasitic Infections, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia. a.thompson@murdoch.edu.au

Veterinary Parasitology
|July 30, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Many enteric protozoa can spread from animals to humans, but their impact and spread require more research. This review examines Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba, Blastocystis, and Balantidium for zoonotic potential.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary medicine
  • Infectious diseases
  • Parasitology

Background:

  • A rising number of enteric protozoan species are recognized for their zoonotic potential.
  • The clinical significance and epidemiological patterns of these infections, especially the role of animal hosts, remain inadequately understood.
  • Further research into the transmission dynamics and host-parasite interactions is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on the zoonotic potential of select enteric protozoa.
  • To examine the life cycles, transmission routes, and clinical significance of Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba, Blastocystis, and Balantidium.
  • To explore the implications of polyparasitism and the role of non-human hosts in the epidemiology of these protozoan infections.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on enteric protozoa.
  • Analysis of data concerning life cycles and transmission mechanisms.
  • Evaluation of clinical case reports and epidemiological surveys.

Main Results:

  • Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba, Blastocystis, and Balantidium exhibit varying degrees of zoonotic potential.
  • Incomplete understanding of transmission pathways and the contribution of animal reservoirs.
  • Polyparasitism and host-specific factors influence disease presentation and severity.

Conclusions:

  • Enteric protozoa pose a significant, yet often underestimated, zoonotic threat.
  • More research is needed to fully elucidate transmission cycles and clinical impacts.
  • Integrated approaches considering host-parasite biology and epidemiology are essential for control.

More Related Videos

Using the Protozoan Paramecium caudatum as a Vehicle for Food-borne Infections in Zebrafish Larvae07:49

Using the Protozoan Paramecium caudatum as a Vehicle for Food-borne Infections in Zebrafish Larvae

Published on: January 7, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
Amebiasis01:28

Amebiasis

Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...
Giardiasis01:12

Giardiasis

Giardiasis is a globally prevalent intestinal infection caused by the protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis (also known as G. lamblia or G. intestinalis). This flagellated protozoan is the most frequently identified intestinal parasite in the United States and worldwide. Transmission primarily occurs via the fecal-oral route, with infection arising from ingestion of water or food contaminated with cysts. Individuals in low-resource settings, international travelers, outdoor enthusiasts, daycare...
Toxoplasmosis01:28

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, poses significant public health challenges globally due to its high seroprevalence and varied clinical manifestations. As an obligate intracellular parasite, T. gondii can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates, but felids are its only definitive hosts, shedding unsporulated oocysts into the environment. Humans typically acquire the infection through ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat or oocysts from...
Diversity of Protists I01:15

Diversity of Protists I

Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
Diversity of Protists IV01:27

Diversity of Protists IV

Amoebozoa represent a diverse group of terrestrial and aquatic protists that utilize lobe-shaped pseudopodia for locomotion and feeding. This characteristic differentiates them from the Rhizaria, which possess threadlike pseudopodia. The primary classifications within Amoebozoa include gymnamoebas, entamoebas, and the plasmodial and cellular slime molds. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that Amoebozoa diverged from a lineage that ultimately gave rise to fungi and animals.Gymnamoebas and...