Protozoa are single-celled eukaryotic microorganisms that can cause various infections in humans. They often inhabit water, soil, and other moist environments and can be parasitic.
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Protozoa are classified into groups such as amoeboids, flagellates, ciliates, and sporozoans based on their movement mechanisms.
Entamoeba histolytica is a protozoan responsible for amebic dysentery, a severe gastrointestinal infection.
Giardia lamblia causes giardiasis, characterized by diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea.
Transmission of protozoan infections typically occurs through contaminated food or water or via insect vectors.
Protozoa have complex life cycles often involving multiple hosts and stages such as trophozoite (active) and cyst (dormant) forms.
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Related terms
Amoeboids: A group of protozoa that move using pseudopodia.