Any one of a large group of one-celled (unicellular) animals, including amoebas. They are microorganisms that differ from bacteria in that they are larger and possess a nucleus surrounded by a membrane. Several species of protozoa can be transmitted through water and cause disease in humans, including Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Entamoeba and Isospora. One distinguishing characteristic of protozoa is that when released from the human body through feces they are present in an encysted (dormant) form. These cysts have a protective layer that surrounds them and keeps chemicals from penetrating them. Therefore, chlorine disinfection does not kill the protozoan cysts. Also: Protozoa

	Babesiosis The Condition "...Babesiosis is a malaria-like illness caused by a protozoan parasite (Babesia microti in the U..." Blastocystosis (Blastocystis hominis) The Condition "...Blastocystis hominis is a protozoan microorganism which may or may not cause disease in people..." Dysentery Related Topic "An inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract, usually caused by a bacterial, parasitic, or protozoan infection and resulting in pain, fever, and severe diarrhea, often accompanied by the passage of blood and mucus..." Female Hair Loss The Condition "...Common causes of hair loss or hair thinning in women ... local viral, fungal, or protozoan infection..." Giardiasis Related Topic "An intestinal tract infection caused by Giardia lamblia, a flagellate protozoa now common to much of the world..." Giardiasis Infection The Condition "Giardiasis is a diarrheal illness caused by Giardia intestinalis (also known as Giardia lamblia), a one-celled, microscopic protozoan parasite that lives in the intestine of people and animals..." Grapefruit Seed Extract As A Treatment "...Highly active against protozoa, bacteria, yeast and some viruses, it has been used for quite some time in the treatment of parasitic infections..." Hemolytic Anemia The Condition "...Infectious Hemolytic Anemia is due to an incompletely compensated decrease in red blood cell survival secondary to infectious agents, including protozoa (e..." Natural Killer Cells Related Topic "An important first line of defense against newly arising malignant cells and cells infected with viruses, bacteria, and protozoa..." Parasite Infection The Condition "...There are four different groups to choose from: roundworms, single celled protozoa, tapeworms and flukes..." Recommendation Wormwood "Artemesia annua has primarily been used for treatment of protozoan infection..." Trichomoniasis Related Topic "Trichomoniasis is a sexually-transmitted infection caused by the single-cell protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis..." Vaginitis/Vaginal Infection The Condition "...It is caused by a single-celled protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis..." Vasculitis The Condition "...Causes & Development Drugs, complement deficiencies, viral, bacterial and protozoan infections have all been implicated..."

Last updated: Oct 08, 2008