Parasites and Diseases Revised

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Parasites and Diseases
Trypanosoma cruzi is a parasitic species of the genus Trypanosoma which causes Chagas disease in America. The condition caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, also known as American human trypanosomiasis, exists in two types in humans: as a trypomastigote in blood, and as amastigote when in cells (Sastry et al. 79). The cell structure of Trypanosoma cruzi plays an essential function during its life cycle by allowing for morph into the three types (trypomastigote, epimastigote, and amastigote) according to the location of the cell in the anatomy of the host. The cells replicate after penetration of another cell has occurred, thanks to its structure. Trypanosoma cruzi also undergo meiosis, as an adaptation, to repair DNA damages that they get in unfavourable surroundings of their respective hosts. Diagnosis of Chagas works only correctly in the acute phase of infection. Blood is smeared and observations made by microscopic examination. The parasites are usually visualised in two blood smears: a thick and a thin one.
Toxoplasma gondii is a crescent-like shaped single-celled protozoan parasite which is eukaryotic (Mary et al. 359). The parasite causes toxoplasmosis in humans, especially infants. The structure of the protozoan is an essential characteristic for its entry into the host’s cells. It has a sharp part at the apical site of the microbe that contains the major three secretary organelles: rhoptries, the micronemes and dense-granule organelles.

Toxoplasma gondii houses several enzymes that are needed for glycolysis inside the apicoplast, and this is the basis of metabolic activity that sustains the activities within the protozoan. The initial stage of the protozoan life cycle is also a significant characteristic of its development since it rapidly divides upon infection. Serological methods can diagnose infection by this parasite. Immunological methods are first used to detect parasite in patients, and the parasite is then isolated by inoculation on tissue culture cells, serological methods then determine the significant rate of infection.
A virus is a type of microorganism that is non-cellular, don’t respire but reproduce and has spikes to attach itself in the host. They cause a large number of diseases for example chickenpox and Measles. Viral infections are contagious. Antibiotics fail to cure viral diseases, most of the time our immune system fight them off after some time. Vaccines and antiviral drugs like acyclovir in case of chickenpox can be used as the diagnosis.

Helminths are parasites but can sometimes stay free of a host. The most common type is soil-transmitted helminths which cause onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. Presence of these worms may be found by performing a chest X-ray to see larvae, and stool microscopy can also be used assuming not all are male worms. Treatment usually is a specific quantity of albendazole dose.
Work Cited
Sastry, Apurba Sankar, Sandhya Bhat, and Sandhya Bhat. Essentials of medical parasitology. JP Medical Ltd, 2014.
Torrence, Mary E., and Richard E. Isaacson, eds. Microbial food safety in animal agriculture: current topics. John Wiley & Sons, 2008.