Chapter 19, Problem 20A

Summary Introduction

To write:

About some diseases caused by protozoans and their location on map.

Introduction:

Protozoans are animal-like protists who follow a heterotrophic mode of nutrition and are thus characterized as heterotrophs. In the heterotrophic mode of nutrition, an organism is unable to synthesize their food and depend on others for obtaining nutrients and energy. Protozoans generally ingest other protozoans, algae, and bacteria to obtain energy and nutrition.

Explanation of Solution

Some of the common diseases caused by protozoans include malaria, African sleeping sickness, amoebic dysentery, and leishmaniasis.

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium which is transmitted by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito which acts as an intermediate host of plasmodium. Malaria is generally spread in subtropical and tropical regions where conditions like rainfall, humidity, and high temperature favor the plasmodium and mosquito growth. The breeding ground of Anopheles mosquito and plasmodium includes stagnant water which can be found in tyre tracks, hoof prints, pond margins, seepages, rice fields, irrigation channels, rainwater pools, burrow pits, and wells. The map showing locations of malaria affected regions is given below:

  

African sleeping sickness is caused by Trypanosoma brucei and is transmitted by tsetse fly. This disease is specifically diagnosed in regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Symptoms of sleeping sickness include itching, joint pains, headache, and fever. The map showing locations of sleeping sickness affected regions is given below:

  

Amoebic dysentery is caused by amoeba and is spread through intake of contaminated food and water. Abdomen is majorly affected in this infection and other symptoms include flatulence, diarrhoea, and blood in stool. This infection is generally spotted in regions of Asia, Africa, South America, and Central America.The map showing locations of amoebic dysentery affected regions is given below:

  

Leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania type parasite and is transmitted through the bite of some type of sandflies. This infection may affect three regions in the body; visceral, mucocutaneous, and cutaneous. Symptoms of leishmanissis include breathing difficulty, skin sores, nosebleeds, runny nose, stuffy nose, and difficulty in swallowing. It is spotted in different regions of America, Africa, and Asia. The map showing locations of Leishmaniasis affected regions is given below: