Question

Explain any two protozoan diseases of human beings.

Answer 1

Protozoans: These are small microscopic, unicellular, eukaryotic organisms.

Protozoans such as Plasmodium and Leishmania cause Malaria and kala-azar in human beings.

1. Malaria: It is an infectious disease caused by protozoa Plasmodium sp., which is transmitted through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. Symptoms: High fever, muscular pain, feeling cold and shivering, headache, weakness, and anemia.
2. Kala-azar: It is an infectious disease caused by protozoa Leishmania sp., which is transmitted through the intake of contaminated food. Symptoms: Loss of weight with weakness, Anaemia, Dry skin, and scaly skin of abdomen, feet, and face which gives the Indian name Kala-azar means ‘Black Fever’.