Eukaryotic Pathogens
Organism | Disease(s) | Symptoms of the Disease |
Species: Trypanosoma brucei
(Genus: Trypanosoma) |
– African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness)
– Animal Tryponosomiasis (Nagana) |
The tsetse fly is the primary carrier of this parasite. The bite of this fly is extremely painful but if it infects the bite with the parasite then it will develop into a red sore called chancre. This is the first symptom.
Then the patient will experience the following symptoms:
In some cases, the patient will also develop rashes. The symptoms do not show until 1 to 3 weeks after the infected bite and if not treated can lead to death within months. Animals infected by the parasite first develop chancres but the difference in symptoms comes from the species of virus they are infected with. If the infected animal is infected with Trypanosoma brucei then the symptoms will be mild and self-heal. |
Species: Entamoeba histolytica
(Genus: Entamoeba) |
– Amoebiasis | Early symptoms are mild and include diarrhea, stomach cramping and pain.
However; if amoebiasis develops further then it will become Amebic dysentery, a severe form of the infection. At this stage, the patient will experience extreme stomach pains, bloody stool and fever. In case of liver infection development of abscess (pus) occurs. In rare cases, the infection will spread to other body parts like the lungs and brain. |
Species: Ascaris lumbricoides
(Genus: Nematode) |
– Ascariasis | The roundworm responsible for this disease infects the intestines and lungs. In mild cases, there will be little to no symptoms. In severe cases, the symptoms will vary depending on the area infected.
Lungs: Symptoms experienced will be similar to asthma or pneumonia including persistent coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Intestines: In case of mild infection the patient will experience slight abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. If the patient is severely infected with a large number of worms then the symptoms will include severe abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue and expulsion of worms through vomit or stool. |
Species: Phthirus pubis
(Genus: Pthirus) |
– Pediculosis pubis (Crabs or Pubic lice) | Symptoms for crabs include:
Itching is the most common symptom of this disease and it worsens at night as the lice are most active at that time. |
Species: Cryptosporidium sp.
(Genus: Cryptosporidium Tyzzer) |
– Cryptosporidium infection (cryptosporidiosis) | Early symptoms include:
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Species: Wuchereria bancrofti
(Genus: Wuchereria) |
– Filariasis | In some cases, the patients do not develop any symptoms and the patients that develop symptoms experience the following:
Usually, the accumulation of fluids subsides when the symptoms wear off. Male patients can develop inflammation and painful swelling in genitalia, testes, sperm track and sperm ducts. |
Species: Giardia intestinalis
(Genus: Giardia) |
– Giardiasis | This disease can lead to the development of a variety of symptoms affecting the intestines like:
Other less common symptoms include fever, itching, hives and swelling. |
Species: Necator americanus
(Genus: Necator) |
– Hookworm disease |
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Species: Leishmania braziliensis
(Genus: Leishmania) |
– Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
– Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis – Visceral Leishmaniasis |
The most common symptom is painless ulcers on the skin.
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Species: Plasmodium sp.
(Genus: Plasmodium) |
– Malaria | The main symptom of malaria is fever and flu-like symptoms including:
Malaria may also lead to anemia and jaundice. Severe symptoms include kidney failure, seizures, confusion and coma |
Species: Pediculus humanus
(Genus: Pediculus) |
– Epidemic Typhus
– Epidemic Relapsing Fever – Trench Fever |
The patient develops a sudden onset of:
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Species: Enterobius vermicularis
(Genus: Pinworm) |
– Enterobiasis (Pinworm infection) | This infection often shows no infection but the patients that develop symptoms include:
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Species: Sarcoptes scabiei
(Genus: Sarcoptes) |
– Scabies | Common symptoms include:
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Species: Strongyloides stercoralis
(Genus: Strongyloids) |
– Strongyloidiasis |
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Species: Schistosoma sp.
(Genus: Schistosoma mansoni) |
– Schistosomiasis
– Chronic Schistosomiasis |
Common symptoms include fever, chills, coughing and muscle pain
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Species: Toxoplasma gondii.
(Genus: Toxoplasma) |
– Toxoplasmosis | Usually, there are no symptoms but when developed include:
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Species: Trichinella spiralis
(Genus: Trichinella) |
– Trichinellosis | Symptoms vary from patient to patient and include:
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Species: Trichomonas vaginalis
(Genus: Trichonomas) |
– Trichinosis (Trichinellosis) | This pathogen causes the same disease as above so the symptoms are the same. |
Species: Trypanosoma cruzi
(Genus: Trypanosoma) |
– Chagas disease |
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