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Protozoa (sg.: protozoan or protozoon; alternative plural: protozoans) are a polyphyletic group of single-celled eukaryotes, either free-living or parasitic, that feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or organic debris.
The terms "protozoa" and "protist" are usually discouraged in modern biosciences. However, this terminology is still encountered in medicine . This is partially because of the conservative character of medical classification and partially due to the necessity of making identifications of organisms based upon morphology.
In most systems of taxonomy, "Ciliophora" is ranked as a phylum [6] under any of several kingdoms, including Chromista, [7] Protista [8] or Protozoa. [9] In some older systems of classification, such as the influential taxonomic works of Alfred Kahl , ciliated protozoa are placed within the class " Ciliata " [ 10 ] [ 11 ] (a term which can also ...
For example, protozoa can help maintain the quality of the soil by grazing on soil bacteria. Through their grazing, the protozoa can help maintain populations of bacteria, allowing the bacteria to more efficiently decompose dead organic material which will improve the fertility of the soil. [9]
Other intracellular parasites have developed different ways to enter a host cell that do not require a specific component or action from within the host cell. An example is intracellular parasites using a method called gliding motility. This is the use of an actin-myosin motor that is connected to the intracellular parasites' cytoskeleton.
Main article: Human parasite Endoparasites Protozoan organisms Common name of organism or disease Latin name (sorted) Body parts affected Diagnostic specimen Prevalence Source/Transmission (Reservoir/Vector) Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and Acanthamoeba keratitis (eye infection) Acanthamoeba spp. eye, brain, skin culture worldwide contact lenses cleaned with contaminated tap water ...
A typical example of a ciliated microorganism is the Paramecium, a one-celled, ciliated protozoan covered by thousands of cilia. The cilia beating together allow the Paramecium to propel through the water at speeds of 500 micrometers per second.
The British protozoologist Thomas Cavalier-Smith, since 1998, developed a six-kingdom model: [g] Bacteria, Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protozoa and Chromista. [10] [206] In his context, paraphyletic groups take preference over clades: [10] both protist kingdoms Protozoa and Chromista contain paraphyletic phyla such as Apusozoa, Eolouka or ...