Prevention of protozoan diseases
Prevention of protozoan diseases involves strategies to reduce the risk of infections caused by single-celled eukaryotic organisms known as protozoa. Common protozoan diseases include amebiasis, giardiasis, malaria, trypanosomiasis, and toxoplasmosis, each with unique transmission methods and health impacts. To prevent amebiasis and giardiasis, individuals are advised to use bottled or purified water, practice good hand hygiene, and avoid raw foods in areas with contaminated water. Malaria prevention focuses on avoiding mosquito bites through protective clothing, insect repellents, and prophylactic medications when traveling to endemic regions. For trypanosomiasis, minimizing exposure to tsetse flies by wearing neutral-colored clothing and avoiding bushy areas is essential. Toxoplasmosis prevention includes avoiding undercooked meat and cat feces, along with proper handwashing practices. Understanding these prevention measures is crucial for mitigating the health risks associated with these diseases, which can have significant global mortality and morbidity rates.
Prevention of protozoan diseases
Definition
A protozoan disease is a disease caused by a single-celled eukaryote known as a protozoan. Protozoa can be classified as amebas, sporozoans, flagellates, foraminiferans, or ciliates. Common protozoan diseases include amebiasis, giardiasis, malaria, trypanosomiasis,and toxoplasmosis.
Types of Protozoan Diseases
Amebiasis is an intestinal illness. It is caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. Giardiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia. Malaria is an infection of the red blood cells caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium. Trypanosomiasis is an infection of the central nervous system caused by the protozoan parasites Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and T. b. gambiense. Toxoplasmosis is an infection that may result in flu-like symptoms. It can affect the brain, lung, heart, eyes, and liver. Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.
Prevention
Amebiasis. Amebiasis is spread through contaminated food or water and by direct contact with someone who is infected. There is no vaccination for the prevention of amebiasis. However, the following measures can help to prevent amebiasis infection: using bottled water when camping or when traveling to areas where the water supply may be contaminated (when bottled water is not available, one should use water purification methods, such as boiling or filtering, before drinking water or before using it to brush teeth); avoiding raw fruits and vegetables when traveling to areas where the water may be contaminated; washing hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food and after using the toilet or changing a diaper (if soap and water are not available, one can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer); and using a condom when engaging in anal sex.
Giardiasis. Giardiasis is spread through contaminated water or by direct contact with someone who is infected. There is no vaccination for the prevention of giardiasis. However, the following measures can help to prevent contracting giardiasis: using bottled water when camping or when traveling to areas where the water supply may be contaminated (when bottled wateris not available, one should use water purification methods, such as boiling or filtering, before drinking water or before using it to brush teeth); avoiding raw fruits and vegetables when traveling to areas where the water may be contaminated; washing hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food and after using the toilet or changing a diaper (if soap and water are not available, one can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer); and using a condom when engaging in anal sex.
Malaria. Malaria is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. There are some prophylactic medicines available that can help prevent contracting malaria. Persons who are planning to travel to a country where malaria is prevalent should consult a doctor (a minimum of one month before traveling) about whether or not they need a prophylactic medication. Prophylactic malaria medications are not 100 percent effective, so one should also take other precautions to reduce exposure to mosquitoes.
In addition to prophylactic medications, the following measures can reduce exposure to mosquitoes and, thus, help prevent the spread of malaria: When possible, one should sleep in a screened-in room; sleep under mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors; spray clothing and skin with insect repellent; and wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts from dusk until dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
Trypanosomiasis. Trypanosomiasis is spread through the bite of a tsetse fly. There is no vaccination; however, there are some measures one can take to reduce exposure to tsetse flies, which will help prevent the spread of the disease: wear long-sleeved shirts and pants in neutral colors, inspect vehicles for flies before entering, avoid bushes where flies may be hiding, and spray clothing and skin with insect repellent.
Toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is spread by contact with cat feces or by eating undercooked meat. There is no vaccination for the prevention of toxoplasmosis. However, the following measures can help keep people from contracting the disease: avoid undercooked meats; freeze meat at subzero temperatures for several days before cooking; avoid cleaning a litter box if pregnant; wear gloves when gardening or handling soil; wash hands with soap and water before eating or preparing food, and after handling raw meat; and cover children’s sandboxes when not in use.
Impact
Statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2024 state that more than 1 million people are made ill by Giardia infections each year. These illnesses occur across the world, including throughout the United States.
The WHO estimated that in 2023, 263 million malaria cases occurred across the world, leading to roughly 597,000 deaths. Roughly 94 percent of the reported malaria cases occurred in Africa, and children under 5 accounted for 76 percent of all African malaria deaths in 2023.
According to statistics published by the CDC in 2024, more than 40 million people in the United States carry the Toxoplasma parasite, but most do not develop toxoplasmosis. However, toxoplasmosis is a leading cause of death that is related to food-borne illness in the United States.
Bibliography
"About Giardia Infection." Centers for Disease Control, 3 May 2024, www.cdc.gov/giardia/about/index.html. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
"About Toxoplasmosis." Centers for Disease Control, 10 Sept. 2024, www.cdc.gov/toxoplasmosis/about/index.html. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
"Malaria." World Health Organization, 11 Dec. 2024, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.