Biology · MU Sofia

41. Unicellular motile eukaryotes (Protozoa). Phylum Sarcomastigophora. Subphylum Mastigophora (Flagellata). Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Trypanosoma cruzi.

Covers the general features of protozoa and the phylum Sarcomastigophora, then narrows to the flagellate subphylum Mastigophora and the genus Trypanosoma. It describes trypanosome morphology and the four developmental forms across the life cycle, with mnemonics for the forms, the two diseases and the subspecies. It then outlines the two human trypanosomiases, Sleeping Sickness and Chagas disease, their transmission, diagnosis and treatment, and ends with recap questions.

Inside: 11 sections · 4 labelled pictures · 8 min

Topic 41 of 64 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Biology (Dental Medicine, Year 1). The free AceMed note covers it in 11 sections, about 1,075 words (8 min of reading).

In this note

  1. Protozoa. Phylum Sarcomastigophora. Subphylum Mastigophora (Flagellata). Genus Trypanosoma
  2. Phylum: Sarcomastigophora
  3. Subphylum: Mastigophora (Flagellata)
  4. Genus: Trypanosoma
  5. Morphology of Trypanosoma
  6. Life Cycle of Trypanosoma
  7. Medically Important Species of Trypanosoma
  8. Diagnosis of Trypanosomiasis
  9. Treatment
  10. RECAP QUESTIONS
  11. MNEMONICS

Protozoa. Phylum Sarcomastigophora. Subphylum Mastigophora (Flagellata). Genus Trypanosoma

  • Unicellular, eukaryotic organisms.
  • Mostly microscopic, found in aquatic and moist environments.
  • Can be free-living (in soil or water) or parasitic (infecting humans, animals, or plants).
  • Lack a cell wall but possess a plasma membrane, sometimes supported by a pellicle.
  • Modes of nutrition:
  • Heterotrophic (phagocytosis or absorption).
  • Some are autotrophic (contain chloroplasts).
  • Reproduction:
  • Mostly asexual (binary fission, multiple fission).
  • Some exhibit sexual reproduction (e.g., conjugation in ciliates).
  • Classified based on locomotory organelles:
  • Pseudopodia (Amoeboids),
  • Flagella (Flagellates),
  • Cilia (Ciliates),
  • No locomotion (Sporozoans).

Phylum: Sarcomastigophora

  • A large phylum under the Kingdom Protista (obsolete in some modern classifications).
  • Members are motile protozoa with locomotion by either pseudopodia or flagella.
  • Uninucleate (one nucleus) in most forms.
  • Asexual reproduction is dominant, although some sexual stages exist.
  • Divided into two main subphyla:
  • Mastigophora: Possess flagella.
  • Sarcodina: Possess pseudopodia.

Subphylum: Mastigophora (Flagellata)

  • Protozoa that move using flagella (one or more).
  • Body is usually elongated or oval.
  • Covered by a pellicle for protection and flexibility.
  • Nutrition:
  • Autotrophic (e.g., Euglena – photosynthetic), ○ Heterotrophic (parasitic forms like Trypanosoma).
  • Reproduction:
  • Predominantly asexual by longitudinal binary fission. ● Includes many parasitic forms of medical importance.

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