Question

Why is it possible to identify many protozoa without the need for biochemical and serological testing?

What are some of the beneficial protozoa?

What chemical substance is present in viruses, but lacking in prions?

Do prions replicate the way viruses do?

Answer 1

Answer 1- It is possible to identify many protozoa without the biochemical and serological testing. The microscopic examination of stool specimens is the simplest method to diagnosis most of pathogenic intestinal protozoa. The microscopic ova and parasite examination (O&P) is the traditional method for stool parasite testing.

Answer 2- some beneficial protozoa are:-

• Protozoans (zooplankton) serve as food for many small aquatic organisms. They are the part of principal diet of blue whales.

• They feed on bacteria and fungi, which decompose dead organic matter. Thus, are useful in the treatment of sewage.

• Termites have protozoans in their body that helps to digest the cellulose in the wood eaten by them and convert it into carbohydrates that the termites can use.

Answer 3- Prions are proteinaceous and infectious particles that lacks nucleic acids (neither DNA nor RNA). Whereas virus contains nucleic acids.

Answer 4- Prions have the ability to reproduce, although they are devoid of genetic material, behave similarly to viruses, as they too can mutate and undergo evolutionary selection.