protozoan

Other forms: protozoa; protozoans

Definitions of protozoan

1. adjective

   of or relating to the Protozoa
   synonyms: protozoal, protozoic
2. noun

   any of diverse minute acellular or unicellular organisms usually nonphotosynthetic
   synonyms: protozoon

   types:

   sarcodine, sarcodinian

   protozoa that move and capture food by forming pseudopods

   rhizopod, rhizopodan

   protozoa characterized by a pseudopod

   arcella

   an amoeba-like protozoan with a chitinous shell resembling an umbrella

   difflugia

   a protozoan with an ovoid shell of cemented sand grains

   ciliate, ciliated protozoan, ciliophoran

   a protozoan with a microscopic appendage extending from the surface of the cell

   euglena

   minute single-celled green freshwater organism having a single flagella; often classed as algae

   flagellate, flagellate protozoan, flagellated protozoan, mastigophoran, mastigophore

   a usually nonphotosynthetic free-living protozoan with whiplike appendages; some are pathogens of humans and other animals

   plantlike flagellate

   unicellular organisms having many characteristics of typical algae

   sporozoan

   parasitic spore-forming protozoan

   actinopod

   protozoa having stiff rodlike radiating pseudopods

   ameba, amoeba

   naked freshwater or marine or parasitic protozoa that form temporary pseudopods for feeding and locomotion

   foram, foraminifer

   marine microorganism having a calcareous shell with openings where pseudopods protrude

   testacean

   any of various rhizopods of the order Testacea characterized by having a shell

   infusorian

   any member of the subclass Infusoria

   paramecia, paramecium

   any member of the genus Paramecium

   tetrahymena

   relative of the paramecium; often used in genetics research

   stentor

   any of several trumpet-shaped ciliate protozoans that are members of the genus Stentor

   vorticella

   any of various protozoa having a transparent goblet-shaped body with a retractile stalk

   dinoflagellate

   chiefly marine protozoa having two flagella; a chief constituent of plankton

   Leishmania, genus Leishmania

   flagellate protozoan that causes leishmaniasis

   zooflagellate, zoomastigote

   flagellate protozoan lacking photosynthesis and other plant-like characteristics

   hypermastigote

   flagellate symbiotic in the intestines of e.g. termites

   polymastigote

   flagellates with several flagella

   Costia necatrix, costia

   a flagellate that is the cause of the frequently fatal fish disease costiasis

   giardia

   a suspected cause of diarrhea in humans

   trichomonad

   cause of trichomoniasis in women and cattle and birds

   sporozoite

   one of the minute active bodies into which sporozoans divide in one stage of their life cycle

   trophozoite

   a sporozoan in the active feeding stage of its life cycle

   merozoite

   a cell that arises from the asexual division of a parent sporozoan during its life cycle

   coccidium, eimeria

   parasitic on the digestive epithelium of vertebrates and higher invertebrates

   gregarine

   vermiform protozoans parasitic in insects and other invertebrates

   haemosporidian

   minute protozoans parasitic at some stage of the life cycle in blood cells of vertebrates including many pathogens

   Plasmodium vivax, malaria parasite, plasmodium

   parasitic protozoan of the genus Plasmodium that causes malaria in humans

   haemoproteid

   related to malaria parasite and having a phase in the viscera of various birds

   leucocytozoan, leucocytozoon

   parasitic in birds

   piroplasm

   minute parasite of red blood cells of mammals transmitted by a tick and causing diseases of domestic animals

   sarcocystidean, sarcocystieian, sarcosporidian

   parasite of the muscles of vertebrates

   haplosporidian

   parasite in invertebrates and lower vertebrates of no known economic importance

   actinomyxidian

   parasites of worms

   microsporidian

   parasite of arthropods and fishes that invade and destroy host cells

   myxosporidian

   mostly parasitic in fishes and including various serious pathogens

   type of:

   protoctist

   any of the unicellular protists