6.06 Protists: The Dark Side

Tomorrow, when you're out driving cattle, you'll need to make sure you carry your own water, and plenty of it. The rivers and streams in the area look clean enough to drink, but every time we've tested the water recently we've found evidence of giardia. Giardia is a protist that, when ingested with a cool sip of water, can give you a powerful and mean belly ache and a few other nasty symptoms as well.

So even though most of the protists in our pond are pretty harmless, and it is a good source of water, there are a number of other protists that are dangerous, making stream water unsafe to drink. Because of this potential danger in the streams around the ranch, we've been looking to have a brochure made up for our guests. There are certain precautions and information about protozoan parasites that we'd like our guests to have. Now, the folks at BioVentures Unlimited told us that a few of you were quite handy on the computer, and we sure could use your help with this while you're here.

Informational Brochure: Protists

There are a few protists that the guests at the Triple T need to be on the lookout for. Your task is to investigate these parasites, the illnesses they cause, and determine how to prevent contracting these "bugs."

Then, you will create a brochure, poster, web page, podcast, or other approved option that warns visitors to the Triple T of the danger they face. To create this brochure, you can use the Brochure Template provided here.

Find a partner/classmate. You can use the discussion area to find a partner, and then e-mail each other to discuss how you'll each contribute to the project. Decide what roles (jobs) you'll do to contribute to the completion of the project.

Note: Contact your instructor for help if you have attempted to find a partner and have not been successful.

Include the following information in the Informational Brochure: Protists.

• There are several groups of protists.
• List at least three of the listed protozoans and their diseases.
• Provide an image of the protozoan, if possible.
• Provide information about:
  • the disease the protist causes,
  • the host or hosts it infects,
  • symptoms the organism causes,
  • any danger to humans,
  • and so forth.

Possible Protozoans to Investigate: Starting Point on the Web

Note: These are only meant as starting points. Use the scientific and common names to do some research of your own. Some of the starting points are a bit technical also, so if you need additional help contact your instructor, following some work on your own.

Cryptocarion irritans (Ich in fish)
Common Fish Diseases from Animal World

Toxoplasma gondii
Stalking the Mysterious Microbe: Parasite Gives Rats Suicidal Tendencies

Trypanosoma cruzi
Chages Disease

Coccidiosis
Protozoan Disease in Chickens from MSU Cares

Babesia
Tickborne Disease in Humans

When you finish the project, move on to the Travel Log.