Microbiology: A Systems Approach 4th Edition by Marjorie Kelly Cowan

Exercise 38

Critical thinking is the ability to reason and solve problems using facts and concepts. These questions can be approached from a number of angles and, in most cases, they do not have a single correct answer.
Sam has been suffering from diarrhea and abdominal bloating for nearly 2 weeks. Based upon the results of his stool analysis in the laboratory, answer the following:
a. Single-celled organisms were found in the stool sample. Explain whether this evidence indicates an infection caused by a fungus, a protozoan, or a helminth.
b. The single-celled organisms in the stool sample were flagellated. Explain whether this evidence indicates an infection caused by a fungus, a protozoan, or a helminth.
c. Small structures called cysts were found in the stool sample as well as in the well water in the home of the patient. Explain whether this evidence indicates an infection caused by a fungus, a protozoan, or a helminth.