Which two protozoal causes are listed as chronic diarrhea causes?

Which two protozoal causes are listed as chronic diarrhea causes?

• A. Giardia, Coccidia
• B. Giardia, Histoplasma
• C. Tritrichomonas foetus, Giardia
• D. Coccidia, Histoplasma

Answer: (A)

Protozoal infections that cause chronic diarrhea are typically Giardia and Coccidia. Giardia is a small flagellate that lives in the small intestine and disrupts nutrient absorption, leading to long-lasting, sometimes intermittent diarrhea with greasy, foul-smelling stools. Coccidia are intracellular parasites that invade the intestinal lining, causing inflammation and damage to the mucosa, which can result in persistent diarrhea, especially in young animals. These two are classic protozoal culprits behind chronic diarrheal episodes because of how they interact with the intestinal epithelium and the persistence of infection if not treated. Histoplasma is a fungus, not a protozoan, so it isn’t listed as a protozoal cause here.

Protozoal infections that cause chronic diarrhea are typically Giardia and Coccidia. Giardia is a small flagellate that lives in the small intestine and disrupts nutrient absorption, leading to long-lasting, sometimes intermittent diarrhea with greasy, foul-smelling stools. Coccidia are intracellular parasites that invade the intestinal lining, causing inflammation and damage to the mucosa, which can result in persistent diarrhea, especially in young animals. These two are classic protozoal culprits behind chronic diarrheal episodes because of how they interact with the intestinal epithelium and the persistence of infection if not treated. Histoplasma is a fungus, not a protozoan, so it isn’t listed as a protozoal cause here.