Question

Which protist is a concern because of its ability to contaminate water supplies and cause diarrheal illness?

a) Giardia
b) Plasmodium
c) Leishmania
d) Trypanosoma

Answer 1

Giardia is the protist that can contaminate water supplies and cause diarrheal illnesses such as giardiasis, often through ingestion of contaminated water.

Step-by-step explanation:

The protist that is a concern because of its ability to contaminate water supplies and cause diarrheal illness is Giardia. Giardiasis is the infection caused by this protist, and it can be contracted by drinking contaminated water or through direct contact with an infected individual. This protozoan is particularly threatening to public health due to its hardy cysts that can survive in cold water for long periods, making it more likely to contaminate water sources and spread amongst people who consume the water without proper treatment.

Answer 2

The answer of the given statement that " protist is a concern because of its ability to contaminate water supplies and cause diarrheal illness" is a) Giardia

Step-by-step explanation:

Giardia is a protist that is a concern for water contamination and can cause diarrheal illness in humans. It is a waterborne parasite that often infects the digestive tract, leading to a condition known as giardiasis.

Giardia cysts, which are resistant to harsh environmental conditions, can contaminate water supplies, making the ingestion of contaminated water a common mode of transmission. This can occur through drinking water from untreated sources or recreational water activities.

Plasmodium, Leishmania, and Trypanosoma are also protists known to cause diseases (malaria, leishmaniasis, and sleeping sickness, respectively), but they are not typically associated with water contamination-related transmission. Their modes of transmission often involve vectors like mosquitoes or sandflies.

Therefore, in the context of contaminating water supplies and causing diarrheal illness, the correct answer is Giardia (a).