Helminths A parasite is an organism which lives in or on a host organism, getting nutrients and obtaining protection while doing some degree of harm to the host. Kingdom Animalia- helminths or parasitic worms in the animal kingdom Not all the helminths are true microbes. If it is possible to see the adult worm without using a microscope, that organism would not be a true microbe.
Some helminths are big enough in the adult stage to see without a microscope.
In addition, the symptoms of helminth infections are similar to, or identical to those of other microbial infections, so we have to look for parasites at the same time we look for a bacterial, fungal, or viral cause of disease. There are 4 phyla in the kingdom Protista based on motility organelles. Sarcodines - move using pseudopodia. Balantidium coli Flagellates -move using flagella. Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, Cryptosporidium, Cylospora The motile stage of a protozoan's life is called the trophozoite stage.