A young couple returned from a honeymoon trip to Mexico. Two
weeks later, the young man began having diarrhea. After three days
of up to six bowel movements per day, some streaked with mucus and
blood, he went to the doctor. The doctor ordered a stool culture
and an O & P. The laboratorian prepared a wet mount from the
bloody mucus area of the liquid specimen and then prepared a
permanent trichrome stained slide from stool from the same area.
These organisms were observed. They measured about 15 micrometers
in diameter.

What are the identifying characteristics of this protozoan?

What does it appear to be (genus and species)?

What other disease manifestations could occur if this infection
were to progress beyond the intestinal tract?

How could this patient have acquired this infection?