Tags: Disease.
Protothecosis is a disease found in dogs cats cattle and humans caused by a type of green alga known as Prototheca that lacks chlorophyll. It and its close relative Helicosporidium are unusual in that they are actually green algae that have become parasites. The two most common species are Prototheca wickerhamii and Prototheca zopfii. Both are known to cause disease in dogs while most human cases are caused by P. wickerhami. Prototheca is found worldwide in sewage and soil.
