An effective iron uptake by parasitic protozoa is a determining factor for their survival in host. The available iron source, for which the parasite must compete with the macroorganism, depends on the niche where it resides and its life mode (intracellular or/and extracellular). In the paper an iron acquisition from chelate compounds (transferrin, lactoferrin) in selected protozoan species has been presented. A particular interest has been focused on flagellated protozoon, Trypanosoma brucei.