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Parasitology

1. Parasitology is the study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them. It examines parasites that infect humans and animals. 2. A parasite lives in or on another organism, called the host, and benefits by deriving nutrients or shelter at the host's expense. Parasites can damage hosts through traumatic damage, lytic enzyme activity, tissue response, blood loss, or increasing susceptibility to secondary infections. 3. Parasites are classified based on their habitat (ecto- or endoparasites), ability to live independently (facultative or obligate), mode of living (permanent, intermittent, etc.), and the hosts they infect (definitive, intermediate,

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522 views16 pages

Parasitology

1. Parasitology is the study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them. It examines parasites that infect humans and animals. 2. A parasite lives in or on another organism, called the host, and benefits by deriving nutrients or shelter at the host's expense. Parasites can damage hosts through traumatic damage, lytic enzyme activity, tissue response, blood loss, or increasing susceptibility to secondary infections. 3. Parasites are classified based on their habitat (ecto- or endoparasites), ability to live independently (facultative or obligate), mode of living (permanent, intermittent, etc.), and the hosts they infect (definitive, intermediate,

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ROXAN EUPENA-CARAY, PhD

Professor I
• Parasitology
• study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between
them.
• is the area of biology concerned with the phenomenon of
dependence of one living organism on another.
• Fields in Parasitology
• Medical Parasitology – deals with parasites that infect humans,
the diseases that cause them, clinical picture, and response
generated by humans against them.
• Concerned with the various methods of their diagnosis
treatment and finally their prevention and control.
• Drug development, epidemiological studies and study of
zoonosis.
• Veterinary Parasitology
• study of parasites that causes economic losses in
agriculture or aquaculture operations or which infect
companion animals.
• Lucilia sericata – blowfly
• Otodectes cynotis – cat ear mite
• Gyrodactylus salaris – parasite in salmon
• Structural Parasitology
• Study of structures of proteins in parasites
• Quantitative Parasitology
• Uses advanced biostatistical methodologies to quantify
distribution of parasites.
• Parasite Ecology
• Provide information about host population ecology
beneficial to identify parasite communities, which can
illuminate parasite-avoidance strategies employed by hosts.
• Conservation Biology of Parasites
• Concerned with the protection and preservation of
vulnerable species including parasites
• Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
• Involves describing and cataloguing parasites.
Basic Definitions: Animal Associations/Symbiotic
Relationships
• Symbiosis – living together; Any two organisms living in close association,
commonly one living in or on the body of the other, are symbiotic, as contrasted
with free living (de Bary, 1879).
• Interactions of Symbionts:
• Commensalism – two species live together and and one species benefits from the other without
harming or benefiting the other.
• Mutualism – two organisms mutually benefit each other
• Parasitism – one species benefits (parasite) to the detriment of the other (the host)

Note: parasite may not necessarily produce disease in the host, but in almost all cases of parasitic relationships, the parasite deprives
the host essential nutrients.
Basic Definitions: Types of Parasites
• Based on Habitat
• Ectoparasites – are those that live outside of the host’s body (ex. fleas, lice)
• Invasion of the body by ectoparasites is called infestation.
• Endoprasites – are those that live inside the host (ex. helminths)
• Invasion of the body by endoparasites is called infection.
• Classified based on their ability to live independently of the host.
a) Facultative parasites – are those that can live independently of the host (i.e. free
living)
b) Obligate parasites – are those that must exist as parasites inside a host (totally
dependent on the host to complete its life cycle)
- majority of parasites that infect humans
Basic Definitions: Types of Parasites
• Based on mode of living
• Permanent parasite – are those that remain in a host from early life to maturity (ex. Plasmodium)
• Intermittent parasite – parasites that simply visit the host during feeding time (ex. non-
pathogenic parasites)
• Incidental parasites – parasites that occur on an unusual host (e.g. dog tapeworm in humans)
• Transitory parasites – are parasites whose larva develops in a host while the adult is free-living
• Erratic parasites – are those that become fixed in an unusual organ different from which is
ordinarily parasitized (Ascaris lumbricoides)
• One that wanders into an organ in which it is not usually found
Basic Definitions: Hosts
• Definition:
- Are organisms that harbour the parasite and provide nourishment to the parasite.
- Essential to the existence of parasites
• Types of Hosts
- Definitive Hosts - the host in which sexual maturity and reproduction takes place.
- Intermediate Hosts – the host in which the parasite undergoes essential development.
- Reservoir Hosts – are vertebrate hosts which harbour the parasite and may act as a source of infection in
humans (pigs for Balantidium coli)
- Paratenic Hosts – are those that serve as a means of transport for the parasite (e.g. vectors) so that the
infective stage of a certain parasite may reach its final host (an accidental host serving as a holding place
for a parasite)
A Successful Parasite

• A parasite is successful - when it is in delicate balance with the host. If the balance
is upset, the host may destroy or expel the parasite; If the host is overly damaged, it
may die - as will the parasite.

• Parasitology is important - because this balance is not always maintained.


Sources of Exposure:
• Contaminated Soil and Water
• Food containing the infective stage of the parasite
• Blood sucking insect
• Domestic or wild animal harbouring the parasites
• Another person (clothing, beddings)
• Ones self
Modes of Infection
• Filth-borne or contaminative - where personal hygiene and
community sanitation lacking. Infectious stages remain viable for long
periods in contaminated soil.
• Soil or water-borne - water or dirt which can contain eggs, etc.; Larvae
can penetrate skin of bare feet or enter skin in infested water.
• Food-borne - inadequately cooked beef, pork, fish, shell fish.
• Arthropod-borne - the most difficult of all to control. Mosquitoes
transmitting malaria, etc.
Mode of Transmission:
• Ingestion of contaminated food and water
• Bites od Blood-sucking arthropods
• Inhalation of air-borne eggs
• Transplacental or congenital infection
• Transmammary (milk) infection
• Sexual intercourse
Portal of Exit:
• Anus
• Urine
• Sputum
• Vaginal discharge
Pathogenesis of Parasitic Infections/Infestation
• Pathogenesis – manner of development of the disease
Ways:
a) Inapparent infection –causing no symptoms and
producing no detectable harm.
b) Traumatic damage - damage to tissues, intestine, liver, eye.
Parasitic Damage to Host:
• Lytic action - activity of enzymes elaborated by organism.
• Tissue response - localized inflammation, eosinophilia.
• Blood loss - heavy infection with hookworm may cause
anemia.
• Secondary infections - weakened host susceptible to bacterial
infection, etc.

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