SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

PHINMA
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY
AND PARASITOLOGY

LECTURE 3

By: Dr. Edilberto de Belen Santos

ENDOPARASITES VS ECTOPARASITES
Definition:
Parasitism – is a symbiotic relationship between 2 species in an
ecosystem. The parasite benefits at the expense of the host.
Types based on Habitat:
Endoparasites – parasites that live in the tissues and organs of their hosts
Ectoparasites – parasites that live on the external surface of hosts

What is an Endoparasite?
• Lives inside the host
• Cause infection
• Mostly intestinal
• Nematodes (roundworms, hookworms, whipworms) - intestinal
• Trematodes (flukes, cestodes like tapeworms) – intestinal
• Extraintestinal worms
o Heartworms, lungworms
 o Subcutaneous worms (threadworms, esophageal worms)
• Take nutrients from body fluids such as blood

What is an Ectoparasite?
• Lives on the host
• Cause infestation
• Most are host-specific, some have wide-range of host
• Invertebrates
o Arthropods
▪ Insects
▪ Arachnids
• Serve as vectors of pathogens
• In large aggregations may cause the ff:
o Anemia
o Hypersensitivity Reactions, anaphylaxis
o Dermatitis
o Skin necrosis
o Low weight gain
o Focal hemorrhages
o Blockage of orifice
o Secondary infection from inoculation of toxin
• Examples
o Lice
o Flies
o Mosquitoes
o Fleas
o Bugs
o Blow flies
o Spiders
o Scorpions
Similarities Between Ectoparasites and Endoparasites
• Ectoparasites and endoparasites are two types of parasites
• Both types benefit at the expense of the host
• Some endoparasites and ectoparasites completely depend on the
host for their nutrition
• Both bear structural specializations (wings, digestive tracts,
proboscis, etc.), facilitating their life as a parasite

Differences Between Endoparasite and Ectoparasite

1. Habitat
a. Ectoparasite - outside of the body
b. Endoparasite – inside the body

2. Permanency
a. Ectoparasite – temporary, intermittent or permanent
b. Endoparasite – permanent

3. Respiration
a. Ectoparasite – aerobic
b. Endoparasite – anaerobic

4. Structural Specializations
a. Ectoparasites – may have wings, proboscis, antennae,
mouthpiece, digestive tracts, etc
b. Endoparasites – have digestive tracts, suckers, hooks, rostellum,
etc.

5. Damage to Host
a. Ectoparasite – less damage
b. Endoparasite – may be life-threatening/death
 ECTOPARASITES
• Ectoparasites are organisms which inhabit the skin or outgrowths of
the skin of another organism (the host) for various periods, and may be
detrimental to the latter.
• Many of these ectoparasites (e.g. most lice) are host specific, while
others (e.g. many ticks) parasitize a wider range of hosts

ARTHROPODS
• Members of the Phylum Arthropoda that affect humans as ectoparasites
consist of a group of arthropods known as arachnids, including ticks,
mites, spiders, and scorpions, and insects, including fleas, flies, lice,
mosquitoes, and bugs
• may take up residence as temporary or permanent occupants of their
human host or they may cause the disease themselves.
• transmit disease as mechanical transfer agents, such as house flies or
cockroaches transmitting bacteria that cause enteric diseases

Morphology
• three distinguishing characteristics:
(1) pairs of jointed appendages;
(2) a chitinized exoskeleton (defined as a structure on the outside of
an arthropod body composed of an insoluble polysaccharide that provides
support for corresponding internal organs)
(3) a system of blood-containing spaces present on the body of an
arthropod referred to as a hemocele
Laboratory Diagnosis
• 70% ethanol as preservative – retains morphology
• flying insects requires inactivation with chloroform or ether
• some needs to be examined under the microscope

Pathogenesis and Clinical Symptoms

• two mechanisms through which arthropods may cause clinical
symptoms to occur.
o Bite
o Infestation

Treatment
• Topical lotions or ointments are available for the treatment of
arthropod bites
• Treatment of ectoparasite infestations requires the removal of the
arthropod from the skin

Prevention and Control

• Complete eradication of arthropods is almost impossible
• vertical transmission - transmit the microorganism they carry to their
offspring
• chemical sprays and insecticides
• destruction of arthropod breeding grounds
• increasing natural predators
• protective clothing
• arthropod repellents

anki coded upto here

I. TICKS

A. Morphology:
• have four pairs of legs, two pairs of mouth parts, and no antennae
• hard (family Ixodidae) and soft ticks (family Argasidae)
• anterior capitulum (mouthparts) – present on both types
• scutum (shield) – hard ticks only

B. Life Cycle:
• life cycles contain four morphologic stages—eggs, larvae (defined as
juvenile stage), nymphs (defined as a developmental stage that
resembles that of an adult), and adults of separate sexes.
• Ranges 1-2 years

C. Epidemiology
• hard ticks are responsible for transmitting bacterial, viral, and
rickettsial diseases
• primary vector for Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), and Babesia
spp
 D. Clinical Symptoms
• skin reactions to the bite site:
o inflammatory infiltration of tissues
o edema
o local hyperemia
o hemorrhage.
• Tick paralysis

E. Treatment
• The recommended therapy for tick infestation consists of removal of
the tick
o few drops of ether or chloroform on the head of a tick and
pulling the tick straight out of the skin

F. Prevention and Control

• avoidance of entering tick-infested areas
• protective clothing
• tick repellents

II. MITES

A. Morphology
• extremely small, but still visible to the naked eye
• range from 0.1 to 0.4 mm in size and are oval in shape
 B. Life Cycle
• Adult mites that infest humans (or other animals) burrow into the skin,
hair follicles, or sebaceous glands of hosts and set up residence
• Lay eggs in the burrow and hatches and mature from larval to nymph
then adult forms
• Cycle takes approx. 2 weeks from eggs to adult
• Transfer from one person to the next is possible

C. Epidemiology
• Mites are ubiquitous in the environment
• Cause disease directly by infesting their host and causing reactions
within the skin
• Scabies

D. Clinical Symptoms
• For itch mites, initial symptoms are minimal but, after the infestation
spreads, pimple-like lesions appear on the skin where a burrow exists
and intense itching begin
• severe local pruritis
• hair loss in the area of infestation
• night-time pruritus

E. Treatment
• creams and lotions (permethrin lotion)
• clean and disinfect clothing, bedding, and towels thoroughly by
washing in hot water and drying in a hot clothes dryer.

F. Prevention and Control

• The focus is to prevent the spread to unaffected individuals and to
prevent reinfestation of the initial case
o all clothing, bedding, and towels are washed in hot water and
dried in a hot clothes dryer.
o If clothes cannot be washed right away, placing them in a plastic
bag will prevent mites from spreading and nding another meal
 source

III. FLEAS

A. Morphology
• Size range of 1.2 to 4 mm
• Equipped with three pairs of powerful hairy legs and clawlike feet
• Mouth parts of fleas are designed for piercing and blood sucking

B. Life Cycle
• Flea eggs are deposited onto the ground by the female adult following
mating and feeding via a blood meal
• Larvae emerge following a 3- to 10-day incubation period
• Mature third-stage larvae spin a cocoon and may remain in this pupal
stage up to 1 year
• Adult fleas emerge from the cocoon and may survive for 1 year or
longer

C. Epidemiology
• worldwide distribution – prefer tropical and subtropical regions
• responsible for transmitting:
o Dipylidium caninum
o Hymenolepis nana
o Hymenolepis diminuta
 o Yersinia pestis (plague) – serves as vector for the dss

D. Clinical Symptoms
• Some remains asymptomatic
• Intense itching – secondary bacterial infections
• Dermatitis
• Ulcerations
• Nodular swelling at bite site

E. Treatment
• TOC: remove the fleas
• Thorough cleaning and disinfecting the bite site

F. Prevention and Control

• Protecting domesticated animals (cats and dogs) form fleas
• Commercial products
• Thorough disinfection of household products/articles that come into
contact with dogs and cats

IV. FLIES
 A. Morphology
• Measure from 1 to 15 mm in length
• All fly species possess two pairs of wings; one pair is smaller than the
other
• Head, thorax, and abdomen appear as three separate sections
• Flies have one pair of antennae and one pair of eyes
• Three pairs of legs are the rule

B. Life Cycle
• Metamorphosis – a process of complete transition from
developmental stage to a stage which is morphologically different
• Fly larvae emerge from eggs
• The formation of a cocoon stage (known as a pupa) prior to becoming
an adult is a standard occurrence in the fly life cycle

C. Epidemiology
• Found worldwide
• Species:
o Tsetse Fly – Africa
▪ Trypanosoma dss
o Sandfly – Asia, So. America, Central America, Mediterranean,
Mexico
▪ Leishmania
o Black Fly – Africa, Mexico, Central and So. America
 ▪ Onchocerca volvulus
o Deer Fly – Tropical Africa
▪ Loa loa

D. Clinical Symptoms
• Enteritis – cross-contamination of exposed foods
• Myiasis – human tissue infestation by fly larvae (bot flies)

E. Treatment
• Often not necessary for a typical fly bite
• Topical ointments
• Tx for myiasis – complete excision of the lesion with tx to prevent
secondary bacterial infection

F. Prevention and Control

• Education
• Wearing protective clothing
• Use of screens
• Use of insect repellants

V. LICE
 A. Morphology
• Head and body lice (the singular form of lice is louse) are wingless
ectoparasites that have three-segmented bodies consisting of a head,
thorax, and abdomen
• In general, lice are equipped with three pairs of legs with clawlike feet
that extend from the thorax region
• Measures 2 to 3 mm long

B. Life Cycle
• Adult lice lay their eggs, also known as nits, on or very near their
respective specific hosts
• Head lice eggs may be found in the hair shafts of the head and neck
• Body lice eggs are typically found in clothing fibers and occasionally
on chest hairs
• Pubic lice lay their eggs mainly in the pubic hair region
• It takes 24 to 27 days from the time the lice eggs are laid to pass through
three nymph stages and transform into young adult lice
• Typically lives for only 30 days
 C. Epidemiology
• Worldwide
• Seen in areas with poor personal and general hygiene
• Transferred directly from person to person
• Lice have the ability to migrate from one host to another, with only
slight person-to-person body contact
• Crab lice are primarily transmitted through close personal contract,
especially during sexual intercourse
• Infected clothing or other personal articles also serve as sources of
possible head, body, and crab lice infections

D. Clinical Symptoms
• Pediculosis – infestation with lice
• Itchy papules at site
• Inflammation at site
• Secondary bacterial infection may occur

E. Treatment
• Direct application of benzene hexachloride lotion – destroy eggs and
adults

F. Prevention and Control

• Personal hygiene and general hygiene practices
• Prompt treatment of known infestation
VI. MOSQUITOES

A. Morphology
• More than 3000 documented species are known to exist
• The typical adult mosquito has a three-segmented body consisting of a
head, thorax, and abdomen
• Mosquitoes have two pairs of wings; one pair is smaller than the other
• Generally 6 to 8 mm long

B. Life Cycle
• Adult mosquitoes lay their eggs in water or on a moist substance that
eventually accumulates water (stagnant)
• Young larvae hatch out of the eggs after an incubation period that
varies with the individual species
• Maturation transitions through four larval forms, resulting in the pupal
form
• The pupa matures eventually to adult

C. Epidemiology
• Worldwide
• Considered as the most important group of pathogenic microorganism
transmitters
• Genera:
o Anopheles – worldwide
▪ Plasmodium vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, P. falciparum
 o Culex, Aedes, Anopheles – worldwide, particularly tropics and
subtropics
▪ Wuchereria brancofti
o Anopheles, Mansonia, Armigeres, Aedes – Parts of Asia and
So. Pacific
▪ Brugia malayi

D. Clinical Symptoms
• Irritating dermatitis – most notable symptom

E. Treatment
• OTC lotions and ointments (calamine or Benadryl lotions)

F. Prevention and Control

• Avoidance of areas ok known mosquito concentration
• Insect repellants
• Wear protective clothings
• Screens
• Insecticide