INTRODUCTION TO PARASITOLOGY

MDSC 1002

Dr. R.A. Charles

Faculty of Medical Sciences,
St. Augustine, UWI
11/28/2019 E-mail: Roxanne.charles@sta.uwi.edu 1
 By the end of this session, you should be able to:

• Define parasitology.
• Recognise, with examples the major groups of
parasites affecting man and animals.
• Classify helminths according to phyla.
• Describe the life cycle and epidemiology of common
intestinal helminths.
• Discuss, giving examples, how parasites can harm
their hosts.
• Discuss the general modes of transmission, diagnosis,
treatment, prevention and control of parasites.

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 Parasitology: the study of organisms which
parasitize other organisms.
-Human parasitology
-Veterinary parasitology

Parasitology is the Study of:

The interaction between parasites and hosts.
Parasites of human and other animals (livestock, pets &
wildlife).
Genesis and development of parasitoses in the host.
Taxonomy, morphology, life cycles, and living needs of
parasites in the environment and in its host.
Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of parasitoses.
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 Why study Parasitology?

 To protect man and animals from parasitic infections.

 To improve the health status of man and animals.

 A number of animal parasites are transmitted to

humans (Zoonoses). Therefore, veterinary
parasitology is also important for public health.

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Life cycle:
The process
of a
parasite’s
growth,
development
and
reproduction,
which
proceeds in
one or more
different
hosts
depending on
the parasite
species
11/28/2019 Infective Stage is a stage when a parasite can 5
invade animal body and live in it .
 Types of Hosts

• Definitive (Final) Host: the host that harbors the adult or

sexually mature stages of the parasites. E.g. Humans for
the beef tapeworm.

• Intermediate Host: the host that harbors the immature or

larval stages of the parasites. There is further development
to become infective to the final host. E.g. cattle for the
beef tapeworm.

• Transport Host: similar to the intermediate host

but the parasites does not undergo further
development in this host. E.g. Earthworms for some
nematode eggs
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 Types of Hosts

• Paratenic Host: similar to a transport host but the

final host is infected by ingesting the paratenic host
which harbors the parasites. A paratenic host is also
known as a “Waiting host”.
• E.g. the successive fish hosts that are needed to
carry the broad fish tapeworm

• Reservoir Host: are hosts (susceptible hosts) that

maintain the larval and sometimes the infective
stages of parasites and may pass infection to other
species.
• E.g. Most wild animals.

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 • Phylum Sarcomastigophora
• Phylum Apicomplexa
Protozoology • Phylum Ciliophora
• Phylum Microspora
Parasitology

• Class Nematoda
• Class Trematoda
Helminthology • Class Cestoda
• Class Acanthocephala

• Class Insecta
• Class Arachnida
Entomology
• Class Pentastomida

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 Parasitic Protozoa
Phylum Sarcomastigophora
Subphylum Sarcodina

Entamoeba histolytica

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 Phylum Sarcomastigophora
Subphylum Mastigophora

Leishmania spp.

Trichomonas spp.
Giardia duodenalis
Syn. Giardia lamblia
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 Life Cycle of Giardia duodenalis
• Giardiasis
– Diarrheal disease
caused by G.
duodenalis
• Characterised by:
– Diarrhoea (acute or
chronic)
– Gas/bloating
– Greasy stools
– Stomach or
abdominal cramps
– Dehydration
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 Phylum Apicomplexa

Plasmodium spp. Toxoplasma gondii

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Cryptosporidium spp.
 Phylum Ciliophora
Balantidium coli =Neobalantidium coli= Balantioides coli

Cyst Trophozoite

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 Life Cycle of Balantidium coli

• Causes balantidiasis
• Large parasite (up to
130µm long)
• Swine are the
reservoirs
• Mostly asymptomatic
• Persistent diarrhoea
• Abdominal pain
• Perforated colon

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https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/giardia/pathogen.html
 Helminths
• Helminths: derived from the Greek
word helmins or helminthos, meaning
worm.

• Platyhelminthes- flukes, tapeworms and

other flatworms
• Nemathelminths- roundworms

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Classification of Helminths

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 Comparison of cestodes, trematodes and nematodes

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 Parasitic Helminths
Class Nematoda
Phylum Nemathelminths

Trichuris trichiura

Ascaris lumbricoides Ancylostoma spp.

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 Ascaris lumbricoides
• Causes ascariasis
• Soil-transmitted
helminth
• Associated with poor
hygiene & sanitation
• Up to 1.2 billion affected
• Usually asymptomatic
• Abdominal discomfort
• Intestinal blockage
• Impaired growth in
children
• Coughing

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 Ancylostoma spp. • Commonly called
hookworms.
• Soil-transmitted
nematode
• ~740 million infected
• Causes Cutaneous Larval
Migrans (CLM) in humans
• Severe itching of
infected skin
• Ancylostoma duodenale
and Necator americanus
found in GIT of humans

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 Trichuris trichiura
• Commonly called
whipworms
• Disease called trichuriasis
• ~800 million cases
worldwide
• Usually asymptomatic
• Gastrointestinal problems
– Abdominal pain,
diarrhoea, rectal
prolapse
– Growth retardation

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 Class Trematoda
Phylum Platyhelminthes

Other trematodes of man and/or

animals.
• Fasciola spp.
• Schistosoma spp.

Clonorchis sinensis
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 Class Cestoda
Phylum Platyhelminthes

Taenia solium
Taenia spp.
Echinococcus spp.
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 Taenia solium
• Commonly known as the
pork tapeworm
• Disease: taeniasis
• Larvae can encyst in
brain and other tissue
• Adult onset of seizures
in low-income countries

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 Class Insecta

Louse Fly Flea

Mosquito Bed bug 25

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 Class Arachnida

Ticks and Mites

Tick

Mites 26
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 Pathogencity and Pathogenic effects of
parasites

• Pathogenicity: the ability of an organism to produce

or cause disease (i.e. harm the host).

• Virulence: used interchangeably with pathogenicity,

refers to the degree of pathology caused by the
organism.

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The pathogenicity of a parasite depends on:

• Type of parasites

• Number of parasites present in the host

(parasite burden)

• Whether migration takes place or not in the

host

• Degree of adaptation that has developed

between the host and parasite
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 Parasites do harm their hosts in the following ways:
• By absorbing (sharing) readily digested food materials
intended for the host. E.g. Tape worms, Ascaris.

• By feeding on the tissues of the host. Feed on plugs of

solid tissue. E.g. Ascaris.

• By causing mechanical obstruction or pressure. Obstruct

hollow organs like intestine.
E.g. Ascaris obstruct small intestine of humans, calves,
piglets and chickens.

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• By causing wounds through which infection may
enter into the body. Eg. Hookworms

• By causing growth of tumors E.g. pork tapeworms

• By causing irritation to the host. E.g. Lice, ticks,

pinworms.

• By transmitting the causative agents of infectious

diseases (serving as vectors).
E.g. Aedes mosquito, houseflies.

• By causing cell destruction especially protozoan

parasites. E.g. Plasmodium spp.

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Parasites do harm their hosts in the following ways:
• By secreting toxins or other harmful substances such
as:
– Anti digestive enzymes: E.g. GIT worms

• By reducing immune status of their hosts.

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 Portals of entry of parasites

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 Modes of transmission
• Entry through the natural openings: Mouth, anus,
and openings of the respiratory tract.
E.g.- Ascaris, Taenia solium, nasal botfly

• Entry through the skin:

E.g. Hookworms, Schistosoma.

• Entry through blood sucking arthropods:

E.g. Malaria (Plasmodium spp.)

• Transplacental transmission:
E.g.Toxocara canis, Toxoplasma gondii

• Transmammary (colostrum or milk) route:

E.g. Hookworms, Toxocara canis,
11/28/2019 Toxocara vitulorum. 33
 Diagnosis of Parasitic Infections:

• 1. Clinical diagnosis

• 2. Laboratory diagnosis
Faecal Exam: Direct smear
Faecal Flotation
Faecal sedimentation

Urine exam: centrifugation method

Blood exam: Blood smears and staining

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 Treatment of Parasitic Infections:

1. Chemotherapy
(e.g. Anthelmintics)

2. Surgical

3. Adequate nutrition

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 Prevention and Control:

1. Reduction in sources
(proper hygiene, sanitation)

2. Public education

3. Destruction and/or control of reservoir hosts and

vector

4. Vaccines

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 Questions???

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