PARASITOLOGY

 Parasitology- prefix-para- “par”

o means –equal, occurring as pair.
o it could also be-near, beside,
beyond or alongside
o Therefore: parasitology- study of
those living closely to each other
o branch of biology - concerned with
the phenomenon of dependence of
one living organism on another PARASITE-HOST RELATIONSHIPS
 Includes SCIENTIFIC STUDY of:
Symbiosis
o life cycle and reproductive
behavior,  Living together; the association of 2 living
o the ways in which they cause organisms, each of different species.
disease, and the importance of the Commensalism
laboratory for diagnosis and
methods of halting their  Association of 2 different species of
multiplication. organisms that is beneficial to one and
 Clinical Parasitology neutral to the other.
o is concerned primarily with animal Mutualism
parasites of humans, especially the
 Association of 2 different species of
protozoa, worms, flukes, and
organisms that is beneficial to both.
arthropod parasites.
Parasitism
 Association of 2 different species of
WHAT ARE PARASITES AND WHY ARE
organisms in which one benefits at the
THEY IMPORTANT?
other’s expense.
 any organism that lives inside or on the
body surface of another organism;
 usually dependent on larger organism 2 IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN PARASITISM
that provides physical protection (shelter) The parasite
and nourishment (food) for survival  Usually depends on the host for survival
and are classified in several ways.

The host
 Are essential to the existence of parasites
 Harbor parasites and provide
nourishment to the parasite.

PARASITES: BASED ON HABITAT

Ectoparasites
 Parasites that live outside the host’s body
 Invasion of the body by ectoparasites is
called “infestation”.

Endoparasites
 Parasites that live inside the body of the
host.
 Invasion of the body by endoparasites is
called “infection”.
PARASITES: BASED ON ABILITY TO LIVE
INDEPENDENTLY OF THE HOST
Facultative parasites
 Parasites capable of living existing
independently of the host.

Obligate parasites
  Parasites that cannot survive outside the
host.

Parasites and based on mode of living

Permanent parasites Parasites that remain
in a host from early in
life to maturity.
Intermittent Parasite that simply 3. Food containing the parasite’s infective
parasites visit the host during
forms
feeding time.
Incidental parasites Parasite that occur in
an unusual host.
Transitory parasites Parasites whose larva
develops in a host
while the adult is free-
living.
Erratic parasites Parasites that are
seen in an unusual
organ, different from
that which it ordinarily 4. Blood sucking insects
parasitizes.

TYPES OF HOSTS
 Accidental or Incidental Host
o Host other than the normal one
that is harboring a parasite 5. Domestic or wild animal harboring
 Definitive host
o Host in which the adult/sexual
phase of parasite development
occurs.
 Intermediate host
o Host in which the larva/asexual
phase of parasite development
occurs.
 Reservoir host 6. Another person and their clothing,
o Host harboring parasites that are bedding, or the immediate environment
parasitic for humans and from
which humans may become
infected
 Transport/Paratenic host
o Host responsible for transferring a
parasite from one location to
another.

7. Autoinfection
SOURCES OF EXPOSURE TO INFECTION OR
INFESTATION
1. Soil contaminated or polluted with human
feces

2. Contaminated water MODES OF TRANSMISSION

Fecal-Oral Transmission

Skin penetration
PORTAL OF EXITS
 Anus
 Urine
 Excreted with sputum

MECHANISMS OF DISEASE PRODUCTION

BY PARASITES

Pathogenesis
 Refers to the dynamics of any disease
process
 Some parasites cause inapparent
Inhalation of eggs infection.
 For most helminthic infections, signs and
symptoms usually manifest only if a large
number of worms are present.

MECHANISMS OF DISEASE PRODUCTION

Traumatic Damage
 Direct physical damage caused by
parasite in organs it parasitizes
Lytic Necrosis
 Enzymes and other substances produced
by many parasites necessary for them to
digest food may cause harm to the host
Transplacental or congitenal infection
tissues.

Transmammary

Sexual intercourse