Parasitology

Alexie J. Paquit
BIO112 – Medical Parasitology
Department of Biological Science
Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Government College
So, Nat’ralist observe, a Flea
Hath smaller Fleas that on him prey,
And these have smaller Fleas to bite ’em;
And so proceed ad infinitum.
—J. Swift, On Poetry (adapted from Foundations of Parasitology 2009 8 th Ed)
Parasites and Parasitism
Parasite - organisms that occupy
the third environment
- para (beside) sitos (food)
 How does parasitism differs from other form
of associations?

Symbiosis ≠ Mutualism
- living together (coined by DeBary
1876),
Mutualism- highly interdependent
association.
Commensalism – one way benefit

Parasitism - intimate relationship between

two organisms in which one lives on, off t
or a the expense of the other.
Rats, infected with tapeworm grow
larger than uninfected rats.

Molluscs, when infected with Digenetic

flukes develop thicker, heavier shells,
which could be deemed an
advantage.
 Parasitism according to Crofton:

• Ecological relationship between two different

organisms.
• Heavily infected hosts will be killed by their
parasites.
• The reproductive potential of the parasite exceeds
that of their hosts.
 What is Parasitology?
- Is the study of organisms living within a
specialized environment.
Two basic environments
1.micro-environment
2.macro-environment
 Host as an environment
• Host are complex habitats with many separate
habitats with differing biochemical properties.
• Larger animals provides dozens of
microenvironments
 Infection Sites
• Ectoparasite - lives on surface
• Endoparasite - live inside host
• Coelozoic parasites- occupy lumen of the
intestines.
• Histozoic-living within tissues.
WHY STUDY
PARASITISM?
 Why study parasitism?

-It can cause

infectious diseases
- can influence
reproductive
success of the host
Parasites can exert an influence on host evolution:

a) Macro-evolution
- Protein Polymorphism
b) Micro-evolution
- Parasites may also have a role in sexual selection
 Parasite Evolution
• Host evolves so does parasites
• A good parasite does not killed
its host
 Classification of Parasites based on
1. Habitat
a. Ectoparasites- parasites that live outside the host’s body
b. Endoparasites- parasites that live inside the body of the
host.
2. Ability to live independently of the host
a. Facultative parasites - parasites that can live independently
of the host.
b. Obligate parasite - parasites that must live inside a host
3. Mode of living
a. Permanent parasites- parasites that remain in a host from
early life to maturity.
b. Intermittent parasites- parasites that simply visit the host
during feeding time.
c. Incidental parasites- parasites that occur in an unusual host
d. Transitory parasites- parasites whose larva develops in a
host while the adult is free-living.
e. Erratic parasites- parasites that are seen in an unusual
organ, different from which it ordinarily parasitizes.
Four types of host
• Definitive or final host
• Intermediate host
• Paratenic or transport host
• Reservoir host
 Parasites’ Effects Upon the Host
1. Mechanical Damage mainly due blockages
2. Physical trauma
- cell-tissue destruction
- displacement of tissue or structures by hydatids
-ulceration due to insertion of hooks, spines, etc.
into intestinal wall
3. Nutritional diversion
- giardiasis results in diarrhea and malabsorption
4. Toxins/Excretory products/Immune complexes
- excretory products of some trematodes
and cestodes causing anaphylaxis;
- fibrosis and inflammation around
schistosome eggs;
5. Blood loss
Typical ways parasites transmitted
• INGESTION
• VECTORS
• DIRECT PENETRATION
Basic types of Parasitism and Terminology
• Hyperparasite
• Vectors
a. Biological vectors – bite of an insect
b. Mechanical vectors – flies contact to food
 Some additional terminology to be used in class
Anthroponoses - human diseases that can be
transmitted to animals
Epidemic - disease that affects a large number
of humans and spreads rapidly
Epizootic - disease that affects a large number
of non-human animals and spreads rapidly
Epizoic - living on the surface; a skin parasite
Euryxenous - broad host range
Heteroxenous - alternation of generations of a parasite
Incidence - the number of cases of an infection
occurring during a given period of time in relation to
the population unit in which they occur.
Infection - parasitic invasion resulting in injury
and reaction to injury.
Latent -non-visible infection
Monoxenous -single host life cycle
Parasitemia -parasites in blood
Pathogenic-results in disease or morbid
symptoms
Premunition-resistance to superinfection;
depends upon survival of parasites in host and
disappears with their elimination
Prevalence-number of organisms in a population
infected with a parasite at any one time
Virulence-relative infectiousness of a parasite
Zoonosis -animal diseases that may be
transmitted from animals to humans