ML S MTA P 3

L E S SO N 1 : I NT RO D UCTI ON TO P ARA S ITOL O GY

HOST-PARASITE RELATIONSHIPS • Hymenolepis

Can complete its
Permanent nana
SYMBIOSIS – living together of phylogenetically different cycle in ONE host
(tapeworm)
organisms e.g., host and parasites Larval stage • S. stercoralis
passed in a host (larva in MAN,
1. Mutualism – beneficial to both organisms Transitory
but adult is free adult may be
2. Commensalism – beneficial to one organism, neutral to living FREE-LIVING)
the other • A. caninum & A.
3. Parasitism – one organism benefits, the other is braziliense
harmed (animal
hookworms) →
MAN is usually the Intermediate Host cutaneous
larva migrans
• Plasmodium Accidental / Occurring in an (CLM)
• Toxoplasma gondii Incident unusual host • T. canis & T.
• Echinococcus granulosus cati (non-
human
Ascaris) →
HOST visceral and
Harbors the ocular larva
Definitive adult/ sexual migrans
stage • A. lumbricoides
Harbors the Giardia lamblia Occurring in an
Erratic (small intestine →
larval/ asexual • Beaver unusual habitat
Intermediate lungs)
stage of the Fasciola hepatica Visits the host • Mosquitoes i.e.,
parasite • Sheep, cattle Intermittent during feeding female
Harbors a time Anopheles
parasite Non-
(dormant/ Zoonotic human/animal
inactive) that parasites
Paratenic /
does not develop • Schistosoma
Transport Requires TWO
but remains alive spp.
and is able to hosts for the
Periodic DH (for adult) – MAN
infect another larval and adult
IH (for larva) -
susceptible host stages
SNAILS
Animal that
allows the
parasite’s life
cycle to continue VECTOR
Reservoir • Leishmania
and become an
additional source spp. –
of human Phlebotomus
infection spp.
• Trypanosoma
cruzi –
Triatoma,
PARASITE
Biologic Part of the cycle reduviid bug
• Pediculus • Loa loa –
humanus chrysops,
Those outside the capitis (head deerfly, mango
Ectoparasite
body of the louse) fly
infestation
host • Pedis humanus • Plasmodium
corporis (body spp. – female
louse) Anopheles
• E. histolytica - Not part of the
Those inside the colon cycle; only • E. histolytica –
Endoparasite Mechanical
body of the • Loa loa – transmits house fly
infection
host subcutaneous parasite
tissues
Capable of
parasitic and MEDICALLY IMPORTANT PARASITES
• Naegleria,
free-living
Facultative Acanthamoeba, HELMINTHS OR WORM PARASITES
existence; can
S. Stercoralis • Nematodes/Roundworms
live with or
without host o Elongated, cylindrical, nonsegmented
Cannot live • Trematodes/Flukes
without a host; o Leaf-like
Obligatory depends entirely • Cestodes/Tapeworms
upon its host o Flat, segmented
for existence

DANGO ☾ - JE 1
 INTRODUCTION TO PARASITOLOGY

NON-HELMINTHS OR NON-WORM PARASITES

• Protozoa
o Amoeba, Flagellates, Ciliate, Sporozoa,
Microsporidia
• Arthropods
o Usually serve as vectors but are also considered
as parasites

ARTHROPODS
Ectoparasites Intermittent
Mosquitoes
(Wuchereria, Plasmodium & Brugia)
Pediculus humanus capitis
Ticks (Babesia)
Pediculus humanus corporis Cimex spp. (bed bugs) Mosquitoes Fleas
Bugs (T. cruzi)
Pthirus pubis Ticks Biting flies
Biting Flies (Leishmania spp. &
Sarcoptes scabiei
Trypanosoma brucei complex, Filariae)
Beatles, cockroaches & Fleas

DANGO ☾ - JE 2