Relationships of the medically important parasites.
Table: Classification of Parasites with Diseases and Symptoms
Category Parasite Name Species Name Disease Key Signs & Symptoms
Protozoa Sarcodina (Amebas)
Entamoeba Dysentery, abdominal pain,
E. histolytica Amoebiasis
histolytica liver abscess
Sporozoa
Protozoa
(Sporozoans)
P. falciparum, P.
Fever, chills, sweating,
Plasmodium spp. vivax, P. ovale, P. Malaria
anemia, splenomegaly
malariae, P. knowlesi
Fever, lymphadenopathy,
Toxoplasma gondii T. gondii Toxoplasmosis congenital defects in
newborns
Mastigophora
Protozoa
(Flagellates)
Watery diarrhea, bloating,
Giardia lamblia G. lamblia Giardiasis
malabsorption
Category Parasite Name Species Name Disease Key Signs & Symptoms
Fever, swollen lymph
Sleeping sickness,
Trypanosoma spp. T. brucei, T. cruzi nodes, cardiac
Chagas disease
complications
L. donovani, L.
Skin ulcers, fever,
Leishmania spp. tropica, L. Leishmaniasis
hepatosplenomegaly
braziliensis
Protozoa Ciliata (Ciliates)
Diarrhea, abdominal pain,
Balantidium coli B. coli Balantidiasis
weight loss
Metazoa Platyhelminthes
(Helminths) (Flatworms)
Trematoda (Flukes)
S. mansoni, S.
Hematuria, liver fibrosis,
Schistosoma spp. haematobium, S. Schistosomiasis
portal hypertension
japonicum
Jaundice, fever, right upper
Fasciola hepatica F. hepatica Liver fluke disease
quadrant pain
Cestoda
(Tapeworms)
Intestinal discomfort,
Taeniasis,
Taenia solium T. solium neurocysticercosis
Cysticercosis
(seizures)
Mild intestinal symptoms,
Taenia saginata T. saginata Taeniasis
weight loss
Echinococcus Cyst formation in liver and
E. granulosus Hydatid disease
granulosus lungs, abdominal pain
Metazoa Nemathelminthes
(Helminths) (Roundworms)
Malnutrition, intestinal
Ascaris lumbricoides A. lumbricoides Ascariasis
blockage, cough
Enterobius Perianal itching, irritability
E. vermicularis Pinworm infection
vermicularis in children
Category Parasite Name Species Name Disease Key Signs & Symptoms
Strongyloides Diarrhea, abdominal pain,
S. stercoralis Strongyloidiasis
stercoralis rash
Muscle pain, fever,
Trichinella spiralis T. spiralis Trichinellosis
periorbital edema
Wuchereria Lymphatic Lymphedema,
W. bancrofti
bancrofti filariasis elephantiasis
Parasite
A parasite is an organism that lives on or inside another organism (host) and derives nutrients at the
host’s expense.
May be unicellular (e.g., Plasmodium) or multicellular (e.g., worms)
Causes parasitic diseases
May live:
o Ectoparasite: on the body (e.g., lice)
o Endoparasite: inside the body (e.g., helminths)
Flatworms (Phylum: Platyhelminthes)
Flat, soft-bodied, bilaterally symmetrical worms. They are hermaphroditic and lack a complete digestive
system. (Hermaphroditic means that a single organism has both male and female reproductive organs
— so it can produce both eggs and sperm)
Cestodes (Tapeworms)
Ribbon-like, segmented (proglottids)
No digestive system – absorb nutrients via skin
Life cycle involves intermediate hosts
Adult stage lives in intestine
🔹 Trematodes (Flukes)
Leaf-shaped, unsegmented
Have a digestive tract but incomplete (no anus)
Typically have complex life cycles involving snails as intermediate hosts
Can infect blood, liver, lungs, or intestines
Roundworms (Phylum: Nematoda)
Cylindrical, unsegmented worms with a complete digestive system (mouth and anus). They are dioecious
(separate sexes).
Most live in intestine, but some migrate through tissues
Many have direct life cycles (no intermediate host needed)
