Parasitology

Lecture -2-
 The routes of transmission

1. Congenital transmission: From mother to infant. Toxoplasmosis

2. Contact transmission:

Direct contact

{Skin contact, Sexual contact (Trichomonas vaginalis), Autoinfection (pinworm) . . . .

Indirect contact Schistosoma.

3. Food and drink transmission : The infections stage of parasites contaminated food and
drink / Example the meat of the intermediate hosts infections stage of parasites, E.
granulosus.
4. Water transmission : Drink or contact the water contaminated with infection stage
of parasites, schistosomiasis, amebiasis

5. Soil transmission : Contamination of the soil by feces containing the infections

stage of parasites, Ascaris, hookworm

6. Arthropod transmission : Vectors of certain parasitic diseases (Bite inoculation,

vector feces contaminating skin (intact or wounded skin) , Ingesting vector and vector
directly penetrates the skin).
 Symbiosis
The relationship between two living things (animals), live together.
 Commensalism
 Mutualism
 Parasitism
 Symbiosis
1. Mutualism
is where both organisms benefit, relationship is that of the oxpecker (a kind of
bird) and zebra.

2. Commensalism

is where one benefits and the other is unaffected, Entamoeba gingivalis, is an

obligatory commensal that is present in the mouth of humans where it feeds on bacteria,
food and dead epithelial cells but never harms the healthy tissue in the mouth.
3. Parasitism
Parasitos (para: beside; sitos: grain or food). Is where one benefits and the
other is harmed. The former that is beneficiary to is called parasite, the latter that is
harmful to is called host.
 Protozoa
Protozoa (singular, protozoan), from the greek ‘protos’ and ‘zoan’ meaning
“first animal” are a group of single-celled eukaryotes, either free-living or parasitic,
that feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or organic tissues and debris.
 Characteristic of protozoa
1. Protozoa are unicellular eukaryotes.
2. Protozoa are microscopic, ranging in size
from 2μm -100μm.
3. In most protozoa the cytoplasm is
differentiated into ectoplasm (the outer,
transparent layer) and endoplasm (the inner
layer containing organelles).
4. The plasma membrane enclosing the
cytoplasm also covers the projecting
locomotor structures as pseudopodia,
flagella and cilia.
5. Reproduction in Protozoa can be sexual or
asexual. Most Protozoa reproduce asexually
through binary fission.
 Classification of protozoa

 Protozoa of medical importance are classified based on their morphology and locomotive
system as described below:

1. Phylum: Sarcomastigophora: this phylum divided into two sub-phylum

- Sub-phylum 1: Sarcodina: Amoeba

- Sub-phylum 2: Mastigophora Flagellates

2. Phylum Apicomplexa:

3. Phylum Ciliophora (Ciliates):

 1- Sarcodina (Amoeba)
1. Amoebas primitive unicellular microorganisms
which can be divided into two stages:
• Trophozoite – actively motile feeding stage.
• Cyst – resistant and infective stage.
2. Amoeba is eukaryotic, their single cells.
3. They are free-living and feed on bacteria.
4. Motility is accomplished by extension of
pseudopodia (“false foot”), it can also use
pseudopodia to feed.
5. Their reproduction is through binary fission
(splitting of the trophozoite) e.g: Entamoeba
histolytica
 2- Mastigophora (Flagellates)

1. Flagellates are unicellular microorganisms.

2. Locomotion is by which move with the help of undulating and beating flagella
3. Reproduction is by simple binary fission e.g: Trypanosoma
3 – Apicompixa (Sporozoa)
4. It has complex life cycle is characterized by an alternation of generations, i.e.
sexual (gametogony) and Asexual (schizogony) reproduction
5. Most members of the group also share alternative hosts.
6. The locomotion of a mature organism by body flexion, gliding, or undulation
of longitudinal ridges, e.g: Blood parasites plasmodium spp. (malaria) and
(Toxoplasma).
4- The Ciliates
1. It is largest intestinal protozoan Balantidium coli
2. It is only member of the ciliate group that is pathogenic for humans.
3. Disease produced by B. coli is similar to Amebiasis.