PARASITOLOGY: INTRODUCTION TO Example: Entamoeba histolytica, which
MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY derives nutrition from the human host
and causes amebic dysentery.
Parasitology – is the branch of biology
that studies the phenomena of Parasites
interdependence between living things.
Organisms referred to as
Medical Parasitology – mainly focused parasites rely on a host for their
on human parasites, their medical value, continued existence and
and their role in human communities. development.
Biological Relationships
o Endoparasite – A parasite
Symbiosis –the existence of that lives directly inside the
different organisms. It could body of a host.
involve advantages or protection o Ectoparasite – Parasite
for one or both organisms. that lives outside the host’s
Commensalism - has a body.
relationship between two Obligate Parasites –
species, where one Parasite that depends
species benefits and the completely on the host for
other one is unaffected. its development and
existence.
Example: Entamoeba coli in the
Facultative Parasites –
intestinal lumen are supplied with
Parasites may live in the
nourishment and are protected from
absence of a host or may
harm, while it does not cause any
exist in a free-living state
damage to the tissues of its host.
and may turn parasitic
Mutualism - is when the need arises.
characterized by two Accidental Parasite – Also
distinct species that are known as “INCIDENTAL
both benefiting in various PARASITE,” a parasite that
ways. typically lives in a different host
than the one it is currently living
Example: termites and flagellates in their
on.
digestive system, which synthesize
cellulase to aid in the breakdown of
Permanent Parasites – remain
ingested wood.
in the body of a host for the entire
Parasitism - is a situation life.
in which one species gains
at the expense of the other
in an association between Temporary Parasites – lives on
two organisms that exist. the host for a short period of time.
developing inside the host
Spurious Parasites - Organisms should it be transmitted.
that are parasitic on another host Therefore, a biologic
and enter the human intestine vector plays an essential
before being discovered in the role in the parasite life
waste after ingesting cycle
Example: When an Aedes mosquito
Hosts sucks blood from a patient with filariasis
Host - Based on their function in Mechanical or Phoretic
the parasite's life cycle, can be Vector – only transport the
divided into several categories. parasite.
Example: Flies and cockroaches that
o Definitive Host – also known as
feed on fecal material.
“FINAL HOST”, Where the
parasite's life cycle includes a
sexual phase.
Exposure and Infection
o Intermediate Host – Harbors the
non-sexual phase of the The majority of parasites are
parasites. pathogens, which are dangerous
o Paratenic Host - A host that is and frequently cause their hosts'
not required for the growth of a bodies to bleed out.
certain type of parasite but may
nevertheless be used to support
Sources of Infection
that parasite's life cycle until it is
transferred to an essential host. Most common ate contaminated
o Reservoir Host - A host that is soil and water
linked to the pathogen and acts Food, which may contain the
as a reservoir for the infectious infective stage of the parasite
agent it spreads to a potential Arthropods can also transmit
host. infection
o Incidental Host - Humans could Another person’s bedding and
be the disease's primary host or clothing, as well as the immediate
an incidental host of parasites environment he has
that are common in other contaminated, or even one’s self.
species.
Modes of Transmission
Vectors
Portal of entry is mouth
Are in charge of spreading the Skin penetration is another route
parasite from one host to another of transmission
Biologic Vector - Only after
the parasite has finished
Arthropods also serve as vectors consist of a single word written in
and transmit parasites through the initial capital letter; the
their bites. specific name always begins with
Congenital transmission a small letter. The names of the
Inhalation genera and species are italicized
Sexual intercourse or underlined when written.
Life Cycle
Injurious Effects of Parasites on the
Host Through the process of adapting
to their hosts and the surrounding
1. Body fluids or suck blood
environment, parasites have
- Ticks, fleas, hookworms
created life cycles that can be
2. Feed and destroy body tissue
either straightforward or complex.
- Hookworm, liver flukes
The majority of parasitic
3. Absorb food intended for the host
organisms mature sexually while
- Ascaris, tapeworm
living on their permanent hosts.
4. Mechanical obstruction
Others are introduced to the
- Ascaris (bile duct), filaria
outside environment before being
(lymph vessels)
brought in by a suitable host,
5. Pressure atrophy, tumors,
while some live their entire lives
nodules
inside the host with successive
- Hydatid cyst of tapeworms
generations.
6. May destroy host cells by growing
in them
- Plasmodium inside rbc Epidemiologic Measures
7. Produce irritation, allergic
Epidemiology – a study of
reaction, toxic substances, and
patterns, distribution, and
inflammation through enzymes
occurrence of disease.
Incidence - number of new
infections that spread through a
Nomenclature
community in a particular period
Classes, which are further of time
classified into orders, families, Prevalence – the number of
genera, and species, compose people in a community that are
each phylum. Additional suborder, believed to be infected with a
superfamily, and subspecies specific parasite species at a
divisions may occasionally be given moment, typically stated as
used. a percentage.
Scientific names are Latinized; Cumulative prevalence –
family names are formed by percentage of individuals in a
adding -idea to the stem of the population infected with at least
genus type; generic names one parasite.
Intensity of infection – refers to of age, sex, infection status, or
burden of infection which is other social characteristics.
related to the number of worms Preventive Chemotherapy - is a
per infected person. routine, methodical, widespread
Morbidity is the term used to intervention that involves giving
describe the clinical effects of one or more medications to
infections or diseases that have certain demographic groups with
an impact on a person's health. the intention of lowering morbidity
and preventing the spread of a
particular helminth infection.
Treatment Coverage – the proportion of the
target population reached by an
Deworming - use of anthelminthic intervention.
drugs Efficacy – effect of a drug against
Cure rate - refers to the number an infective agent in deal
of previously positive participants experimental conditions and
who were determined to be egg isolated from any context.
negative on testing of a stool or Effectiveness – t measure of the
urine sample using a standard effect of a drug
protocol at a specific time Drug resistance - genetically
following deworming (typically passed on loss of drug
given as a percentage). susceptibility in a parasite
Egg reduction rate (ERR) - population that was formerly
percentage fall in egg counts responsive to the recommended
after deworming based on treatment dose.
examination of a stool or urine
sample using a standard
procedure at a set of time after
the treatment.
Selective treatment – involves
individual-level deworming with
selection for treatment based on
a diagnosis of infection
Targeted treatment – group-level
deworming where the (risk) group
to be treated may be defined by
age, sex, or other social
characteristics irrespective of
infection status.
Universal treatment – population-
level deworming in which the
community is treated irrespective
