Introduction to Parasitology

Parasitology 1. Definitive Host

 Area of biology with the phenomenon of o in which the sexual life cycle takes place
dependence of one living organism on another 2. Intermediate Host
 Science in which deals most with living animals o in which asexual life cycle takes place
living at the expense of other living beings and able before it is deposited in the definitive
to develop and reproduce in them host
 Science that deals with organism that take up their Way by Which Egg & Larvae Leave the Body of the Host
abode temporarily or permanently 1. Liberated with feces, urine, sputum
2. Larvae maybe sucked from circulation by liberating
Medical Parasitology agent such as flies and mosquitoes
 Concerned primarily with the animal parasites of 3. Larvae may leave out with products of suppuration
humans and their medical significance as well as coming out from ulcers
their importance in human communities 4. Larvae may be ingested with flesh of the
intermediate host by the ultimate host
Tropical Medicine
 Branch of medicine which deals with tropical Mechanisms of Pathogenesis
diseases and other medical problems of tropical A. General Life Cycle
regions Parasite  host  migrate to location for
maturation  reproduce  parasite
Epidemiology
 Body of knowledge concerning disease in human B. Factors that determine intensity of Parasite Infection
population or community 1. Topography of locality – low-fat areas with warm
moist soil
Host 2. Faulty sanitary and hygienic measures
 Organism which provides food and shelter for 3. Poor social condition
parasites 4. Young age
5. Presence of intermediate host
Habitat 6. Custom of people
 Natural abode of parasites
C. How Parasites Damage the Host
Opportunistic parasites 1. Toxic or Lytic
 Parasites which are not normally pathogens but o Produce lysis of mucosa
become so due to impairment of the host o Production of lytic enzyme – ulcer of
resistance stomach
o Ex. Entamoeba histolytica
Vectors 2. Traumatic
 responsible for transmitting the parasite from one o Actual destruction by biting or eating up
host to another o Destruction brought about by mechanical
 insect that carries the infective stage of an or lytic or toxic substances
3. Mechanical destruction
organism to another person
o Ball of Ascaris
4. Migration to delicate organs
Divisions of Medical Parasitology
o Ascaris from intestine to bile duct to the
I. Protozoology
liver
II. Helminthology
5. Complicating Factor
A. Roundworms (Nematodes)
o Perforation of Ulceration
B. Flatworms (Trematodes & Cestodes)
6. Obstruction of Food
III. Medical Entomology (Arthropods)
o Ex. Taenia solium
7. Irritative or Inflammatory
Type of Parasite according to the Position in the Host
o Trichuris trichuria
1. Ectoparasite
8. Excessive reproduction
o organism which lives and develops
9. Specific pathogenicity
outside the body of the host
2. Endoparasite
Sources of Exposure
o organism which lives and develops inside
1. Contaminated soil
the body of the host
o A. lumbricoides
o T. trichuria
Type of Host in Relation to Various Stages of the Life Cycle of
o Stronglyoides stercoralis
Parasites

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 Introduction to Parasitology

o Hookworms o Ascaris lumbricoides

2. Contaminated water 4. Discharges
o Amoeba o from cervix  Trichomonas vaginalis
o Flagellates o Drancunculus medinensis
o blood flukes
o Taenia solium Mode of Living of Parasites
3. Food containing the immature infective stage of 1. Facultative
the parasite o Organisms which may live either as a
o Fish, crab snail  tapeworms, Capillaria parasitic or free-living existence under
o Beef, pork  Taenia, Trichinella favorable or appropriate circumstances
4. Blood-sucking insect 2. Temporary
o Malaria o Lives on the host only for a short period
o Leishmania of time
o Trypanosoma 3. Permanent
5. Domestic or wild animal harboring the parasite o Remains on or in the body of the host for
o Dogs  Dipylidum caninum its entire life
o Cats  Toxocara cati 4. Periodic
o Herbivorous animals  Trichostrongylus o When parasite is in its larval stage, it
6. Another person, his clothing, bedding or develops in a host that is different that of
immediate environment that he has contaminated an adult
o Entamoeba histolytica 5. Obligatory
o Enterobius vermicularis o Need a host at some stage of their life
o Scabies cycle to complete their development and
7. Oneself/Auto-infection to propagate their species
o Enterobius vermicularis 6. Transitory
o Strongyloides stercoralis o When parasite passes
7. Incidental
Mode of Transmission o A parasite which establishes itself in a
host where it does not ordinarily live
A. Portal of Entry 8. Pathogenic
1. Mouth o Parasite during its association with the
2. Skin penetration from the soil, fresh water host may cause certain local or general
o Necator body changes
o Ancyclostoma
3. percutaneously by blood-sucking insects
o Plasmodium
4. Inhalation of airborne eggs
o E. vermicularis
5. Transplacental
o A. lumbricoides
o T. gondii
o Plasmodium
6. Transmammary
o Strongyloides
o Ancyclostoma
o Plasmodium
7. Sexual intercourse
o Trichomonas vaginalis

B. Portal of Exit
1. Feces
o mostly all kinds of parasite
2. Urine
o Trichomonas vaginalis
o Strongyloides stercoralis
o Schistosoma hematobium
3. Sputum
o Paragonimus westermani

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