INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL

PARASITOLOGY
Prepared by: Geraldine P. Pulido
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

Definition of terms:
• PARASITOLOGY:
– concerned with phenomenon of dependence
of one living organism

• MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY:
– concerned with animal parasite of humas and
their importance to the community
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

Definition of terms:

• TROPICAL MEDICINE
– deals with tropical diseases and medical
problems of tropical regions

• PARASITE
– live in/within another living organism and
derives all benefits
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

Definition of terms:
• HOST: Body upon which parasite live
• PARASITOSIS
– disease dependent on the presence of
parasite
a. Infection
b. Infestation
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

Definition of terms:

AUTOINFECTION:
– Source of infection: own self

SUPERINFECTION:
– Hyperinfection
– further infection with the same species
leading to massivve infection with the parasite
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

Definition of terms:

EXPOSURE: inoculation of infective stage

INCUBATION PERIOD:
– period between the exposure to the infective
stage and manifestation of signs and
symptoms

VECTOR: carries the parasite from an

infected person to another
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

Classification of Parasites

A. ACCORDING TO PATHOGENECITY:

1. Pathogenic: can cause disease

2. Nonpathogenic: cannot cause disease

under normal condition
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

Classification of Parasites

B. ACCORDING TO NECESSITY TO HOST

a. Obligate parasite: needs a host to

complete life cycle and development
b. Facultative Parasite: free-living parasite
c. Accidental or Incidental Parasite:
establishment of parasite where it does
not ordinarily live
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

Classification of Parasites
B. ACCORDING TO NECESSITY TO HOST

d. Permanent Parasite: remains on or in the

body of the host for its entire life

e. Temporary Parasite: lives on the host only for

a short time

f. Intermittent parasite: visit the host on certain

time
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

Classification of Parasites
B. ACCORDING TO NECESSITY TO HOST

g. Spurious:
– free-living organism that passes through the
digestive tract without causing disease

h. Wandering parasite:
– parasite happens to reach a place within the
host where it does not normally live
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

Classification of Parasites

C. ACCORDING TO HABITAT:
a. Ectoparasite: living outside the body of
the host

b. Endoparasite: living inside the body of

the host
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

Classification of Parasites
C. ACCORDING TO HABITAT:
b. Endoparasite: living inside the body of
the host
– Enterozoic: in the intestine
– Histozoic: in the tissues
– Cytozoic: in the cells
– Coelozoic: in the body cavity
– Hematozoic: in the blood cells
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

Classification of Parasites
C. ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF HOST
REQUIRED:
1. Monoxenous: requires one host

2. Heteroxenous: requires two or more host

3. Autoheteroxenous:
– definitive host of one generation becomes the
intermediate host of the next generation
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

TYPES OF HOST

1. Definitive Host:
– harbors the sexual stage; adult stage

2. Intermedite Host
– harbors the larval stage; asexual stage

3. Paratenic Host
– transport host; no development of parasite
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

TYPES OF HOST
4. Reservoir Host
– serve as source of infection
• Pigs
• Field Rats
• Cats
5. Carrier:
– harbors a particular pathogen without
manifesting any signs and symptoms
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

BIOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS
1. Symbiosis: close association between
different organism

2. Mutualism: two organism mutually benefit

from each other

3. Commensalism: one organism benefits

while the other is neither benefitted nor
harmed
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

BIOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS
4. Parasitism:
– one organism benefits while the other organism
is neither benefited but harmed by the activities
of the organism

5. Phoresis:
– travelling together of parasite
– not physiologically dependent on each other
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

SOURCES OF INFECTION
1. Contaminated Soil: lack of sanitary toilets;
use of human excreta as fertilizers

2. Contaminated Water

3. Contaminated Food:
• Undercooked fish
• Undercooked pork
• Undercooked Beef
• Raw Crabs
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

SOURCES OF INFECTION
4. Arthropods
– Mosquitoes
– Triatoma bugs
– Sandflies
– Mollusks

5. Wild or Domestic Animals

6. Autoinfection
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

MODES OF TRANSMISSION
1. Ingestion of the infective Stage
2. Skin Penetration
a. Soil Transmitted
b. Water-borne transmitted
3. Arthropods:
4. Direct Contact
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

PORTALS OF ENTRY
– Channels/Route/way through which parasite
gain access
• Mouth
• Skin
• Genitourinary tract
• Transplacental
• Transmammary
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

PORTALS OF EXIT
– Way by which parasite escape from the host
– used in laboratory testing

• Stool
• Urine
• Blood
• Sputum
• CSF
• Tissue aspirates
• Biopsy Material
• Swabs from orifice
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

HOST-PARASITE RELATIONSHIP

Pathogenecity:
• Dependent on host's immune response
• Dependent on the property of parasite
– Number of parasite
– Tissue tropism
– Pathogenesis
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

HOST-PARASITE RELATIONSHIP

FACTORS that Determine Occurrence of

Disease:

Human Factor

Environmental Factors
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

HOST-PARASITE RELATIONSHIP

PREVENTION and CONTROL

1. Treatment of reservoir
2. Control of animal reservoir and vectors
3. Reduction of vehicle transmission
4. Interruption of transmission
 INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS

• Demonstration of Parasite
– provides definitive diagnosis

• Detection of Host Immune Response to the

Parasite
– Presumptive Identification