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Clinical Parasitology (LECTURE) Modes of Parasite Transmission

Introduction to Parasitology Ingestion of contaminated food/drink
Hand-to-mouth transfer
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Insect bite
Entry via drilling through the skin
Parasitology – study of parasites Unprotected sexual relations
• The documentation of parasite existence by Mouth-to-mouth contact
the ancient Persians, Egyptians, and Greeks Droplet contamination
dates back to prehistoric times Eye contact with infected swimming water
Infection – invasion IN the body
Infestation – invasion ON the body
PARASITE-HOST RELATIONSHIPS
Disease – defined as the process with characteristic
symptoms, emerged, determining an effective means
Main focus of research of parasite-host:
of healing infected persons become a priority
• Recognition of these relationships
Vectors – transport carriers, responsible for • Search for patterns of the relationships
transmission • Development of methodologies to study these
Hosts – plants, animals, and humans known to harbor patterns
parasites
Terms Associated w/ Parasite-Host Relationship
Parasitic – disease caused by the presence of parasites Type of Parasite
• Because of global travel tends to result in Obligatory parasite Parasite that cannot
HIGHER parasite recovery rates survive outside of a host
Facultative parasite Parasite that is capable of
EPIDEMIOLOGY existing independently of a
host
Endoparasite Parasite that is established
• Most parasitic infections are found in
inside of a host
underdeveloped tropical and subtropical
Ectoparasite Parasite that is established
countries such as Haiti, Guatemala, and in or on the exterior
Myanmar (Burma) and countries on the surface of a host
African Continent Type of Host
• Increased population density, poor sanitation, Accidental/Incidental Host other than the normal
marginal water sources, poor public health host one that is harboring a
practices, and environmental changes parasite
Definitive host Host in which the adult
Populations at Risk for Contracting Parasites sexual phase of parasite
Individuals in underdeveloped areas and countries development occurs
Refugees Intermediate host Host in which the larval
Immigrants asexual phase of parasite
Visitors from foreign countries development occurs
Individuals who are immunocompromised Reservoir host Host harboring parasites
Individuals living in close quarters (e.g., prisons) that are parasitic for
Children who attend day care centers humans and from which
humans may be infected
Mode of transmission – means whereby a parasite Transport host Host responsible for
gains entry into an unsuspecting host transferring a parasite from
Arthropod – vector through which a parasite is passed one location to another
on to an uninfected host, most often via a blood meal Carrier Parasite-harboring host;
(bite) not exhibiting any clinical
symptoms but can infect
others
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Symptoms Associated with Parasitic Disease
Processes
Parasite-Host Relationship Terms Diarrhea
Symbiosis Living together; association of Fever
two living organisms, each of a Chills
different species Abdominal pain
Commensalism Two different species of Abdominal cramping
organisms that is beneficial to Elephantiasis
one and neutral to the other Anemia
Mutualism Two different species of Vitamin deficiency
organisms that is beneficial to Bowel obstruction
both Edema
Parasitism Two different species of Enlargement of major organs
organisms that is beneficial to Skin lesions
one at the other’s expense blindness
Commensal Relating to commensalism; two
different organisms in which on *Elephantiasis – enlargement of areas such as the
benefits and and neutral on the breast, leg, and scrotum caused by a parasite’s
other presence
Pathogenic Parasite that has demonstrated • Most commonly observed in parasitic
the ability to cause disease infections are abdominal cramping,
abdominal pain, and diarrhea
• The primary function of a host in a parasite-
host relationship is to carry on the parasite’s TREATMENT
life cycle
Parasite Treatment Options
PARASITIC LIFE CYCLES Antiparasitic medication
Change in diet
Infective stage – morphologic form that invades Vitamin supplements
humans Fluid replacement
Diagnostic stage – detected via laboratory retrieval Blood transfusion
methods Bed rest
• A parasitic life cycle consists of two common
phases: PREVENTION AND CONTROL
➢ Route of a parasite follows when in or
on the human body Preventive measures – designed to break the
Symptomatology and pathology of the parasite, transmission cycle
insights about the best method of diagnosis and Key goal of WHO and Doctors Without Borders:
selection of appropriate eradicating parasites
➢ Route of parasite follows
independently of human body Parasite Prevention and Control Strategies
Provides crucial information pertinent to Development and implementation of parasite
epidemiology, prevention, and control awareness education programs
Use of insecticides and other chemicals
Use of protecting clothing
DISEASE PROCESSES AND SYMPTOMS
Use of protective netting
Proper water treatment
• Major body areas associated: gastrointestinal
Good personal hygiene
(GI) tract and urogenital (UG) tracts, blood Proper sanitation practices
and tissue, liver, lung, miscellaneous locations Proper handling, cooking, and protection of food
such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), eye, skin, Avoidance of unprotected sexual relations
and extremities

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3. Arthropods (insects and their allies) –
SPECIMEN PROCESSING AND LABORATORY Animalia
DIAGNOSIS
• Groups of parasites in each classification table
Stool – most commonly submitted sample are organized by kingdom and subkingdom,
• Typical stool analysis consists of performing phylum and subphylum, and class
macroscopic and microscopic techniques on a
portion of unpreserved sample when available
O&P – “O” stands for ova (eggs) and “P” stands for
parasites; traditional parasite recovery method
• Other specimens including blood, tissue
biopsies, CSF, sputum, urine, and genital
material is also used
• Giemsa stain – procedure of choice for blood
samples submitted for parasite study
Cellophane tape preparation – methodology for
recovery of pinworm eggs
Enterotest (string test) – for recovery of several
parasites

Newer Parasite Laboratory Diagnosis Techniques

Direct fluorescent antibody (DFA)
Enzyme immunoassay (EIA)
Indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA)
Latex agglutination (LA)
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Rapid immunochromatography technique

Artifacts/confusers – suspicious forms that visually

resemble parasites in terms of size and morphology
Example: E. histolytica – single celled eukaryotic
animal known as a protozoa, typically measures 12 to
18 microns (UM) similar with polymorphonuclear
leukocytes average 1.5 um in size

PARASITE NOMENCLATURE AND CLASSIFICATION

• Scientific names of parasites are written in

italics and consist of two components, genus
(p.l., genera) and species
Example: Giardia intestinalis – Giardia is the genus
and intestinalis is the species name; abbreviation is G.
intestinalis
• -iasis: to denote such diseases or conditions
Example: giardiasis refers to the disease or condition
associated with Giardia intestinalis

Three Major Groups of Clinically Significant Parasites

1. Single-celled parasites – Protozoa
2. Multicellular worms – Metazoa helminths

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