WMSU-ISMP-GU-003.

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Effective Date: 7-DEC-2016

ACTIVITY 9

HOST-PARASITE INFECTION

I. Introduction

In population dynamics, each species population are affected not only by the abiotic
factors that they are exposed to but as well as the various interactions they share with other
species as well. These interactions however are not always to the benefit of both species
interacting as there are instances where one of the two may be harmed.

Parasitism is defined as the symbiotic interaction between two individuals of

different species wherein the species that is harmed (host) serves a purpose for a species that
benefits (parasite). The “host” is usually harmed in various ways such as reduced nutrition,
reduced fecundity and death as the most extreme of outcomes to name a few. For “parasites”
however they receive a wide range of benefits from their host which includes but are not
limited to nutrition, protection as well as young rearing.

II. Objectives

At the end of this activity, students should be able to:

1. Discuss host-parasite interaction

2. Determine the effect of parasites on its host in terms of morphometric
indices

III. Concept/s Explanation

In understanding how parasitism affects a host species’ population dynamics is

affected, understanding the different Types and classifications of parasites is important.
Obligate vs Facultative
Obligate parasites – this type of parasites requires the presence of the host to
complete their entire life cycle. These parasites are heavily adapted to life with their host and
as such, will only harm their respective hosts without actually causing death to the host as
host’s death would cause these parasites to die unless they are transferred to a new host.
Facultative parasites – this type of parasite can survive without the presence of their
respective hosts. This is because these types of parasites can complete their respective life
cycles without the host. If a host becomes available, them they can infect these hosts to
perform some parasitic activities.
Ectoparasitism, Endoparasitism, and Mesoparasitism

Ectoparasitism – this pertains to parasitism that occurs when parasites are living
outside the body of the host. Unlike that of endoparasitism, ectoparasites

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causes relatively lower direct harm. However, they may serve as vectors that can transmit
diseases.
Endoparasitism – in here, endoparasites or parasites that directly live inside their
hosts are infecting the host. These types of parasites heavily rely on their hosts and therefore
causes a comparatively greater direct damage to their host compared to ectoparasites.
Mesoparasitism – this type of parasitism is an intermediate where a parasite
(mesoparasite) lives externally to the host but portion of its body extends deep into the body
of the host.
Necrotrophic versus Biotrophic

Necrotrophic Parasites – these parasites commonly called parasitoids, harms their

respective hosts to such extent that the host dies. These types are able to survive without the
hosts unlike obligate parasites.
Biotrophic Parasites – these parasites are those that are unable to survive without
the presence of their respective hosts. No fatal damage are given by the parasite to their
host.

IV. Work/ Practice Exercises

1. Fill up Table 1 in your worksheet

2. Go to the fish market and buy 10 pcs of Selar crumenophthalmus that contains
parasites in their buccal cavity as well as 10 pcs of Selar crumenophthalmus that lacks
parasites. Takes photos of the parasites that are found in the buccal cavity of the fish.
Measure the fork length (FL), standard length (SL), Body depth (BD), Head length (HL)
and weight (W) of each specimen (refer to picture below). Tabulate your results in Table
2.

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3. Compare the proportions of representatives of samples from the two groups by comparing
each measurement vis-à-vis weight. Do this by dividing the weight of each sample by
their corresponding length measurements. Fill this in the Table 3. Get the mean
measurements of these comparisons. Fill this in table 4. Answer guide questions in your
worksheet.

4. In the experimental farm of University W, Capra hircus or native goats are being breed
to study their biology and enhance the stock of the Philippine native goats. In the year
2015, it was identified that an unknown parasite was currently affecting the goats. These
goats were diagnosed, segregated, and quarantined from one another to prevent cross
contaminations from the parasites. Various data were collated from the isolated groups
and are plotted as follows. Examine the table below.

Quarterly # of live Oldest longest

Milk Live births per Serviceabl disease
Production Weight birthing e free period
Specimen (liters) males (kg) period Age(years) (weeks)
Healthy 1 1.3 34.2 2 12 28
2 1.5 32.4 3 11 28
3 1.2 35.1 3 12 32
4 1.4 34.3 2 11 30
5 1.2 35.2 3 10 31
6 1.3 33.4 2 10 29
7 1.4 34.5 2 9 29
8 1.1 35.4 3 11 30
# of live
Quarterly Live births per Oldest longest
Milk Weight birthing Serviceabl disease
Specimen Production Males period e Age free period
Infected by
Parasite X 1 0.8 28.7 2 11 24
2 0.7 29.8 2 9 20
3 0.8 30.2 1 11 21
4 0.75 30.5 2 10 22
5 0.9 29.4 1 10 20
6 1 31.2 1 9 19
7 0.8 30.9 2 9 22
8 0.7 31.1 1 8 21

5. Determine the mean values of the different data in the above table and fill in Table
5 in your worksheet. Plot this data in a line graph in Figure 1.

6. Answer guide questions

7. Accomplish worksheet at the end of this activity

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ACTIVITY 9

HOST-PARASITE INFECTION

WORKSHEET

Name: Baguio, Nathalie Mae B. Date submitted: 11 – 25 – 2022

Tatel, Deasserei C. Class Schedule : TF ( 4 – 7 PM)
Section: BS BIOLOGY 4C

In the table 1 below, multiple host-parasite interaction occurs (column 1). Determine the various
types of parasitism exhibited by the examples (Columns 2, 4 and 6) as well as provide
justification for your choices (Columns 3, 5 and 7 respectively).

Table 1. Host-Parasites Interaction

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7

Host – Parasite Obligate Justification Ecto- , Justification Necrotrophic Justification
Interaction Vs. Endo- , Vs.
Facultative Meso- Biotrophic
Parasitism Parasites
Coxiella burnetii Facultative Coxiella burnetii EndoparasitismC. Burnetii Necrotrophic Coxiella burnetii
and Goats can live outside of bacteria can be Parasites can live in and
the host, which is found in infected outside the host for
the goat, but once weeks or months,
goat's birth
inside, it will infect or it can live inside
the goat and
products the host and harm
perform parasitic (placenta, or kill the goat.
activities such as Q amniotic fluid),
fever. urine, feces, and
milk.
Phasmarhabditis Facultative Phasmarhabditis Mesoparasitis Phasmarhabditis Necrotrophic Phasmarhabditis
hermaphrodita hermaphrodita m hermaphrodita Parasites hermaphrodita
and slugs are capable of live in the slugs can be found is
growing on where they are slug feces,
slugs, wherein feeding and wherein they
they harmed and developing in it. harm and kill the
kill the slugs. slugs.
Ichneumonid Facultative It sometimes Ectoparasitism Ichneumonid Necrotrophic Ichneumonid
wasps and kills the spider; Wasps lives on Wasps can harm
spiders other times, it the outside or and kill the
allows the spider skin of the spider.
to live for a few spider. Where it
weeks. The sting transmits an
captures and infectious agent
paralyzes of an animal to
spiders. other animal.
Common cuckoos Obligate The cuckoo Ectoparasitism Common cuckoos Biotrophic The cuckoo is a
and great reed benefits from the lives outside of the brood parasite,
relationship, host wherein it lays which means it
warbler in egg to the other
while the warbler lays its eggs in
nest. forcing the
is harmed. great reed wabler
unwitting "foster
parents" to hatch nests. Cuckoos
and raise the are expert

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cuckoo's chicks. tricksters: their

eggs mimic those
of their hosts in
pattern though
they are a little
bigger. cuckoo
nestlings do not
kill those of the
host. Cuckoos
defend territories
against other
birds.

Table 2. Samples with and without Parasites

Sample Measurements for Samples with Measurements for Samples without

no. Parasites Parasites
FL SL BD HL W FL SL BD HL W
1 20.8 cm 17.8 cm 6 cm 5.8 cm 150g 13.8 cm 12.5 cm 3.7 cm 4.2 cm 40g
2 19 cm 17.5 cm 6 cm 5.5 cm 150g 13.6 cm 12.1 cm 3.5 cm 3.7 cm 38g
3 16.7 cm 14.6 cm 4.7 cm 5 cm 85g 13.7 cm 12.3 cm 3.9 cm 4.0 cm 41g
4 17.5 cm 14.5 cm 4.5 cm 5 cm 80g 13.4 cm 11.6 cm 3.8 cm 3.9 cm 37g
5 17 cm 14.5 cm 4.8 cm 4.8 cm 75g 13.7 cm 12.4 cm 4.0 cm 4.1 cm 40g
6 16 cm 14 cm 4.5 cm 4.8 cm 80g 13.0 cm 11.7 cm 3.8 cm 4.0 cm 37g
7 15.8 cm 14 cm 4.3 cm 4.5 cm 65g 13.7 cm 12.2 cm 4.0 cm 4.0 cm 42g
8 15.6 cm 13.7 cm 4.4 cm 4.5 cm 60g 13.8 cm 12.5 cm 4.1 cm 4.3 cm 40g
9 12.4 cm 11.1 cm 3.3 cm 3.8 cm 33g
10 12.3 cm 11.2 cm 3.5 cm 3.8 cm 30g

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Table 3. Body measurement of Selar crumenophthalmus

Sample Measurements for Samples with Measurements for Samples without
no. Parasites Parasites
FL / W SL / W BD / W HL / W FL / W SL / W BD / W HL / W
1 0.14 0.12 0.04 0.04 0.35 0.31 0.09 0.11
2 0.13 0.12 0.04 0.04 0.36 0.32 0.09 0.10
3 0.20 0.17 0.06 0.06 0.33 0.3 0.10 0.10
4 0.22 0.18 0.06 0.06 0.36 0.31 0.10 0.11
5 0.23 0.19 0.06 0.06 0.34 0.31 0.1 0.10
6 0.2 0.18 0.06 0.06 0.35 0.32 0.10 0.11
7 0.24 0.22 0.07 0.07 0.33 0.29 0.10 0.10
8 0.26 0.23 0.07 0.08 0.35 0.31 0.10 0.11
9 - - - - 0.38 0.34 0.1 0.12
10 - - - - 0.41 0.37 0.12 0.13

Table 4. Mean body measurement of Selar crumenophthalmus

MEAN With Parasites Without Parasites
FL / W 0.20 0.36
SL / W 0.18 0.32
BD / W 0.06 0.1
HD / W 0.06 0.11

Guide Questions

Which among the proportion comparisons are higher?

Among the proportion comparison, the highest is the Fork length, specifically in Selar crumenophthalmus
species without parasites.

Question 1. How would endoparasites affect their respective hosts in this case Selar
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crumenophthalmus? Explain.

The infection of parasites varied according to fish body weight. The relationship between parasite
infection and host body length varied according to host and parasite. The larger the fish host, the
larger sizes of parasites collected compared to small fishes. The body weight had an effect on the
prevalence of endo parasites and total infected fishes. For fishes having a high number of parasites,
the weight, species, and gonadal stage of fish started to have a significant effect on the intensity of
infection.

Question 2. How would these effects of parasites affect the population of a fish species?
Explain.
Several ecological factors and host attributes can influence the number and diversity of parasites
infecting hosts at the individual level. ). In fish, these factors may include age or size, the number of
different prey consumed, prey selectivity, habitat, etc. According to Locke et al. 2014). Cipriani et
al. (2017) that specific oceanographic or ecological factors at the actual fishing area have a greater
effect on the certain parasite infection level than specific fish host characteristics such as body size.

Table 5. Mean table of Capra hircus samples

Quarterly Live # of live births Oldest

Milk Weight per birthing Serviceable longest disease-free
Production Males period Age period (weeks)
Healthy 1.3 34.31 2.5 10.75 29.63
Infected 0.81 30.23 1.5 9.63 21.13

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Figure 1. Line graph of Healthy and Infected Capra hircus

Guide Questions:

1. Determine how the presence of the parasite affects the population of native goats in terms
of the enumerated factors below and explain these in relation to the data presented.
Fecundity: According to (Hudson et al. 1998). Several studies using various host-parasite systems have
revealed that parasites can influence host populations by reducing host density or even driving host
populations to extinction. It has been shown that many parasite infections reduce host fecundity and
survival. Some parasites can be found in the birth products (placenta, amniotic fluid), urine, feces, and
milk of infected goats. According to this statement, because parasites can be found in an infected goat's
birth, it has an effect on the goat's population growth or fecundity. Factors contributing to this are the
effects of climate change, because the parasites come from dust, or taking resources where goats have
access to stagnant water. Furthermore, stomach worm eggs and larvae are commonly found on wet
vegetation, such as dewy grass. Larvae can move up the grass and are consumed by sheep or goats.

Disease resistance: According to (Hepworth, K. et al.) Individual goats and sheep have varying degrees
of parasite susceptibility. Some animals are much more resistant or resilient to parasitic infections due to
their genetics, and can survive parasite levels without showing any symptoms, whereas another animal
may be killed by that level of infestation. This genetic resistance can be used to select breeding stock, as
a herd with more innate parasite resistance will cost more. less to maintain and will be more profitable in
the long run to the creator.

Life expectancy: Internal parasites decrease growth rates and in high levels can even cause death.The
primary goal of attempting to control other internal parasites is to disrupt the life cycle, which can be
accomplished in a variety of ways. Pasture Management Pasture management is critical in breaking the
lifecycle of internal parasites, as infective larvae can survive for long periods of time. periods of time
spent on pasture Goats' grazing habits make them much more vulnerable to parasites compared to other
species .
Conclusion:

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Success in parasitism is the result of a variety of mechanisms evolved by parasitic species to

confront and evade the responses of their hosts, together with their capacity to adapt the metabolic processes
of their hosts for their own benefit. Interactions between hosts and their parasites play a central role in their
evolution and greatly influence their biology and transmission.
Parasites that target host reproductive systems strike an optimal balance of resource
consumption in hosts. The parasite gleans a nutrient-rich source of energy for their growth and reproduction,
while taxing a host resource that is nonvital for host survival. Parasites can also exploit alterations in host
reproductive behavior to further increase parasite fitness. Many alterations of host behavior benefit the
parasite, and seem to constitute a parasite strategy for increased survival and reproduction.

References:
Hepworth, K. et al. (n.d). Managing Internal Parasitism in Sheep and Goats. Retrieved November 24, 2022 from
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/as/as-573-w.pdf

APPENDIX

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