Dr.

Ashraf Salah
08/05/2023
• Medical Parasitology : is the medical
science dealing with parasites which live
temporarily or permanently, on or

within the human body (host).

• Parasite : is a living organism which takes its
nourishment from a “host”.

• Host : is an organism which supports the parasite.

(i.e., the host provides the parasite with food and shelter)
• Types of Parasite :
1. Endo parasite : living inside the host (e.g., intestinal worms).

2. Ecto parasite : living on the outer surface of the host (e.g., fleas – lice).
3. Obligate Parasite: is completely dependent on its host during its life
cycle, e.g., Plasmodium.

4. Facultative parasite: that can live either free – living or as a parasite,

e.g., Naegleria fowleri.
Plasmodium (obligate parasite)
(Causative agent of malaria)

Plasmodium multiplies
in the liver then RBCs.
Parasitic Cycle Free-living Cycle

Feeding on Bacteria
in water & soil

Primary Amoebic
Meningoencephalitis

Naegleria (Facultative parasite)

Free - living (Brain – eating) Amebae
• Types of Host :
1. Definitive host: which harbors the adult stage of parasite (in
helminthes), or where the parasite multiplies sexually (in protozoa).

2. Intermediate host: which harbors the larval (immature) stages of

parasite (in helminthes), or where the parasite multiplies asexually (in
protozoa).

3. Reservoir host: “usually animal” which harbors the adult stage of

parasite, and acts as a continuous source of human infection (a non –
human definitive host).
 I.H.2 Heterophyes
D.H.
Encysted
metacercaria
R.H.

1.5 mm
in
length

I.H.1

Habitat
Swallowed
by snail
In Heterophyes Life Cycle:
Habitat: Small intestine of man and fish - eating animals
(Where the parasite lives inside host)

Definitive host: Man

(harboring adult worms)

Reservoir host: Fish-eating animals “dogs & cats”

(harboring adult worms)
Intermediate hosts: (A) First intermediate host: snail
(harboring larval stages) (B) Second intermediate host: fish

Infective stage: Encysted metacercariae in fish muscles

Mode of infection: Ingestion of raw, undercooked or

undersalted fish containing encysted
metacercariae.
Diagnostic stage: Eggs in stool
 Cattle
Sheep

Intra hepatic
bile ducts
Man Herbivorous
animals

Mature & hatch

in water

Snail

I.H.
In Fasciola Life Cycle:
Habitat:
(Where the parasite lives inside host)
Definitive host:
(harboring adult worms)
Intrahepatic bile ducts of herbivorous animals
(sheep & cattle) and occasionally man
Man

Reservoir host: Herbivorous animals “sheep & cattle”

(harboring adult worms)
Intermediate hosts: Snail
(harboring larval stages)
Infective stage:. Encysted metacercariae on raw vegetation

Mode of infection: Ingestion of raw vegetables containing

encysted metacercariae.
Diagnostic stage: Eggs in stool
1. Hosts

2. Infective stage

3. Mode of infection
 Symbiosis
(Living together)

Mutualism Commensalism Parasitism

Parasite
Host

Benefit Benefit Benefit

Benefit Not
affected Harmed

Mutualism Commensalism Parasitism

Symbiosis : means “living of two species together”.

Forms of Symbiosis :
1. Mutualism : is a relationship between two species in which both partners get
benefit from the association, e.g., Digestive bacterial flora and humans
- Digestive bacteria : help humans in digestion of food & production of vit. K.
- Humans: provide food & shelter for bacteria.

2. Commensalism : is a relationship between two species in which one partner

gets benefit, while the other neither gets benefit nor is harmed, e.g.,
Entamoeba coli (commensal) in the human large intestine.

3. Parasitism : is a relationship between two species in which one partner

(parasite) gets benefit, while the other (host) is harmed, e.g., Ascaris in the
human small intestine.
Unicellular Endo parasites

Multicellular Ecto parasites

• Human parasites are either :
(1) Unicellular : “ ”

as Protozoa
(2) Multicellular : “ ”
as Helminthes & Arthropods
• The parasites may live :
(1) Inside the host ( ), e.g.
A. Helminthes
Infection
B. Protozoa

(2) On the host surface ( ), e.g.

C. Arthropods Infestation
• Medical parasitology is classified into:

1. Medical Helminthology

2. Medical Protozoology

3. Medical Entomology
 І. Helminthes
Worms
Flat Segmented Round
worms worms worms
Trematoda Cestoda Nematoda
• Flat “leaf – like”. • Flat “tape – like”. • Cylindrical.
• Not segmented. • Segmented. • Not segmented.
• No body cavity. • No body cavity. • Have a body cavity.
• Alimentary canal. • No Alimentary canal. • Alimentary canal.
Fasciola Taenia Ascaris

Trematoda Cestoda, e.g., Nematoda, e.g.,

e.g., • Taenia saginata. • Ascaris.
• Fasciola. • Taenia solium. • Ancylostoma.
• Heterophyes. • Hymenolepis nana. • Enterobius.
• Schistosomes. • Filaria.
 Ciliata Flagellates Sporozoa

Move by Move by Move by No organs of

Pseudopodia cilia flagella locomotion, but
(false legs). (short hairs). (long hairs). Make spores.
Amoeba

B. coli Giardia
 Ciliata Flagellates Sporozoa

Amoebae, e.g., Balantidium • Intestinal : • Plasmodium.

Entamoeba coli. - Giardia. • Toxoplasma.
histolytica. • Urogenital : • Cryptosporidium
- Tichomonas
vaginalis.
• Blood :
- Leishmania.
- Trypanosomes.
 Class Class
Arachnida Crustacea
6 - Legged 8 - Legged

Cyclop
Mosquito Tick
The body is divided into The body is one segment. The body is divided into
cephalothorax & abdomen.
head, chest & abdomen.
 Class Class
Arachnida Crustacea
• Mosquitoes. • Ticks. • Cyclops.
• Flies. • Mites.
• Fleas.
• Lice.
• Bugs.

Tick Mite Cyclop

Modes of transmission of Parasitic infections :

1. Oral (by ingestion)

2. Percutaneous (through intact skin)
3. Vector - Borne (through blood-feeding insect bite)
4. Direct (kissing - sexual intercourse)
5. Vertical (Congenital “Trans placental”)
6. Iatrogenic (Blood transfusion - Organ transplantation)
7. Auto – infection (External or Internal)
8. Trans nasal
• Prevention and control of parasitic infections :
1. Reduction of the source of infection :
* Treatment of infected persons.
* Treatment or elimination of reservoir hosts (animals).
2. Sanitary control of drinking water & foods.
3. Health education.
4. Sanitary disposal of wastes.
5. Vector control : by insecticides or repellants.
6. Protective clothes.
7. Personal hygiene.
8. Proper sexual practices.