PARASITOLOGY

PRELIMS/LECTURE SECOND SEMESTER

INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL PARASITOLOGY

What is Parasitology? 1. COMMENSALISM

● Prefix “PARA” means beside, near, closely related.

● Includes scientific study of life cycle and reproductive ● Relationship that gives benefit to the parasite, but
behavior, the ways in which they cause disease and the without reciprocating and without giving injury to
importance of the laboratory for diagnosis and the host.
methods of halting their multiplication ➔ Example:

CLINICAL PARASITOLOGY

● Is the study of important parasites which causes

diseases to humans (classification, symptoms,
disease, lifecycle, transmission, treatment).

Entamoeba coli

2. MUTUALISM

● Relationship that is beneficial to both parasite and its

host
➔ Example:

BIOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS

SYMBIOSIS

● The living together of unlike organisms.

● 3 forms: (CMP)
➢ Commensalism
➢ Mutualism
➢ Parasitism

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 3. PARASITISM
3. RESERVOIR HOST
● Relationship that is beneficial to one (parasite) at the
expense of the other (host). ● Harbors a parasite that lives within or on body surface
➔ Example: long enough to serve as the source of infection.

● Host other than a human that may also be parasitized

by the same stage(s) of the parasite as humans.

★ MARY “TYPHOID MARY” MALLON

- A chef
- A reservoir host of Salmonella infection.

4. PARATENIC HOST

● A host that harbors the infective larval stage of a

parasite in which no essential growth or development
takes place.

● Serves as a means of transport for the infective larval

stage to reach its final host.
➔ Example: DOGS AND CATS

Entamoeba histolytica trophozoite

B. VECTORS

HOST - PARASITE RELATIONSHIP ● Responsible for transmitting the parasite from one
host to another.
➔ Example: MOSQUITO, FLIES
A. HOST

● Any living organism from which a parasite obtains

nourishment and protection. 1. BIOLOGICAL VECTOR

● It transmits the parasite only after the parasite has

KINDS OF HOST completed its development within the host.

● Definitive Host ● Essential part in the life cycle of the parasite.

➔ Example: Aedes mosquito-
● Intermediate Host ➔ Lymphatic filariasis

● Paratenic Host

● Reservoir Host

1. DEFINITIVE HOST

● Harbors the sexual or the adult stage of the life

cycle of a parasite
➔ Example: HUMAN

2. INTERMEDIATE HOST

● Harbors the asexual or the larval stage of the Elephantiasis

parasite. ➢ Condition caused by the lymphatic filariasis.
➔ Example: SNAIL AND CRABS ➢ Wuchereria bancrofti

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★ Lymphatic filariasis
- Lower extremities- Wuchereria bancrofti
- Upper extremities- Brugia Malayi PERMANENT PARASITE

● It remains in the body of the host for its entire life.

2. MECHANICAL VECTOR
TEMPORARY PARASITE
● Only transport the parasite
➔ Example: Flies and Cockroaches ● It lives on the host only for a short period of time.

SPURIOUS PARASITE
C. PARASITES
● It is a free-living organism that passes through the
● Any organism that lives inside or on the body surface digestive tract without infecting the host.
of another organism (host) which is usually larger
organism that provides physical protection (shelter)
and nourishment (food) for survival.

EXPOSURE AND INFECTION

ENDOPARASITE ECTOPARASITE
EXPOSURE
● Parasites that live ● Parasites that live
inside the host’s outside the host’s
body. body. ● The process of inoculating an infective agent.

● Infection ● Infestation
INFECTION

★ A parasite is considered ERRATIC when its found in

an organ that is not its usual habitat. ● It connotes the establishment of the infective agent in
the host.

PARASITE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO ITS HOST

CARRIER

OBLIGATE PARASITE ● It harbors a particular pathogen without manifesting

any signs and symptoms.
● They need a host at some stage of their life cycle
to complete their development and to propagate
their species. INCUBATION PERIOD PRE-PATENT PERIOD

● The period ● The period

FACULTATIVE PARASITE between protection between infection
and evidence of or acquisition of the
symptoms. parasite and
● It may exist in a free-living state or may become evidence or
parasitic when the need arises. demonstration of
➔ Example: Acanthamoeba spp. infection.
◆ Can be found in natural and
artificial environments such as hot ● Clinical Incubation ● Biologic Incubation
springs. Period

ACCIDENTAL PARASITE

● It establishes itself in a host where it does not

ordinarily live.

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 AUTO-INFECTION

ARTHROPODS
● It results when an infected individual becomes his
own direct source of infection.
➔ Example: Enterobiasis ● Malaria
◆ Causes of Enterobius vermicularis ● Filariasis
pinworm (layman's term kigwa)- it is ● Leishmaniasis
a familial disease. ● Trypanosomiasis
● Babesiosis

CONGENITAL TRANSMISSION

● If the mother is infected it can potentially transmit to

the fetus or the baby.
○ Toxoplasma gondii (Fetus)
○ Ancylostoma
○ Strongyloides
SOURCES OF INFECTION

● Contaminated Soil and Water- MOST COMMON INHALATION OF AIRBORNE EGGS

● Lack of sanitary toilets
● Use of night soil or human excreta as fertilizer (most ● Enterobius (through airborne)
common parasite in fertilizer: Ascaris lumbricoides)
● Water
● Food
● Consumption of undercooked or raw freshwater fish SEXUAL INTERCOURSE
● Raw crabs
● Arthropods
● Cats ● Trichomonas vaginalis
○ Can cause Toxoplasma gondii
● Rats

NOMENCLATURE

MODE OF TRANSMISSION (MOT) - Naming of the parasites

PORTAL OF ENTRY (THROUGH MOUTH) INTERNATIONAL CODE OF ZOOLOGICAL

NOMENCLATURE

FOODBORNE
● Cestodes ● Phylum
● Trematodes ● Class
● Intestinal Protozoans ● Orders
● Families
DRINKING CONTAMINATED WATER ● Genera(genus)
● Entamoeba histolytica ○ Ascaris
● Giardia lamblia ● Species
○ lumbricoides
INGESTING RAW OR IMPROPERLY COOKED
FRESHWATER FISH LIFECYCLE
● Clonorchis
● Opistorchis
● Haplorchis
● Most parasitic organisms attain sexual maturity in
SKIN EXPOSURE TO SOIL (Ex. Beach) their definitive hosts.
● Hookworms
● Strongyloides ● Some spend entire lives within a host with one
generation after another.
ENTER SKIN VIA WATER
● Schistosoma (Ex. River)

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● Some are exposed to the external environment before
being taken up by an appropriate host. TREATMENT

● The larval stage of the parasite may pass through

different stages in an intermediate host before it DEWORMING
reaches a final host.
● The use of anthelmintic drugs in an individual or a
● As the life cycle becomes more complicated, the public health program.
lesser the chances are for the individual parasite to ● Every after 6 months
survive.

CURE RATE
EPIDEMIOLOGIC MEASURES
● It refers to the number of previously positive subjects
found to be egg negative on examination of stool or
EPIDEMIOLOGY urine sample using a standard procedure at a set time
after deworming.
● Usually expressed as percentage
● The study of patterns, distribution, and occurrence of
disease.
EGG REDUCTION RATE
INCIDENCE
● It is the percentage fall in eggs counts after
● The number of new cases of infection appearing in a deworming based on examination of a stool or urine
population in a given period of time. sample using a standard procedure at a set time after
a treatment.
PREVALENCE

SELECTIVE TREATMENT
● The number of individuals in a population estimated to
be infected with a particular parasite species at a
given time. ● It involves individual-level deworming with a selection
● Usually expressed as percentage for treatment based on a diagnosis of infection or an
● Existing cases assessment of the intensity of infection, based on
presumptive grounds.
CUMULATIVE PREVALENCE
★ If the rectum goes down to anus it is called RECTAL
PROLAPSE caused by the trichuris trichiura infection.
● The percentage of individuals in a population infected
with at least one parasite.
TARGETED TREATMENT

INTENSITY OF INFECTION
● It is a group-level deworming where the group to
● It refers to the burden of infection that is related to the be treated may be defined by age, sex, or other
number of worms per infected person. social characteristics irrespective of infection status.
● It can be measured directly or indirectly.
● Worm burden
● DIRECTLY
UNIVERSAL TREATMENT
○ Counting expelled worms during treatment

● INDIRECTLY ● It is a population-level deworming in which the

○ Counting helminth eggs excreted in the community is treated irrespective of age, sex,
feces (# of eggs / gram) infection status, or other social characteristics.

MORBIDITY
PREVENTIVE CHEMOTHERAPY
● Clinical consequences of infections or diseases that
affect an individual's well being. ● It is the regular, systematic, large-scale intervention
● Develop of the diseases involving the administration of one or more drugs to
selected population groups with the aim of reducing
morbidity and the transmission of selected helminth
infections.

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 ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION
COVERAGE
● It involves interventions to reduce environmental
● It refers to the proportion of the target population health risks.
reached by an intervention.

EFFICACY SANITATION

● It is the effect of a drug against an infective agent in ● It is the provision of access to adequate facilities for
ideal experimental conditions and isolated from any the safe disposal of human excreta.
context. ● It is usually combined with access to safe drinking
water.

EFFECTIVENESS
DISEASE ERADICATION DISEASE ELIMINATION
● It is a measure of the effect of a drug against an
● Permanent reduction ● It is a reduction to
infective agent in a particular hos t, living in a
to zero of the zero of the
particular environment with specific ecological,
worldwide incidence incidence of a
immunological, and epidemiological determinants.
of infection caused by specified disease in
● Qualitative and Quantitative diagnostic tests
a specific agent, as a a defined
● Cure Rate & Egg Reduction Rate
result of deliberate geographic area as
efforts. a result of deliberate
efforts.
DRUG RESISTANCE
● Continued
interventions /
surveillance
● It is a genetically transmitted loss of susceptibility to a
drug in a parasite population that was previously
sensitive to the appropriate therapeutic dose.

PREVENTION AND CONTROL

★ SEPSIS DIABETES
○ Bacteria present in the blood (the bacteria in
the diabetes came from the wound of the
MORBIDITY CONTROL diabetes person).

● It is the avoidance of illness caused by infections.

● It may be achieved by periodically deworming
individuals or groups, known to be at risk of morbidity.

INFORMATION EDUCATION COMMUNICATION

● It is the planning, organization, performance, and

monitoring of activities for the modification and/or
manipulation of environmental factors or their
interaction with human beings with a view to
preventing or minimizing vector or intermediate host
propagation and reducing contact between humans
and the ineffective agent.