VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY - VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the Veterinary Parasitology lecture notes.

Symbiosis

A together-living relationship between two organisms; each organism is a symbiont for some period.

Predator–Prey

The predator kills and consumes the prey for food.

Phoresis

A larger organism mechanically carries another from place to place.

Mutualism

A relationship in which both organisms benefit.

Commensalism

One organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Parasitism

The parasite is metabolically dependent on the host.

Parasite

An organism that lives on or in a host and derives benefit, often at the host’s expense.

Ectoparasite

A parasite that lives on the outside of the host’s body.

Endoparasite

A parasite that lives inside the host’s body.

Parasitosis

The parasite is present on or within the host and is causing harm.

Parasitiasis

The parasite is present and may cause harm but is not evidently harming the host.

Ectoparasites Infestation

Parasites living on the exterior of the host that cause infestation.

Endoparasites Infection

Parasites living inside the host that cause infection.

Erratic/Aberrant Parasites

Parasites found in an unusual location within the host.

Incidental Parasites

Parasites in an unusual host; examples include human infections from animal parasites.

Facultative Parasite

Typically free-living but can become parasitic under the right circumstances (opportunistic).

Obligatory Parasite

Must live inside or on a host to grow and reproduce.

Periodic Parasite

Can live away from the host but must make frequent visits for essential needs.

Pseudoparasites

Bits of material in feces or tissues that resemble parasites but are not parasites (e.g., pine pollen, hair, fibers).

Parasiticides

Chemical compounds used to treat specific internal and external parasites.

Anthelmintic

A medication that evacuates or kills parasitic intestinal worms.

Acaricides

Compounds developed to kill mites and ticks.

Insecticides

Compounds developed to kill insects.

Antiprotozoals

Compounds developed to kill protozoan organisms.

Vector

An animal (usually arthropod) that transmits or carries the causative organism of a disease.

Definitive Host

The animal that harbors the adult or reproductive stages of the parasite.

Intermediate Host

The animal that harbors the immature or juvenile forms of the parasite.

Direct Life Cycle

Single-host development; no intermediate host required.

Indirect Life Cycle

Multiple hosts required; one or more intermediate hosts present.

Prepatent Period

Maturation time of a parasite within its definitive host from infection to patent infection.

Patent Infection (Patency)

The host is shedding eggs or larvae, allowing diagnosis of infection.

Encysted (Arrested)

A dormant or suspended life-cycle stage within tissues.

Transport or Paratenic Host

Host in which the parasite remains encysted/arrested until the definitive host consumes it; not required for the life cycle.

Reservoir Host

Vertebrate host in nature that acts as a source of infection for humans or domestic animals.

Homoxenoous/Monoxenoous Parasite

A parasite that affects only one type of host.

Stenoxenous

Parasite with a narrow host range.

Euryxenous

Parasite with a broad host range (infects many species, sometimes >300).

Zoonosis

Any disease or parasite that can be spread from animals to humans.

Linnaean Classification

System of naming organisms: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species; Domain added later with three domains (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryota).

Kingdoms (Parasites of Interest)

Two kingdoms containing parasites of interest: Animalia and Protista.

Kingdom Animalia

One of the kingdoms; includes animals and their parasitic phyla.

Kingdom Protista

Single-celled organisms; includes protozoa and algae.

Phylum Platyhelminthes

Flatworms.

Class Trematoda

Flukes; includes Monogenea (ectoparasites on fish, amphibians, reptiles) and Digenea (endoparasites in digestive tract and lungs).

Subclass Monogenea

Ectoparasitic flukes of fish, amphibians, and reptiles.

Subclass Digenea

Endoparasitic flukes in the digestive tract and lungs of various hosts.

Phylum Cestoda

Tapeworms.

Class Eucestoda

True tapeworms; adults in digestive tract of definitive hosts.

Class Cotyloda

Pseudotapeworms; larval stages in muscles of fish/reptiles and in microscopic crustaceans.

Phylum Nematoda

Roundworms; elongated, unsegmented, cylindrical worms; parasitize many organs with diverse life cycles.

Phylum Acanthocephala

Thorny-headed worms; possess a proboscis for attachment; lack a true digestive tract.

Phylum Annelida

Segmented worms (earthworms, leeches); includes therapeutic uses of leeches.

Phylum Arthropoda

Insects, arachnids, crustaceans; mostly ectoparasites; some larval stages may be endoparasites; three key traits: jointed appendages, segmented body, external skeleton.

Kingdom Protista (Protozoa)

Single-celled organisms classified by motility; includes groups like Sarcomastigophora, Ciliophora, Apicomplexa.