Veterinary Parasitology CH1 - Terminology

Study material for Chapter 1 of Diagnostic Parasitology for Veterinary Technicians. For class BIO225 at MWCC.

Symbiosis

An association between two living organisms. Each organism is called a symbiont.

Predator-Prey Symbiosis

Short-term relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of the other for food.

Phoresis Symbiosis

One organism mechanically carries the other.

Mutualism Symbiosis

Both organisms benefit.

Commensalism Symbiosis

One organism benefits and the other isn't benefited or harmed.

Parasitism Symbiosis

One organism benefits while the host can be harmed. The parasite depends on the host for metabolism.

Parasitiasis

Parasite is present on or within the host and potentially harmful, but animal doesn't show outward signs.

Parasitosis

Parasite lives on or within the host and does cause obvious harm with noticeable symptoms​.

Ectoparasites

Live on the outside of an organism.

Endoparasites

Live on the inside of an organism.

Anthelminthics

Parasiticide used to kill worms.

Acaricides

Parasiticide used to kill mites and ticks.

Insecticides

Parasiticide used to kill insects.

Antiprotazoals

Parasiticide used to kill protazoans.

Erratic/Aberrant Parasites

Move to a tissue outside the normal organ.

Incidental Parasites

Finds its way into a host that is not its normal home.

Facultative Parasites

Don't require a host, can be free-living.

Obligatory Parasites

Must live inside a host.

Periodic Parasites

Short-term parasite that visits host only for meals.

Pseudoparasites

Often mistaken for parasites in fecal flotation tests.

Definitive Host

Acts as a home to the parasite during the adult or sexual stages of the organism.

Intermediate Host

Acts as a home to the parasite during larval, immature or asexual stages of the organism.

Transport/Paratenic Host

Carries parasite only while encysted; no development in host.

Reservoir Host

Vertebrate animal that commonly carries parasite and is source of parasite that gets into domesticated animals.

Homoxenous/Monoxenous Parasite

Only infects one type of host.

Stenoxenous Parasite

Narrow host range, most roundworms.

Euryxenous Parasite

Broad host range.

Zoonosis

Parasite that is transmitted from animals to humans.

Most parasites are from what Kingdom?

Animalia; all worms and arthropods.

Many parasites are from what other Kingdom?

Protista; protozoans.