Parasitology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for review.

Parasitology

The science that deals with the study of living organisms that depend on another organism for procuring food and securing protection.

Parasites

Organisms that obtain food and shelter from another organism and derive all the benefits from the association.

Final or Definitive Host

The host in which the parasite reaches sexual maturity and reproduces.

Intermediate Host

A host that is required for parasitic development but in which the parasite does not reach sexual maturity.

Reservoir Host

An animal that harbors a parasite and serves as a source of infection for humans or other susceptible hosts.

Paratenic Host

A host that serves as a transport host in which the parasite remains alive but does not undergo development.

Parasitism

A process by which one organism, the parasite, lives on or within another, the host, obtaining energy or sustenance while producing effects ranging from no effect to severe pathology and death.

Symbiosis

A close association between two organisms that is permanent, wherein one cannot exist independently.

Mutualism

An association that is beneficial to both the parasite and the host, in which one can still survive even without the other.

Commensalism

Only the parasite benefits from the association, while the host is unaffected.

Infection

A take in which the infective agent becomes established in the host, associated with endoparasitism.

Infestation

Associated with ectoparasitism, where the parasite lives on the surface of the host.

Parasitic Infection

The host usually shows mild symptoms and suffers a little damage.

Parasitic Disease

The host develops pathologic changes and exhibits symptoms of varying degree.

Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH)

Parasites that require further development in the soil before they become infective; examples include Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and Hookworms.

Biological Vector

An organism essential in the life cycle of a parasite, facilitating transmission to a host.

Mechanical/Phoretic Vector

An organism that transmits a parasite to a host but is not essential in the parasite's life cycle.

Autoinfection

Re-exposure to a parasite from one's self, which can be external or internal.

Life Cycle

The development of a parasite which involves the survival and development in the external environment and in one or more hosts.

Clinical Diagnosis

Method of diagnosis based on the recognition of the characteristic signs and symptoms of the infection or disease.

Laboratory Diagnosis

Method of diagnosis that is based on the identification of the parasites in the different specimens.

Endoparasite:

Those that live within the body of the host.

Ectoparasite

Those that live outside or on the surface of the body of the host.

Pathogenic Parasite

Cause injury by its mechanical, traumatic or toxic activities.

Non-pathogenic Parasite

Derives benefits from the host without causing any considerable damage or harm.

Obligate Parasite

Takes up a permanent residence and is completely dependent upon its host for existence throughout its life.

Facultative Parasite

Capable of leading both free and parasitic existence under favorable or appropriate circumstances.

Incidental Parasite

one that establishes itself in a host in which it does not ordinarily lives.

Temporary Parasite

free living during part of existence only its host intermittently to obtain nourishment.

Permanent Parasite

remain on or in the body of the host from early life to maturity.

Spurious or Coprozoic Parasite

One which parasitized other hosts and recovered in a living or dead state from human excreta, no further development and do not cause injury or damage.

Protozoa

Unicellular or single-celled organisms.

Trophozoite

The vegetative and motile stage of a protozoan parasite.

Cyst

The nonmotile and resistant stage of some protozoa, serving as the transfer of infective stage.

Asexual or simple fission Reproduction

The division of the nucleus maybe amitotic, mitotic or modified.

Sexual union of two cells (syngamy) Reproduction

this is temporary union or conjugation.

Mastigophora

movement with flagella e.g. Trichomonas,, Giardia.

Sarcodina

pseudopodia. e.g. Entamoeba histolytica.

Apicomplexa

apical complex, no locomtor apparatus; sexual reproduction. e.g. cryptosporidium, malaria, toxoplasma.

Ciliophora

movement with cilir, e.g. Balantidum.

Hyaluronidase

A lytic substance produced by Entamoeba histolytica.

Amoebomas

Tumorlike masses formed by excess production of granular tissues in chronic amoebic dysentery.

Enterobius Vermicularis

parasites requires no further development and are readily infective.

Charcot-Leyden crystals

Disintegration products of eosinophils, often accompanying E. histolytica infection.

Giardia lamblia

The only pathogenic intestinal flagellates that inhabit the small intestine.

Steatorrhea

passage of greasy, and frothy stools.

Axostyle

Curved, rigid structure in Trichomonas spp arising near the median anterior pole.

Balantidium coli

The largest protozoan parasite of humans; belongs to the phylum Ciliophora.

Nematodes

Also known as roundworms.

Ascaris Lumbricoides

Common Name: Giant Intestinal Roundworm

Enterobius vermicularis

Pinworm or seatworm.

Trichuris Trichiura

Common Name: Whipworm

Trichinella spiralis

Common Name: Trichina Worm

Trematodes

Flat, leaf like, elongated, unsegmented but parasitic.

Cestoda

Tapeworm.

Taenia solium

common name: Pork tapeworm

Taenia saginata

Common name: Beef tapeworm

Plasmodium

The genus of malarial parasites.

Wuchereria bancrofti

This parasite has no nucleus in the tip of the tail with filarial worms.