Language of Veterinary Parasitology

veterinary parasitology

the study of parasitic relationships affecting domesticated, wild, exotic, and laboratory animals, and to some extent, parasites that have the potential to be transmitted directly to humans

symbiosis

describes any association either temporary or permanent, between at least two living organisms of different species

symbiont

each member included in symbiosis

predator prey relationship

an extremely sort term relationship in which one symbiont benefits at the expense of the other

ex: lion killing a zebra

phoresis

the smaller member of the symbiotic relationship is mechanically carried about by the larger member

ex: Moraxella bovis, the bacteria that causes pinkeye in cattle is carried from the eyes of one cow to another

mutualism

describes an association in which one symbiont benefits and the other is neither benefited nor harmed

ex: shark and the remora, its" “hitchhiker”

parasitism

an association exists between two organisms of different species in which one member lives on or within the other member and may cause them harm

parasitiasis

the parasite is present on or within the host and is potentially pathogenic

animal does not show outward signs of the disease

ex: healthy cattle may have roundworms but show no clinical signs

parasitosis

the parasite is present on or within the host and does produce obvious injury or harm to the host animal

ex: emaciated cow having roundworms

ectoparasite

the parasite lives on the body of the host

ex: fleas

endoparasite

parasite lives within the body of the host

ex: dog heartworm

ectoparasitism

parasitism by an external parasite

meaning infestation

endoparasitism

parasitism by an internal parasite

meaning infection

parasiticides

chemical compounds used to treat specific internal and external parasites

anthelmintics

compounds developed to kill roundworms, tapeworms, flukes, and thorny headed worms

ascaricides

compounds developed to kill mites and ticks

insecticides

compounds developed to kill insects

antiprotozoals

compounds developed to kill protozoan organisms

erratic parasite

a parasite wandering from its usual site of infection into an organ or location in which it does not ordinarily live

ex: Cuterebra species

incidental parasite

parasite that is found in a host in which is does not usually live

ex: humans can be infected with the larval stages of D. immitis

facultative parasites

organisms that are free living can become parasitic in certain hosts

ex: Pelodera strongyloides a free living soil nematode

obligatory parasite

a parasite that must lead a parasitic existence

ex: D immitis

periodic parasite

makes frequent visits to its host to obtain nourishment or other benefits

ex: female mosquito

pseudoparasites

living creatures or objects that are not parasitic may be mistaken for or erroneously identified as parasites

ex: pollen grains seen on fecal floatations

life cycle

the development of a parasite through its various life stages

definitive host

the host that harbors the adult, sexual, or mature stages of the parasite

ex: dog for D immitis

intermediate host

the host that harbors the larval, juvenile, immature, or asexual stages of the parasite

transfers the parasite from one definitive host to another

ex: female mosquito for D immitis

transport host

a special type of intermediate host where a parasite does not undergo any development but instead remains encysted within the host’s tissues

reservoir host

a vertebrate host in which a parasite or disease occurs in nature and is a source of infection for humans and domesticated animals

homoxenous parasite

a parasite that infects only one type of host

ex: Eimeria tenella infects only chickens

stenoxenous parasite

parasite with a narrow host range

ex: Eimeria tenella

euryxenous parasite

a parasite with a very broad host range

ex: Toxoplasma gondii

zoonosis

any disease or parasite that is transmissable from animals to humans

ex: T. gondii, Trichinella spiralis, Ancylostoma caninum, Toxocara canis

Carl Linnaeus

who was the classification scheme created by?

kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species

classification scheme

scientific name

name for an organism that is two latin words and commonly written in italics

genus

first word of the scientific name

indicates the group to which a particular type of animals or plant belongs

specific epithet

second word of scientific name and is not capitalized

indicates the type of animal itself

bacteria, archaea, and eukaryota

what are the three domains in the scheme?

kingdoms Plantae, Animalia, Protista, Monera, and Fungi

what kingdoms are included in Eukaryota?

kingdom Animalia and Protista

what are the two kingdoms that veterinary parasitology is concerned with?

1. flatworms: trematodes (flukes) and cestodes (tapeworms)

2. nematodes (roundworms)

3. acanthocephalans (thorny headed worms)

4. annelids (leeches)

5. arthropods (insects, mites, ticks, spiders, pentastomes)

what species are contained in kingdom Animalia?