IHD.9

Parasite

An organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host.

Helminths

Large, multicellular organisms that can be free-living or parasitic; includes flatworms, thorny-headed worms, and roundworms.

Protozoa

Microscopic, one-celled organisms that can be free-living or parasitic and can multiply in humans.

Ectoparasites

Parasites that live on the outside of a host organism, such as fleas, lice, mites, and ticks.

Anthelminthic drugs

Medicinal compounds used to treat infections caused by helminths by inhibiting their growth or effectively killing them.

Sarcodina

A class of protozoa characterized by ameboid movement, such as Entamoeba.

Ciliophora

A class of protozoa that move using cilia, exemplified by Balantidium.

Mastigophora

A class of protozoa that move using flagella, such as Giardia and Leishmania.

Sporozoa

A class of protozoa that are non-motile in their adult stage, such as Plasmodium.

Malaria

A disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, resulting in fever and other symptoms.

Plasmodium falciparum

The most severe species of malaria parasite, responsible for malignant tertian malaria.

Binary fission

A form of asexual reproduction where a single organism divides into two equal-sized daughter cells.

Schizogony

A type of asexual reproduction resulting in multiple daughter cells from a single organism.

Gametocytes

Sexual forms of the malaria parasite that develop into male and female gametes within the mosquito.

Anopheles mosquito

The primary vector for malaria parasites, responsible for transmitting Plasmodium to humans.

Exoerythrocytic cycle

The phase of the Plasmodium life cycle that occurs in the liver before the parasites enter red blood cells.

Erythrocytic cycle

The phase of the Plasmodium life cycle that occurs within red blood cells, leading to malaria symptoms.

Acanthocephalins

Helminths also known as thorny-headed worms that are parasitic in the gastrointestinal tract of hosts.

Benzimidazoles

Anthelminthic drugs that inhibit tubulin polymerization in helminths.

Praziquantel

An anthelminthic drug that causes muscle contraction and paralysis in worms.

Ivermectin

A drug that acts as a neuromuscular blocker, paralyzing helminths.

Public health significance of parasitic infestations

Parasitic infections pose a major burden on human health, veterinary medicine, and food safety.

Polyinfection

The presence of multiple parasitic infections in a single host, common in tropical regions.

Contaminated food and water

Common routes for the transmission of protozoan parasites through the faecal-oral route.