Parasitology Vocabulary

Symbosis

two different types of organisms living together

Mutualism

2 organisms of different species live in a relationship where both benefit

Commensalism

Relationship where 1 organism benefits and the other does not, but is not harmed

Parasitism

a relationship in which 1 organism lives off another (host) and causes harm to the host

Host

any organism that supports another organism

Definitive host- Kingdom Protista

he host in which the parasite undergoes sexual reproduction

Definitive host- Kingdom Animalia

The host in which the adult worm is found

Intermediate host- Kingdom Protista

The host in which the parasite undergoes asexual reproduction

Intermediate host- Kingdom Animalia

The host in which the juvenile form of the worm is found.

Reservoir Host

infected organism (usually an animal) which makes the parasite available for transmission to other hosts

Ectoparasite

a parasite that lives on the outer surface of the host; ticks, lice, fleas

Endoparasite

a parasite that lives inside the host; tapeworm, Giardia, Plasmodium

Biological Vector

An organism in which the parasite undergoes part of its lifecycle and then transmits the parasite to another organism; female Anopheles mosquito

Mechanical Vector

An organism that transmits a parasite, but is not part of the parasites life cycle, for example- flies, roaches, rodents

Hemaphrodite

Animal that has both male and female reproductive organs

Cyst

spore like stage of protozoa; thick wall-resistant to unfavorable environment

Trophozoite

active, motile, feeding stage of protozoa

Oocyst

Cyst form in genus Plasmodium, Cryptosporidium and Toxoplasma

Nematodes

Round worms, such as Ascaris and Enterobius, and hookworms

Filariae

Thread-like roundworm

Microfilariae

Larval stage of the thread-like roundworm

Larva

Juvenile form of a worm; larvae is plural

Ova

Egg

Platyhelminthes

Flat worms, such as trematodes (flukes) and cestodes (tapeworms)

Cystcerci

Larval stage of tapeworms, containing a single scolex within a thin walled bladder

Cercaria

Free swimming larval stage of trematodes (flukes)

Metacercaria

encysted stage of flukes