Parasitism and Disease

Flashcards related to the key concepts and terminology from the lecture notes on parasitism and disease.

Parasitism

A relationship where one species benefits at the expense of another.

Micro parasites

Very small parasites that usually reproduce within their host and may go unnoticed.

Macro parasites

Larger parasites that can be seen with the naked eye, often living outside their hosts.

Parasitoids

Organisms that always kill their host, in contrast to parasites that may not.

Host specific

Refers to parasites that are highly specialized to infect specific host species.

Parasite-induced changes

Alterations in the growth and behavior of hosts caused by parasites.

Toxoplasmosis

An infection caused by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite that affects various hosts, including humans.

Primary host

The main host in which a parasite completes its life cycle, such as felines for Toxoplasma gondii.

Congenital infection

An infection that is transmitted from the mother to the fetus.

Inducible defenses

Phenotypic traits expressed by plants in response to herbivory, not produced in their absence.

Optimal Defense Hypothesis

A theory suggesting that plants allocate defenses to maximize their fitness.

Resource Availability Hypothesis

A theory indicating that fast-growing plants invest less in defenses compared to slower-growing plants.

Wolbachia

A sex ratio-distorting bacteria that infects many insect species and is inherited maternally.

Herbivory

An interaction where herbivores consume plants, benefiting the herbivore but harming the plant.