3 Microbiology: Helminth Parasites Flashcards
Species in Platyheminthes
flukes (trematodes)
tapeworms (cestodes)
and other flatworms
Meaning of Helminth
means worm
refers to the parasitic and non-parasitic species belonging to the phyla PLATYHELMINTHES and NEMATODA
species in Nematoda
roundworms
heartworm, hookworm
What are Helminths?
are multicellular eukaryotic parasites that usually possess digestive, circulatory, nervous, excretory, and reproductive systems.
Where are parasitic helminths found?
found extracellularly in infected host
Where can helminths live?
many live only in the intestinal tract of parasitized host
others may invade internal organs such as the: liver, lungs, blood, subcutaneous tissue, and brain
Helminths posses a protective external layer called?
a cuticle or tegument
Helminths may lack a?
a digestive system
nutrients can be passively absorbed from intestinal contents and surrounding fluids or by active ingestion of host tissue, fluids or both
Nutrients are stored as what in helminths?
glycogen
In helminths respiration is predominantly?
anaerobic
however, the larval forms may require oxygen
What kind of reproductive systems do helminths have?
they have a complex repro system
majority of them are egg laying (oviparous)
a few are bear live young (viviparous)
can produce thousands of eggs, by which a suitable host is infected
adults are MACROscopic
eggs are MICROscopic
Helminth life cycle
have a complex life cycle involving various INTERMEDIATE HOSTS for completion of each larval (developmental) stage of the parasite and a DEFINITIVE HOST for the adult parasite
What is the definitive host?
the host that harbors the adult, sexually mature form of the parasite
What is the intermediate host?
the host that harbors the larval or asexual stage of the parasite (are not reproducing in host)
What is dioecious?
adult helminths may be dioecious
meaning that male repro organs are in one individual and the female repro organs are in another
and reproduction occurs when two adults of opposite sex are in the same host
(different sexes)
What is monoecious or hermaphroditic?
in some adult helminths
one parasite has both male and female repro organs.
two hermaphrodites may copulate and simultaneously fertilize each other or a hermaphrodite may fertilize itself.
Do helminths multiply within their hosts?
No they do not multiply within their hosts. (in numbers, just produce eggs or larva that need the next host)
the eggs produced by the female do no mature into adult worms in the host, instead, some of them are excreted to infect others.
so the number of worms in an animal or individual increases only though repeated exposure and so most animals and individuals carry low numbers of worms
Characteristics of PHYLUM PLATYHELMINTHES
trematodes and cestodes
are dorso-ventrally flattened
in most cases are hermaphroditic
are the most primitive of the helminths
either have no digestive tract or a rudimentary one
many have complicated life cycles that require an alternation of hosts (i.e indirect life cycles)
{life cycles: direct is definitive to definitive.
indirect is definitive to intermediate to definitive.}
Class Trematoda are what?
Flukes
Class Trematoda (Flukes) have what type of bodies?
have flat, fleshy, leaf-shaped bodies
Flukes have two muscular suckers: what are they?
an oral sucker
a ventral sucker
what is the oral sucker?
the beginning of an incomplete digestive system
what is the ventral sucker?
is simply an organ of attachment
Describe a flukes digestive system
consists of lateral tubes that do not join to form an excretory opening
flukes can obtain food by absorbing it through their nonliving outer covering: cuticle (rudimentary digestive system)
Describe a flukes repro system
most are hermaphroditic with both male and female repro organs in a single body
SCHISTOSOMES are the only exception: they have cylindrical bodies (like roundworms) and separate male and female worms.
What is the the only exception to the hermaphroditic reproductive system in flukes?
Schistosomes, have separate male and female worms.
(they also have cylindrical bodies like roundworms too)
How are flukes named?
given common names according to the tissue of the definitive host in which the adult live
examples: intestinal fluke, liver fluke, blood fluke, and lung fluke
Describe a flukes life cycle?
complex life cycle that involve two or three sequential hosts (definitive and intermediate host(s)) for the completion of their life cycles)
without exception ALWAYS involves water and mollusks (snails and clams)
so each species of fluke is found in association with the specific species of snail required as its intermediate host.
in the intermediate host an asexual repro cycle takes place
What is an OPERCULUM?
a “lid” at the top of the shell of a fluke egg.
the lid opens to allow the larval worm to find its appropriate snail host
exception: the SCHISTOSOMES do not have an operculum, rather the egg shell splits to liberate the larva
What is an exception in flukes operculum?
Schistosomes, do not have an operculum, rather the egg shell splits to liberate the larva.
How are fluke eggs excreted?
eggs are usually excreted in feces of the definitive host
if the life cycle is to continue, the eggs must reach a body of water, usually freshwater
What is a miracidium?
a small, ciliated larva within the fluke egg
The rate of development of the miracidium in the egg is influenced by what?
the water temperature
below 10 degrees Celsius no development occurs
between 10 to 26 degrees celsius there is an increasing rate of development
at 26 degrees celsius development of the miracidium may take 2 to 4 weeks
How is the miracidium released from the egg?
the operculum at top of egg shell pops open, releasing the miracidium
the miracidium does not feed, /instead it swims about until it finds a snail of the right species for its first intermediate host.
if it fails to find a snail within 24 hrs, its energy reserves become depleted and it dies.
What does the miracidium do once it finds a snail?
it bores into the snail’s tissues.
glands at the pointed anterior end of the miracidium produce lytic enzymes that allow the penetration of the soft tissues of the snail.
following penetration, the ciliated coat is lost and the miracidium undergoes a metamorphosis to form a long, tubular larva called a SPOROCYST.