- Parasites within the body. - Parasites that infects internal organs including: stomach, heart, intestines, lungs, kidneys, liver, and muscle.

- Parasites upon the body. - Parasite that infects the host in or on the skin.

Intro To Parasitology Flashcards by Isabella Mathias

Parasite

Organism that lives in or on another host organism (without benefit to the host)

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Parasitology

The study of parasites and their relationships to the host

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Host

The organism that provides nutrients to another organism

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Intermediate Host

Development of some stages. Generally, the parasite cannot fully mature in this host.
This stage is necessary in some parasite life cycles.

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Definitive Host

Sexual stage develops (EX: toxoplasma in cats, parasite may finish its life cycle here)

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Vector

Carrier that is not infected. (EX: mosquito carrying malaria)

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Endoparasite

Parasites within the body.
Parasites that infects internal organs including: stomach, heart, intestines, lungs, kidneys, liver, and muscle.

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Ectoparasite

Parasites upon the body.
Parasite that infects the host in or on the skin.

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Ova

Egg

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Larva

Hint: “caterpillar form”

Immature parasite form, there may be several larval stages in development of parasite.

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Cyst

Hint: “early caterpillar in cocoon form”

Dormant phase of parasite, usually very resistant to heat, drying, etc.

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Direct Life Cycle

Host acquires parasite infection by consumption/absorption of infective cyst/egg.

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Indirect Life Cycle

Host acquires parasite infection by consumption of a transport host.

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Prepatent Period

Time period between infection with parasite and appearance of diagnostic parameter.

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Zoonoses

An infection that can be transmitted between animals to humans (species to species)

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Taxonomy

Science of organizing plants and animals based on characteristics

Protozoa Phylum is classified by ___ organisms by their movement (3).
Name the parasites included (3)

Unicellular organisms classified by movement.
1. Ciliate 2. Flagellate 3. Amoeba
Parasites:
1. Giardia 2. Coccidia 3. Toxoplasma

Giardia
What is it?

Unicellular flagellate parasite important in WA

Giardia
How is it transmitted?
What is effect?

Transmission:
- Direct consumption of contaminated water or soil.

Effect:
- No signs to severe diarrhea.
- Possible zoonoses.

Giardia
How is it diagnosed?

Fecal centrifugation (Zinc), or ELISA test.
Direct smear of fresh (<30min) fluid feces.

Coccidia (Isospora)
What is it?
How is it transmitted?

Coccidia is an Unicellular parasite.

Transmission:
- Direct consumption of contaminated soil.
- Indirect by consumption of transport host.

Coccidia (Isospora)
What is effect?
How is it diagnosed?

Effect:
- No signs to severe diarrhea/bloating.
- Common infection in puppies and kittens.

Diagnosed:
- Fecal float/centrifugation

Toxoplasma
1. What is it?
2. How is it transmitted? (3)

It is unicellular parasite of cats
Transmission:
- Direct consumption of contaminated soil.
- Indirect by consumption of transport host.
- 40% of cats are seropositive, but only 1% are shedding.

Toxoplasma
1. What is it’s effect?
2. How is it diagnosed?

Effect:
- No signs to severe systemic disease (eyes & brain of cats).
- Zoonotic risk to pregnant people and immunocomp.
Diagnosed:
- Fecal float.
- Serology (blood test for antibodies).

Pentatrichomonas hominis: 1. Disease 2. Geo distribution 3. Transmission 4. Diagnosis

1. Colitis & chronic diarrhea 2. Widespread in the US (WA & GA) 3. Ingestions of trophozoites in feces 4. Diagnosis: Flagellates in direct fecal smears

Here are the five scientific names of parasite classifications: 1. Protozoa 2. Nematodes 3. Cestodes 4. Trematodes 5. Arthropods What are their common names?

1. Unicellular organisms 2. Roundworms 3. Tapeworms 4. Flukes 5. Insects & arachnids

Nematode: Ascarids Toxocara canis, T. cati, & Toxascaris leonina 1. What are they? 2. Transmission 3. Disease

1. Roundworms of the small intestine 2. Transmission: - Direct from environment - Transmammary & in utero (puppies are born w this) - Indirect, transport host 3. Disease: - Diarrhea, bloating, malabsorption, cough, possible death in neonates - Asymptomatic in some

Nematode: Ascarids Toxocara canis, T. cati, & Toxascaris leonina Lifecycle Hint: Adults can lay up to 85000 eggs/day

Lifecycle: 1. Larva in infected host will travel thru the liver and lungs. 2. Larva is coughed up & swallowed so it can mature in the intestines

T/F: Ascarids cannot live long in the environment and are very easy to kill

False! They can live up to years in an environment and are very difficult to kill

T/F: Ascarids zoonotic potenial threatens the eyes of humans

True! Ocular larval migrants. Can be prevented with good hygiene, deworming, & covering sandboxes (litterbox to a cat!)

Ancyclostoma (hookworms): 1. Disease 2. Transmission 3. Diagnosis Hint: They can tear up organs & the host will bleed a lot :(

1. Disease: - Hemorrhagic enteritis, anemia, pneumonia, & death (common in small animals) 2. Transmission: - Infects dogs by skin penetration - Can use intermediate host: Transmammary, migrate thru lungs to cough up & swallow 3. Diagnosis: - Anemia associated with eggs in feces

Trichuiris vulpis (Whipworms): 1. Disease 2. Transmission 3. Diagnosis Hint: This is the most common of the intestinal parasites

1. Disease: - Bloody diarrhea, anemia, weight loss 2. Transmission: Direct - Dogs infected by ingesting eggs from contaminated environments 3. Diagnosis: - Eggs in feces They have a prepatent period of 74-90 days thus doing mult fecals a yr with puppies

T/F: Trichuris (whipworms) eggs can survive in an environment for years

True

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus: 1. Disease 2. Geo distribution 3. Transmission 4. Diagnosis

T/F: Aelourostrongylus abstrusus definitive host is the fox but cats can accidentally contract it

True. Foxes are the definitive hosts and cat are accidental hosts

T/F: The racoon roundworm "Babylisascaris" can attack the brain of accidental hosts, like people?

True!

Baylisascaris procyonis: 1. Disease 2. Transmission 3. Diagnosis 4. Geo distribution

1. Disease: - Occasionally dogs affected by this parasite from racoons. - Typically no signs 2. Transmission: - Eggs in soil must be ingested 3. Diagnosis - Eggs or adults in feces 4. Geo: Throughout US

Trematodes Class 1. Shape 2. Movement in water 3. Common intermediate host

1. Shape: - Flat leaf shaped parasites (flukes) - Ova have operculum or cap ends 2. Larva are ciliated and swim in water 3. Snails