Introduction Flashcards
Parasitism
Living on or within another
- parasite depends on host resources
- detrimental to host
What is the difference between commensalism and mutualism?
Commensalism: no harm or benefit to host
Mutualism: host is benefited from the parasite
Aberrant parasite
Wanders from usual site of infection, usually causing pathology
- often in host other than “normal host”
- may be an accidental parasite
Facultative parasite
Free living, can live apart from host
Obligate parasite
Depends on host for survival, cannot multiply outside of host
Ectoparasites cause _______, endoparasites cause ________
Infestation; infection
Direct life cycle vs indirect life cycle
Direct: goes from environment (larval stages) to definitive host (sexual maturation, lay eggs)
Indirect: environment to intermediate host to definitive host
Definitive host
Host where sexually mature parasite stages occur
- reproduction –> offspring
- is required for parasite life cycles that are BOTH direct, or indirect!
Intermediate host
Host in which immature parasite stages develop further
- required for indirect life cycles
Paratenic host
Harbors immature stages, but NO development in host
- not required in life cycle
- “transport host”
Reservoir host
Serves as source of infection for domestic animals
- usually wildlife species
Parasites with a wide host range are generally not _________
Host specific
Prepatent period
Time from initial infection to first detection of diagnostic stages
Patent period
Period of time during which diagnostic stages can be detected
Autoinfection
Re-infection of host by parasite offspring without the parasites leaving the host
