Introduction to Parasitology Flashcards
What ancient civilizations documented the existence of parasites?
Persians, Egyptians, and Greeks
Documentation dates back to prehistoric times.
What significant document from 1500 BC describes ailments caused by parasites?
Ebers papyrus
Discovered at Thebes.
Who is known as the Father of Modern Parasitology?
Francisco Redi
Published the earliest book on parasitology in 1684.
What did Francisco Redi demonstrate about maggots?
Maggots developed from the eggs of flies.
Who is known as the Father of Microscopy?
Anton Van Leeuwenhoek.
What significant discovery did Otto Fredrich Muller make in 1773?
Discovered Cercariae.
What organism did Peacock discover in human flesh in 1878?
Trichinella.
What is the area of science that studies organisms living within another organism?
Parasitology.
What is Medical Parasitology concerned with?
Parasites of humans and their medical significance.
What is the estimated prevalence of Ascaris infections worldwide?
1.5 billion.
Fill in the blank: The suffix -iasis denotes ______.
[diseases or conditions].
What is a parasite?
An organism that causes infection to humans and derives nourishment from a host.
What defines an endoparasite?
Internal parasites that invade and multiply inside the body.
What is the difference between ectoparasites and endoparasites?
Ectoparasites attach or penetrate the skin’s host, while endoparasites exist inside the host.
What is an epidemic?
A sudden rise in the incidence of a disease within a specific area.
What does the term ‘auto infection’ refer to?
An infected individual becomes his own direct source of infection.
What are obligatory parasites?
Parasites that cannot survive outside of a host.
What type of parasite is capable of existing independently of a host?
Facultative parasite.
What type of host harbors the adult sexual phase of a parasite?
Definitive host.
What is a biological vector?
A vector that transmits the parasite after its development within the host.
What is the process of inoculating an infective agent called?
Exposure.
What is the incubation period?
The period between infection and the evidence of symptoms.
What is mechanical damage in the context of parasitic infections?
Damage caused by pressure introduced to the host, leading to blockages or destruction of cells.
What common symptom can result from parasitic infections?
Diarrhea.
What is one method of parasite prevention?
Educating communities on parasite transmission and prevention.
What is the significance of the diagnostic stage of a parasite?
Forms that can be detected via laboratory retrieval methods.
What is a reservoir host?
A host harboring parasites that are parasitic for humans, from which humans may become infected.
What is the difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers?
Symptomatic carriers show signs of infection, while asymptomatic carriers do not.
What defines a non-pathogenic or commensal organism?
An organism that is unable to cause any disease.
What is the purpose of deworming as a control measure?
To treat cases of parasitic infection.
What is the term for when a parasite attacks an unnatural host?
Accidental parasite.
What is the diagnostic stage of a parasite’s life cycle?
Forms that can be detected through laboratory methods.
What is a transitory parasite?
A type of parasite where the larval stage develops in a host while the adult is free-living.
What is the mode of transmission involving contaminated food or water?
Ingestion.
What is the significance of skin penetration in parasitic infections?
A mode of transmission for various parasites.
What is the term for a parasite that wanders into an organ in which it is not usually found?
Erratic parasite.
What is the relationship called where both organisms benefit?
Mutualism.
What is a common vector for transmitting parasites?
Mosquitoes.
