Lecture 1 1/23/24 Flashcards
What are parasites?
organism that lives, feeds, takes shelter, or in some fashion takes energy from a host organism without giving the host anything in return
What are the different helminth classifications?
-cestodes
-trematodes
-nematodes
Which other parasite classifications exists besides helminths?
-arthropods
-protozoa
What are the two main targets when trying to stop parasite transmission?
-life cycle
-role within environment
What are the characteristics of endoparasites?
-live inside the host body
-cause an infection
What are the characteristics of ectoparasites?
-live outside the host body
-cause an infestation
What is an aberrant host?
when the parasite is in the wrong host
What is an aberrant parasite?
when the parasite is in the right host, but the wrong location within the body
What is a facultative parasite?
a parasite that does not need a host, but will make use of one if present
What is an obligatory parasite?
a parasite that absolutely needs a host for survival
What is a definitive host?
-host in which the adult stage of a helminth lives
-host in which sexual replication occurs for protozoa
What is an intermediate host?
-absolutely required for the parasite’s life cycle to occur
-host in which the juvenile stage(s) of a helminth occur
-host in which asexual replication occurs for protozoa
What is a paratenic host?
-host that can help get a parasite into a definitive host
-no development occurs
-not a necessary host
What is a vector?
an organisms that houses a pathogen and can transmit said pathogen to a host
What is a biologic vector?
vector in which the parasite replicates
What is a mechanical vector?
vector that simply transports the parasite, with no replication occurring
What is a reservoir host?
host in which parasite does not cause disease
What is a direct life cycle?
life cycle in which the parasite can go from definitive host to definitive host without needing an intermediate host
What is an indirect life cycle?
life cycle in which the parasite must use an intermediate host to go from definitive host to definitive host
What is horizontal transmission?
spread of a parasite between individuals of the same age cohort
What is vertical transmission?
spread of a parasite from parent to offspring
What is a monospecific parasite?
parasite that can only infect a single, specific species
What is a heterospecific parasite?
parasite that can infect multiple different species
What is prevalence?
the percent of individuals at any one given time that are infected with a parasite
What is incidence?
the rate at which new infections occur
