Parasitology Vocabulary Flashcards
Symbiosis
Two different types of organisms living together
Mutualism
2 organisms of different species live in a relationship where both benefit
Commensalism
relationship where 1 organism benefits and the other does not, but is not harmed
Parasitism
a relationship in which 1 organism lives off another (host) and causes harm to the host
Host
any organism that supports another organism
Definitive Host
Kingdom Protista – the host in which the parasite undergoes sexual reproduction; Kingdom Animalia – the host in which the adult worm is found
Intermediate Host
Kingdom Protista – the host in which the parasite undergoes asexual reproduction; Kingdom Animalia – the host in which the juvenile form of the worm is found
Reservoir Host
infected organism (usually an animal) which makes the parasite available for transmission to other hosts
Ectoparasite
a parasite that lives on the outer surface of the host; ticks, lice, fleas
Endoparasite
a parasite that lives inside the host; tapeworm, Giardia, Plasmodium
Biological Vector
an organism in which the parasite undergoes part of its lifecycle and then transmits the parasite to another organism; female Anopheles mosquito
Mechanical Vector
an organism that transmits a parasite, but is not part of the parasites life cycle; flies, roaches, rodents
Monoecious
animal that has both male and female reproductive organs (hermaphrodite)
Dioecious
animal that has only male or female reproductive organs
Cyst
spore like stage of protozoa; thick wall - resistant to unfavorable environment
