Practical 1 Flashcards
Parasitology is:
The science that deals with organisms that take up their abodes, temporarily or permanently, on or within other living organisms
Definition of Parasitism
Intimate and obligatory relationship between two heterospecific organisms which the parasite, usually the smaller of the two partners, is metabolically dependent on the host
Parasitism implies:
That one of the partners benefits, the other is “harmed”
Parasitic relationships may be:
- Permanent (e.g. tapeworms)
- Temporary (e.g. ticks)
Obligatory parasite
If an organism is completely dependent on the host during a segment or all of its life cycle
Facultative parasite:
An organism that does not absolutely depend on the parasitic way of life, but is capable of adapting to it if placed in such a relationship
Permanent parasite:
The parasite lives all life in or on animals (e.g. tapeworms, louse)
Temporary parasite:
The parasite lives a part of its life in or on animals
-Often vectors of pathogens (e.g. during feeding like ticks, mosquitoes)
Definitive host/Final host:
Harbors the adult or sexual stage of the parasite, where the parasite reaches sexual maturity
Intermediate host:
Is a temporary environment for the parasite, but is necessary to complete its life cycle. Usually undergoes morphological or physiological change in it.
!Do NOT reach sexual maturity, but can undergo asexual reproduction in an IH!
Paratenic host:
The parasite does not undergo any development, but host keeps it alive and transmits it to another host
-optional transport host, no detectable morphological changes
Taxonomy was developed by:
Carolus Linnaeus
Binomial nomenclature involves organizing an organisms scientific name into a combination of two terms:
- The first identifies the genus (Capitalized and italicized
- The second the species itself (italicized)
What are the 7 different taxa:
- Kingdom
- Phylum (+subphylum)
- Class (+subclass)
- Order (+superorder and suborder)
- Family (+superfamily and subfamily)
- Genus (+subgenus)
- Species (+subspecies)
What is the ending used for Order:
-ida
(Suborder is -ina)
What is the ending used for Family:
-idae
(Superfamily -oidae and subfamily -inae)
What defines Species:
- They are anatomically/morphologically the same
- They occupy the same space
- They can procreate
Disease name vs. Parasite name:
Diseases have the ending -osis added to the stem of the name of the parasite, by dropping the last one or two letters
E.g.
-Parasite name: Fasciola
-Disease name: Fasciosis*
What is the most common laboratory procedure:
Fecal examination (Coprological)
Collection of fecal samples:
- Fresh
- From rectum or immediately after defication
Storage of fecal samples:
Refrigerate do NOT freeze it (can damage the sample)
-Helmiths eggs may be preserved with equal volume of 5-10% buffered formaline (Never for LUNG WORMS)