Vocab Flashcards
ectoparasite
lives on outer surface of the host; INFEST rather than INFECT (eg. fleas, ticks, leeches, mites)
endoparasite
lives within host
facultative parasite
establishes a relationship with a host IF the opportunity presents itself; NOT dependent on a host to complete their life cycle
obligatory parasite
physiologically and metabolically dependent on a host or hosts to complete its life cycle
aberrant parasite
characteristic of the host, but found in an unusual location within the host
accidental parasite
one that is found in other than its normal host (= incidental parasite)
definitive host
a host in which the parasite reaches sexual maturity or the “most important” host if no sexual reproduction occurs; where infection is caused and symptoms are displayed
reservoir host
a “living source” of the parasite that supports parasite development as does the definitive host
intermediate host
host in which development or asexual reproduction occurs that is critical for infection of the next host
vector
type of intermediate host that actively transmits a disease organism as a function of hematophagy (feeding on blood)
paratenic host
type of host in which no development or asexual reproduction occurs, but where a parasite can persist/exist
direct life cycle
one host cycle (= monoxenous parasite), commonly called “hand-to-mouth” cycles
indirect life cycle
one requiring two or more hosts (= heteroxenous parasite)
epidemiology
“as it falls upon people”; ecology of disease, i.e., all aspects of the pathogen, host(s), environment, social conditions, etc. that contribute to or influence the maintenance of a disease
endemic
A disease pathogen is present in an area and is expected to be there
epidemic
The presence of a disease is at levels higher than what normally is expected
pandemic
a worldwide epidemic
reportable disease
in the U.S., this is a disease that has a particular case definition (as set by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists for notifiable infectious diseases), and MUST be reported to local and state public health agencies in the interest of public health.
case definition
A set of standard criteria used to classify a person as having a particular disease; a unified case definition facilitates comparable data collection and comparisons
Cyclodevelopmental Transmission
The parasite undergoes cyclical changes within the vector but does not multiply, i.e., there is only developmental changes of the parasite without multiplication
Cyclopropagative Transmission
The parasite undergoes cyclical changes and multiplies within the vector, i.e., there are both developmental changes and multiplication of the parasite.
Propagative Transmission
The parasite multiplies within the vector without any cyclical changes, i.e., the parasite increases in number within the vector but does not undergo any developmental changes
