2.

Hosts and their Classification

A host is an organism in or on which a parasite lives, and at whose expense the parasite
feeds.
Some spieces of parasites move from one host to another in the course of their
development. This is known as host change.
In terms of host change, hosts can be classified into:
1. definitive
2. intermediate
3. transfer or paratenic
4. reservoir
5. unsuitable or accidental
Definitive hosts are those in which the parasite can attain sexual maturity and multiply sexually.
Intermediate hosts are essential to the parasites' development, but in them the parasites do not
become sexually mature, though asexual reproduction may take place.
Transfer or paratenic hosts are those, whose presence may be required for the completion of a
parasite's life cycle but in which no development of the parasite occurs. They are not obligate to
the parasite's life cycle.
Reserve or reservoir hosts are those in which the parasite does not reproduce, but in which the
parasites can reside, survive and be passed on to other hosts. Reserve hosts may be wild animals
and domestic animals.
Accidental hosts are those into which a parasite enters by accident rather than by design. There
it can neither normally develop nor complete its life cycle. Humans often become such hosts
when, for example, entering an atypical environment. These parasites can only develop to the
larval stage in humans and remain at that stage until the death of the host, as they cannot be
transmitted further.
3. Host-Parasite Interaction
Parasites and hosts have evolved together, so they make up a closely connected biological
system. In this system, the parasite affects the host, the host affects the parasite, and both are
affected by environmental factors.
3.1 Effects of Parasites on Hosts
The parasites usually have a negative effect on the host, causing various diseases. Diseasecausing parasite forms are termed pathogenic. Parasite forms that do not cause diseases are
termed nonpathogenic.
The parasites can have a number of effects on the hosts, as listed below:
Mechanical effects include tissue damage caused by the attachment organs of the parasites as
well as their body size (adult or larvae), location place, and the amount of the parasites in or on
the host body. Mechanical damage may be caused by larval as well as adult forms.

Toxic effects. The products of the parasites' metabolism poison the host. causing fever, nausea,
migraines, muscle spasms, vomiting, loss of appetite, anemia, sleeplessness etc.
Allergic reactions. The poisonous substances (antigens) may cause allergic reactions, such as
migraines, skin rashes, swelling of hands and feet, strong itching, increase of leucocytes in blood
and even anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction due to repeated exposure to an allergen) which
often results in death.
Feeding off the host. This involves eating the host's tissues, tissue fluids, blood, host-digested
food and other biologically active materials necessary to the host.
Side effects. The parasites may disturb the host's digestion, food absorption, metabolism and
blood production, reduce vitamin reserves, push up the number of leucocytes (especially
eozynophiles), interfere with the nervous system and aggravate infectious diseases.
Environmental effects on humans include biological and social factors. Geographical and
climatic conditions influence the prevalende of parasites and their vectors, which in turn
influences the likelihood of contracting infectious or invasional diseases.
3.2 Effects of Hosts on Parasites
The hosts respond to the negative effects of the parasites. The relationship between them is
antagonistic (hostile). The host response aims to subdue or destroy the parasite. The host
response may be divided into local and general response.
Local response at the cellural level involves changes in cell size, increased speed of cell
production, or increase in the activity of certain organs.
Local response at the tissue level may involve the formation of an capsule (envelope) of
connective tissue around inactive parasites, and creation of cysts, granulomas, sacs, etc.
General response (also humoral or immune response) involves the formation of specific
antibodies in response to the antigens emitted by the parasites, as well as the increase in
macrophage activity.
Host response may consist of both reflexive and conscious activity.
Reflexive responses are the host's defense controlled at the subconscious level.
Conscious responses to parasites for humans may involve following a healty way of life to
reduce the chance of parasites entering the body, reduce toxic and allergic damage, speed up the
formation and recovery of the immune system, and strengthens the immune response.