Parasitoloy Practical No.

1

General Definitions
Parasite
An organism which is dependent on
another organism for its survival.
Host
An organism which harbours the parasite
and is usually larger than the parasite.
Ectoparasite
A parasite which lives on the outside of the
host.
Endoparasite
A parasite which lives within the body of
the host.
Facultative parasite
A parasite which is capable of living both
freely and as a parasite.
Obligate parasite
A parasite which is completely dependent
upon the host.
Commensal
A parasite which does not damage the
host.
Symobiont
A parasite which contributes to the welfare
of the host.
Pathogen
A parasite which injures the host.
Reservoir host
An animal which is infected with the same
species of parasite as man.
Intermediate host
A host in which the intermediate stages of
the parasite develop (the parasite
undergoes asexual division).
Definitive host
A host in which the definitive or the final
stages of the parasite develop (the
parasite undergoes sexual division).
Paratenic host
A host which acts as a transporting agent
for the parasite and which the parasite
does not undergo any development.
Infection
The penetration and/ or presence of a
parasite within the host tissues.


Infestation
The presence of arthropods on the skin of
the host.
Epidemic
The sudden appearance of an infection
which spreads rapidly and involves a large
population.
Endemic
An infection which has always existed in a
region.

Incubation
The time between the entrance of a
parasite into a host and the beginning of
the disease.
Habitat
The natural abode of a parasite species.
Ecology
The relationship between a population of
an organism and the environment. When
this is a balanced relationship the host
remains healthy. Diseases is manifested
when this relationship breaks down.
Carrier
A person who carries a certain parasite
without displaying any signs or symptoms
of disease.
Zoonoses
Diseases of animals which are
transmissible to man.
Incidence
The rate at which a disease or a certain
event occurs.
Prevalence
The total number of cases of a disease at
a certain time in a designated area.
REPRODUCTION
Asexual reproduction
Binary fission
This is the simplest form of division; the
individual parasite divides transversely or
longitudinally into 2 daughter cells.

Multiple fission or schizogony
In this process the nucleus of the parent cell
undergoes multiple divisions. Each divided
part of the nucleus is then surrounded by a
portion of cytoplasm, resulting in the
formation fo daughter cells

Endodyogeny
In this form of division the cell undergoes a
single internal budding resulting in the
formation of 2 daughter cells.

Sexual reproduction
Conjugation
In this process 2 cells become temporarily
attached to each other; during this
attachment there is exchange of nuclear
material. On completion of conjugation the
cells separate and there is no increase in
the number of cells.
Syngamy
In this process sexually differentiated cells
unite to form the zygote. This in turn
produce many daughter cells.
Locomotion
Flagella
Are filamentous extensions of the cytoplasm
and vare very fine and difficult to recognize.
They vary in number from 1 to 8.
Cilia
Used for locomotion and also aid in the
ingestion of food and serve as sensory
organs.
Pseudopodia
Are temporary projections of the cytoplasm.
They are seen in amoebae and are used for
locomotion and the ingestion of food.