-an organism
that lives on or in the body of another organism (the host) and causes
damage to the other organism
Types of
Parasites
Ectoparasites
- live/feed on the exterior of an organism (tick)
Endoparasites - live/feed on the interior of an organism (tapeworm)
We
will focus on two kingdoms:
Protist parasites and Animal Parasites
Parasitic
Protists
Disease:
Malaria (Phylum Sporozoa)
Protist: Plasmodium
Vector: Anopheles Mosquito
Symptoms: Chills, fever
See Life Cycle
of Malaria
Disease:
Cryptosporidosis (Phylum Sporozoa)
Protist: Cryptosproridium
Vector: Contaminated water
Symptoms: diarrhea, nausea, vomitting
Disease:
African Sleeping Sickness (Phylum Zoomastigophora)
Protist: Trypanosoma
Vector: Tse Tse Fly
Symptoms: uncontrolled sleepiness
See Life
Cycle of Trypanosoma
Disease:
Hiker's Diarrhea (Phylum Zoomastigophora)
Protist: Giardia lamblia
Vector: contaminated water
Symptoms: diarrhea, vomitting, cramps
Disease:
Amebic Dysentery (Phylum Rhizopoda)
Protist: Entamoeba Histolytica
Vector: Contaminated water
Symptoms: diarrhea
| Most
parasites are contracted from water sources, either directly ingesting
contaminated water, or being infected through the skin. The best
way to prevent parasitic infections is to have a clean water supply
and waste treatment. |
Animal Parasites
Roundworms
- Phylum Nematoda
Ascaris
- common roundworm, found in dogs, cats and humans; infection occurs
from ingestion
Hookworm
- attaches to intestine, causes bleeding, infection occurs through
the skin
Pinworms
- commonly infect children in all parts of the world (including US),
causing itching around the anus but does not usually cause any other
health problems
Guinnea
Worm
--also known as fiery worm, or dracunculus
-- worms found just under skin, cause burning
Trichinella--worm embeds in muscles
--humans become infected from eating undercooked pork
--symptoms include soreness and tenderness of the muscles
--see Life
Cycle of Guinnea Worm