Medical parasitology
Parasite
•A parasite is a living organism, which takes its nourishment and other needs from a host.
•The host is an organism, which supports the parasite.
•The parasites included in medical parasitology are protozoa, helminthes, and some
arthropods
DIFFERENT KINDS OF PARASITES
• Ectoparasite –a parasitic organism that lives on the outer surface of
its host, e.g. lice, ticks, mites etc.
• Endoparasites –parasites that live inside the body of their host, e.g.
Entamoeba histolytica.
• Obligate Parasite -This parasite is completely dependent on the host during asegment or
all of its life cycle, e.g. Plasmodium spp.
• Facultative parasite –an organism that exhibits both parasitic and non-parasitic modes of
living and hence does not absolutely depend on the parasitic way of life, but is capable of
adapting to it if placed on a host.
E.g. Naegleria fowleri
DIFFERENT KINDS OF HOSTS
•Definitive host –a host that harbors a parasite in the adult stage or where the parasite
undergoes a sexual method of reproduction.
•Intermediate host -harbors the larval stages of the parasite or an asexual cycle of
development takes place.
-In some cases, larval development is completed in two different intermediate hosts, referred
to as first and second intermediate hosts .
•Paratenic host –a host that serves as a temporary refuge and vehicle
for reaching an obligatory host, usually the definitive host, i.e. it is not necessary for the
completion of the parasites life cycle .
•Reservoir host –a host that makes the parasite available for the transmission to another host
and is usually not affected by the infection .
•Natural host –a host that is naturally infected with certain species of parasite .
•Accidental host –a host that is under normal circumstances not infected with the parasite.
The following are the three common symbiotic relationships between two organisms:
1-Mutualism -an association in which both partners are
metabolically dependent upon each other and one cannot live without the help of the
other; however, none of the partners suffers any harm from the association.
One classic example is the relationship between certain species of flagellated protozoa living
in the gut of termites.
2-Commensalism -an association in which the commensal takes the benefit without
causing injury to the host. E.g. Most of the normal floras of the humans’ body can be
considered as commensals.
3-Parasitism -an association where one of the partners is harmed and the other lives at the
expense of the other. E.g. Worms like Ascaris lumbricoides reside in the gastrointestinal
tract of man, and feed on important items of intestinal food causing various illnesses.
EFFECT OF PARASITES ON THE HOST
•The damage which pathogenic parasites produce in the tissues of the host may be described
in the following two ways:-
•(a) Direct effects of the parasite on the host
• Mechanical injury -may be inflicted by a parasite by means of
pressure as it grows larger, e.g. Hydatid cyst causes blockage of ducts
such as blood vessels producing infraction.
•Deleterious effect of toxic substances-in Plasmodium falciparum production of toxic
substances may cause rigors and other symptoms.
•Deprivation of nutrients, fluids and metabolites -parasite may produce disease by competing
with the host for nutrients .
(b) Indirect effects of the parasite on the host :
•Immunological reaction: Tissue damage may be caused by immunological response of the
host, e.g. nephritic syndrome following Plasmodium infections .
CLASSIFICATION OF MEDICAL PARASIT
•Parasites of medical importance come under the kingdom called Protista and animalia .
•Protista includes the microscopic single-celled eukaroytic known as protozoa .
•In contrast, helminthes are macroscopic, multicellular worms possessing well differentiated
tissues and complex organs belonging to the kingdom animalia .
•Excessive proliferation of certain tissues due to invasion by some parasites can also cause
tissue damage in man, e.g. fibrosis of liver after deposition of the ova of Schistosoma.
Medical Parasitology is generally classified into:
•Medical Protozoology -Deals with the study of medically important protozoa.
•Medical Helminthology -Deals with the study of helminthes(worms) that affect man.
•Medical Entomology -Deals with the study of arthropods which cause or transmit disease
to man.
Intestinal Protozoa:-Amoebic Dysentery
•A-Definition and types Dysenteryis an infection of the intestines causing diarrhea that
contains blood or [Link] are two main types of dysentery:
[Link] dysentery or Shigellosis, caused by the Shigella bacteria.
[Link] dysentery or Amoebiasis, caused by a parasite called Entamoeba Histolytica.
This form of dysentery is more common abroad in tropical countries.
Entamoeba histolytica
•Definitive Host Human (colon)
•Infective Stage Tetranucleatedcyst (having 4 nuclei)
•Diagnostic Stage Cyst in feces and trophozoites in fresh stool
•Pathogenic stage Trophozoite
•Root of transmission Oro-facal
•Pathology caused by it Amoebiasis; Amoebic dysentery; Extraintestinal Amoebiasis,
usually Amoebic Liver Abscess
•Symptoms Cramps, vomiting, malaise, abdominal discomfort (mimics appendicitis), rectal
tenesmus, and Dysentary -diarrhea with blood Trophozoite Cyst
B-life cycle , amoeba forms a cyst that is protected by the stomach’ s digestive acid.
•When the cyst passes through the intestines, it breaks open infecting the body.
•The amoebae burrow into the intestinal wall and cause small ulcers.
•Cysts exit the body via feces but are still able to live outside, which is how many people
become infected.
Entamoeba gingivalis
•Disease - non-pathogenic ameba .
Inhabits - the human oral cavity conjunction with periodontal disease.
•Infected stage - Trophozoites
•Transmitted - person-to-person orally by kissing or fomites
Acanthamoeba
•Are commonly found in lakes, swimming pools, tap water, and heating and air conditioning
units.
•Two stages, cystsand trophozoitesin its life cycle.
•Infective stage trophozoites
•Diagnostic stagecystsand trophozoites
•Transmitted through the eye, nasal passages to the lower respiratory tract, or ulcerated or
broken skin.
Giardia lamblia
•Morphology:large flagellate
•Definitive Host Human(duodenum)
•Infective Stage Quadra nucleated Cyst.
•Diagnostic Stage Cyst in stool and trophozoites in the duodenum(enterotest)
•Pathogenic stage Trophozoite with two nuclei
•Root of transmission Oro-fecal
•Pathology caused by it giardiasis (lambliasis),Steatorrhea
Pathogensis:
•Giardiasis primarily involves the malabsorption of lipid, and vitamins form the
gastrointestinal tract.
•Clinical girdiasisis characterized by diarrhea, manyinfections are asymotomatic.
Balantidium coli
•Definitive Host Human(caecum and colon) and Pig
•Infective Stage cyst
•Diagnostic Stage Cyst or ciliated trophozoite in feces
•Pathogenic stage Trophozoite
•Root of transmission Oro-fecal(zoonotic)
•Pathology caused by it Balantidiasis
Pathogenesis
•Balantidium coliinfection is most often asymptomatic but the parasite can invade the
large intestine leading to diarrhea dysentery ( bloody diarrhea ) colitis and abdominal pain
Life cycle
Trichomonas vaginalis
•Definitive Host Human (vagina & urethra)
•Infective Stage Trophozoite
•Diagnostic Stage (Trophozoites Flagellate in vaginal or urethral smear)
•Pathogenic stage Trophozoite
•Root of transmission Sexual intercourses
•Pathology caused by it Trichomoniasis
Multiplies longitudinal binary fission.
Morphology:
•There are 4 anterior flagella of equal length and fifth flagellum on margin of the relatively
short undulating membrane, along delicate
exo style at posterior end of the body with large ovoidal nucleus found at the anterior side of
its body