PARASITOLOGY
,By the end of this session students are
expected to be able to:
• Define common terms used in parasitology
• Classify and list general characteristics of parasites
06/10/2026 2
,COMMON TERMS USED IN
PARASITOLOGY
• Parasitology
• Parasitologyis the study of parasites that infect
humans. Parasitology deals with characteristics,
transmission, clinical features and diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of diseases caused by
the parasites.
06/10/2026 3
, • Parasite
• A parasite is an organism that depends on another organism (a
host) for food, shelter or other benefits and which receives these
benefits is such a way that the host experience detrimental effects
as a consequence. It is simply an organism that depends on other
organisms and at the same time causing harm to that organism.
• There are three main classes of parasites that can cause disease
in humans those are
i. Protozoa
ii. Helminths
iii. Ectoparasites
06/10/2026 4
,By the end of this session students are
expected to be able to:
• Define common terms used in parasitology
• Classify and list general characteristics of parasites
06/10/2026 2
,COMMON TERMS USED IN
PARASITOLOGY
• Parasitology
• Parasitologyis the study of parasites that infect
humans. Parasitology deals with characteristics,
transmission, clinical features and diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of diseases caused by
the parasites.
06/10/2026 3
, • Parasite
• A parasite is an organism that depends on another organism (a
host) for food, shelter or other benefits and which receives these
benefits is such a way that the host experience detrimental effects
as a consequence. It is simply an organism that depends on other
organisms and at the same time causing harm to that organism.
• There are three main classes of parasites that can cause disease
in humans those are
i. Protozoa
ii. Helminths
iii. Ectoparasites
06/10/2026 4
