Medical Parasitology Exam 1
Parasite - answersLive organism living in or on and having some metabolic dependence
on another organism (host)
Endoparasite - answersLives inside host
Ectoparasite - answersLives on or in the skin
Facultative parasite - answersUsually free-living, but can become parasitic if
accidentally enters host
Mutualism - answersRelationship in which both partners benefit from association
(termites and their gut protozoa)
Commensalism - answersOne species benefits and the other neither benefits nor is
harmed
(Entamoeba gingivalis in human mouth)
Parasitism - answersParasite living at the expense of and often causing harm to the
host (hookworm)
Definitive host - answersHost in which the parasite reaches sexual or reproductive
maturity
Intermediate host - answersHost in which the immature or larval form usually resides or
in which the parasite undergoes asexual reproduction. This type of host is necessary for
the parasites' development (Plasmodium, mosquito=definitive host,
human=intermediate)
Accidental (incidental) host - answersHost that accidentally harbors an organism that is
not ordinarily parasitic in the particular species. May or may not cause symptoms
-Usually a short-lived infection
Transport (paratenic) host - answersNonessential host in the life cycle of a parasite that
can harbor and maintain immature stages of a parasite
-Can serve to bridge intermediate and definitive host
Reservoir host - answers-A 'living source' of the parasite
-Not the host of primary concern
, -A host that serves as a source of infection and potential reinfection of humans and as a
means of sustaining a parasite when it is not infecting humans
Eukaryotic parasites - answers-Protozoa
-Helminths
-Arthropods
Protozoa - answersSingle-celled microorganisms that can inhabit many human tissues,
such as the blood, intestine, and reproductive systems
-Malaria (plasmodium), giardia, toxoplasma gondii
Toxoplasmosis - answersMostly acquired from cats or by ingesting undercooked meats
Toxoplasmosis in adults - answers-Chorioretinitis
-Hepatitis
-Lymphadenitis
-Brain lesions
Toxoplasmosis in children - answersHydrocephalus
Vector for Trypanosomiasis - answers-Sleeping sickness
-Tsetse fly
Vector for American Trypanosomiasis - answers-Chagas disease
-Kissing bug
Helminths - answersWorm-like invertebrates that lack a vertebral column
-Includes nematodes, flatworms (cestodes, trematodes)
Nematodes (roundworms) - answersType of helminth, non-segmented worm
-Among most abundant life form on earth
-Many inhabit human intestine
-Most can be visualized without a microscope
-Pinworm, hookworm, ascarids
Ascarids - answersType of roundworm infection
-One of 3 major soil-transmitted helminths (STHs)
-Other 2 are whipworms and hookworms
-Referred to as the "Unholy Trinity"
Wuchereria bancrofti - answerselephantiasis
Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm infection) - answersInfects 15-20% of children in the
U.S.
-Diagnosis= adhesive tape around anus
Parasite - answersLive organism living in or on and having some metabolic dependence
on another organism (host)
Endoparasite - answersLives inside host
Ectoparasite - answersLives on or in the skin
Facultative parasite - answersUsually free-living, but can become parasitic if
accidentally enters host
Mutualism - answersRelationship in which both partners benefit from association
(termites and their gut protozoa)
Commensalism - answersOne species benefits and the other neither benefits nor is
harmed
(Entamoeba gingivalis in human mouth)
Parasitism - answersParasite living at the expense of and often causing harm to the
host (hookworm)
Definitive host - answersHost in which the parasite reaches sexual or reproductive
maturity
Intermediate host - answersHost in which the immature or larval form usually resides or
in which the parasite undergoes asexual reproduction. This type of host is necessary for
the parasites' development (Plasmodium, mosquito=definitive host,
human=intermediate)
Accidental (incidental) host - answersHost that accidentally harbors an organism that is
not ordinarily parasitic in the particular species. May or may not cause symptoms
-Usually a short-lived infection
Transport (paratenic) host - answersNonessential host in the life cycle of a parasite that
can harbor and maintain immature stages of a parasite
-Can serve to bridge intermediate and definitive host
Reservoir host - answers-A 'living source' of the parasite
-Not the host of primary concern
, -A host that serves as a source of infection and potential reinfection of humans and as a
means of sustaining a parasite when it is not infecting humans
Eukaryotic parasites - answers-Protozoa
-Helminths
-Arthropods
Protozoa - answersSingle-celled microorganisms that can inhabit many human tissues,
such as the blood, intestine, and reproductive systems
-Malaria (plasmodium), giardia, toxoplasma gondii
Toxoplasmosis - answersMostly acquired from cats or by ingesting undercooked meats
Toxoplasmosis in adults - answers-Chorioretinitis
-Hepatitis
-Lymphadenitis
-Brain lesions
Toxoplasmosis in children - answersHydrocephalus
Vector for Trypanosomiasis - answers-Sleeping sickness
-Tsetse fly
Vector for American Trypanosomiasis - answers-Chagas disease
-Kissing bug
Helminths - answersWorm-like invertebrates that lack a vertebral column
-Includes nematodes, flatworms (cestodes, trematodes)
Nematodes (roundworms) - answersType of helminth, non-segmented worm
-Among most abundant life form on earth
-Many inhabit human intestine
-Most can be visualized without a microscope
-Pinworm, hookworm, ascarids
Ascarids - answersType of roundworm infection
-One of 3 major soil-transmitted helminths (STHs)
-Other 2 are whipworms and hookworms
-Referred to as the "Unholy Trinity"
Wuchereria bancrofti - answerselephantiasis
Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm infection) - answersInfects 15-20% of children in the
U.S.
-Diagnosis= adhesive tape around anus
