PaBi (16): epidemiology of microparasites

Question 1

what is a microparasite?

Answer 1

Small, normally unicellular, multiply within definitive host, short generation time and normally causes immunity to reinfection.

Question 2

Give some examples of microparasites.

Answer 2

Bacteria, viruses, protozoa e.g. Plasmodium, trypanosomes, Giardia

Question 3

What is the definition of Ro for microparasites?

Answer 3

The average number of secondary cases of infection to which one primary case can give rise throughout its infectious period if introduced into a defined population consisting solely of susceptible individuals- measured as number of hosts. i.e. the number of people that one sick person will infect.

Question 4

What age group is malaria most prevalent in?

Answer 4

Babies age 0-4 years, they are highly susceptible because their immune system is still developing

Question 5

What month is malaria most prevalent in?

Answer 5

September

Question 6

What environmental factors affect parasite transmission?

Answer 6

Temperature, humidity, flooding, vectors, numbers of infected hosts, poor hygeine

Question 7

How can people’s behaviour affect parasite transmission?

Answer 7

Personal hygiene, eating contaminated food or water,