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Intro to Parasitology Flashcards

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1
Q

What is parasitology?

A

Area of biology concerned with the phenomenon of dependence of one living organism in another organism.

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2
Q

What is clinical parasitology?

A

Concerned with animal parasites in humans and their medical significance, as well as their importance in human communities.

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3
Q

What are parasites?

A

Organisms dependent on another organism for food and shelter.

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4
Q

What is the origin of the word ‘parasite’?

A

Derived from the Greek words: para (beside) and sitos (food).

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5
Q

What is the relationship between parasites and hosts?

A

Parasites are living organisms that are associated with food for all or part of their life-cycle; the organism providing the food is called the host.

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6
Q

What are the two environments that parasites must adapt to?

A
  • Micro-environment: Habitat within the host immediately surrounding the parasite. * Macro-environment: Habitat of the host.
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7
Q

What is the equilibrium in host-parasite relationships?

A

In long established hosts, parasites have reached an equilibrium where both can coexist without harming each other.

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8
Q

What can happen if the equilibrium between host and parasite is disturbed?

A
  • Host suffers and parasites have a pathological effect. * Parasite may be destroyed if the host’s inhibitory mechanisms are effective.
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9
Q

What is an endoparasite?

A

A parasite living inside the body of the host; presence is termed as infection.

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10
Q

What is an ectoparasite?

A

A parasite living outside the host; presence is termed as infestation.

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11
Q

Define obligate parasite.

A

A parasite that cannot survive without a host.

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12
Q

What is a facultative parasite?

A

A parasite that can live both in a free-living state and as a parasite.

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13
Q

What are some examples of various types of parasites?

A
  • Incidental parasite: Establishes in an unusual host. * Permanent parasite: Remains in the host for its entire existence.
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14
Q

What is a definitive host?

A

Harbors the sexual stage or adult of the parasite.

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15
Q

What is an intermediate host?

A

Harbors the asexual stage of the parasite.

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16
Q

What is a reservoir host?

A

Harbors the parasite other than the primary host.

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17
Q

What are biological vectors?

A

Vectors that are important in the parasite’s life and transmit the parasite only after completed its development within the host.

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18
Q

What are mechanical/phoretic vectors?

A

Vectors that transport the parasite without undergoing development.

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19
Q

What are common sources of infection?

A
  • Contaminated soil and water * Food contaminated with infective stages * Arthropod vectors * Domestic or wild animals * Another person (infected individuals) * Auto-infection.
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20
Q

Define infection in the context of parasitology.

A

Entry, development, establishment, and multiplication of a parasite in the host.

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21
Q

What is auto-infection?

A

Infected individual becomes his/her own direct source of infection.

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22
Q

What is super-infection or hyper-infection?

A

Infected individual is re-infected with the same parasite.

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23
Q

What is skin penetration in the context of parasitic transmission?

A

The entry of parasites through the skin or outer covering of the host.

This method is exemplified by specialized larvae that can pierce the skin.

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24
Q

How can congenital transmission occur?

A

Through mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth.

This can lead to infections being passed from the mother directly to the offspring.

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25
What is trans-mammary transmission?
Transmission of parasites that thrive in human milk from mother to infant. ## Footnote This method highlights the importance of breastfeeding in the spread of certain infections.
26
Define auto-infection.
When an infected individual becomes their own direct source of infection.
27
What is super-infection or hyper-infection?
When an infected individual is re-infected with the same parasite due to a weak immune response. ## Footnote The body fails to develop memory cells for parasitic infections, leading to repeated infections.
28
What does endemic mean in the context of disease?
An infection that is always present in a specific place or region.
29
What is an epidemic?
The spread of infection to a large population.
30
Define pandemic.
A widespread epidemic involving a worldwide population.
31
What is the incubation period?
The period between the acquisition of a parasite and the manifestation of infection.
32
Why do parasitic infections have a greater impact in developing countries?
Due to factors such as: * People being reasonably well-nourished * High standard of sanitation * Benefiting from temperate climate * Absence of certain vectors.
33
What is symbiosis?
A permanent association of two organisms that cannot exist independently.
34
Define parasitism.
A relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another, usually harming the host.
35
What is mutualism?
A mutually beneficial interaction between two or more populations that is not necessarily permanent.
36
What is commensalism?
A one-way positive exchange of materials where the commensal benefits while the host is neither harmed nor helped.
37
Define cooperation in biological interactions.
A two-way positive exchange of materials that is beneficial but not obligatory.
38
What is amensalism?
A form of unilateral antagonism where one organism produces compounds that inhibit the growth of another.
39
What is predation?
An interaction where a predator attacks and usually results in the death of the prey.
40
Define competition in biological terms.
A mutually negative interaction among two or more species arising due to scarcity of resources or overlap in niche.
41
What are the two types of life cycles in parasites?
* Direct life-cycles (single host) * Indirect life-cycles (two or more hosts).
42
What happens in a direct life-cycle of a parasite?
Only one host is invaded during a single cycle where the parasite matures and reproduces.
43
Describe indirect life-cycles of parasites.
At least two hosts are invaded during a single life-cycle, often involving intermediate hosts.
44
What are common methods of invasion for parasites?
* Oral * Penetration * Contact * Via a vector (inoculative and contaminative methods).
45
What is the oral method of invasion?
Parasite eggs or larvae are swallowed via food or accidentally.
46
Explain the penetration method of invasion.
Specialized larvae pierce through the skin or outer covering of the host.
47
What does the contact method of invasion involve?
The infectious stage penetrates a host during copulation or sexual contact.
48
What is the inoculative method of vector transmission?
The vector injects the parasite into the host during feeding.
49
Define contaminative method of vector transmission.
The vector releases the infectious stage while feeding, contaminating the wound.
50
What are the primary methods of escape for parasites?
* Via feces or urine * Via a vector * Actively breaking through the skin.
51
What factors affect the prevalence of parasites?
* Availability of hosts * Agents * Environmental factors (weather, sanitation).
52
How does the genetic make-up of the host influence parasite interaction?
Certain genetic traits can provide resistance to parasites, such as the absence of receptors for malaria.
53
What is the effect of good nutritional status on parasitism?
A well-nourished host has a lower risk of parasitism.
54
List some effects of parasites on their hosts.
* Interference with vital processes * Invasion and destruction of tissues * Deprivation of essential nutrients * Inflammatory reactions.
55
What is the role of macrophages in the immune response against parasites?
Macrophages recognize and engulf parasites, triggering T-lymphocyte production.
56
What is the function of B-cells in the humoral immune response?
B-cells recognize parasite molecules and produce antibodies that neutralize or fix complement.
57
What happens once T-lymphocytes are activated?
They develop T suppressor and cytotoxic T cells that will kill the foreign body and parasite.
58
What is the role of B-cells in the humoral immune response?
They recognize molecules of parasites through immunoglobulin receptors, leading to cell differentiation and production of antibodies.
59
List the five different antibodies produced by differentiated B-cells.
* IgG * IgM * IgD * IgE * IgA
60
Why is the immune response to parasites often inefficient?
There are no memory cells to recognize the different species of parasites.
61
What are physiochemical barriers in the context of infection prevention?
Intact skin and chemical substances produced by the host that inhibit the proliferation of the parasite.
62
Give an example of innate or natural resistance.
Resistance to malaria by black people due to being devoid of the Duffy factor.
63
What is specific immunity?
Acquired from previous infection, more true to viruses than to parasitic infection.
64
What is the first step in diagnosing parasitic diseases?
Based on symptomatology and clinical manifestation.
65
What type of sample is needed for identifying a malarial parasite?
Blood sample.
66
What type of sample is needed for intestinal parasitism?
Stool sample.
67
What is the main treatment approach for parasitic infections?
Specific chemotherapy using separate drugs for helminths, protozoans, and cestodes.
68
What are general preventive measures against parasitic infections?
* Reduction of the source of infection * Health education * Sanitary control * Control of reservoir hosts and vectors * Construction of biological barriers
69
What is an example of a biological barrier to prevent parasitic infection?
Building water bridges to prevent contact with water and skin penetration.
70
What are the three classes of protozoa?
* Sarcomastigophora * Apicomplexa * Ciliophora
71
What is a key feature of the class Sarcomastigophora?
Contains flagellates and amoebas.
72
Name a disease caused by Trypanosoma.
Sleeping sickness.
73
What can Acanthamoeba cause if inhaled?
Encephalitis.
74
What is a characteristic of sporozoa?
They undergo a complex life cycle with alternating sexual and asexual reproductive phases.
75
Name two significant species of Plasmodium.
* Plasmodium falciparum * Plasmodium vivax
76
What type of worms are platyhelminthes?
Flatworms.
77
What are the two classes of platyhelminthes?
* Cestoda (tapeworms) * Trematoda (flukes)
78
What is an example of a medically important trematode?
Schistosoma.
79
What are nemathelminthes?
Worm-like, separate-sexed, unsegmented roundworms.
80
What types of nematodes infect humans?
* Intestinal nematodes * Blood and tissue nematodes

Parasitology (2 decks)

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