INTRODUCTION TO PARASITOLOGY
PARASITOLOGY
 para means equal occurring as pair; bedside, or
beyond alongside
 It is a study of those living closely to each other
 Phenomenon of dependence of one living organism
on another
 Scientific study:
o Life cycle
o Reproductive behavior
o Pathogenesis
o Laboratory diagnosis
o Methods of halting multiplication
MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY - concerned primarily with
parasites of humans and their medical significance, as well
as their importance in human communities.
TYPES OF PARASITES
 Protozoa: amoeba, flagellates, ciliates
 Worm: nematodes, cestodes
 Flukes: trematodes
 Arthropods
PARASITE AND PARASITISM
 Parasitism – species dependent upon another for
its existence and could be temporary or
permanent
 Parasite – lives inside or outside surface of
another organism
 Parasitosis – state of infection or infestation with
an animal
CLASSIFICATION OF PARASITE: Habitat
o Endoparasite – parasite living inside the host;
Infection presence of endoparasite
o Ectoparasite – parasite living outside the host;
Infestation presence of ectoparasite
o Erratic – parasite found in an organ which is not
its usual habitat.
MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE: PARASITOLOGY | RBGS, RMT
CLASSIFICATION OF PARASITE: Pathogenicity
o Pathogen – harmful, frequently causing damage
to host tissue
o Nonpathogen – commensals, without giving
injury to the host
o Carrier – harbor without showing any signs and
symptoms
EXPOSURE V INFECTION
o Exposure – process of inoculating an infective
agent
o Infection – establishment of the infective agent;
TYPES:
 Superinfection or Hyperinfection –
reinfected with the same organism
 Autoinfection – reinfected with own direct
source
CLASSIFICATION OF PARASITE: Relationship of
parasite and host
o Obligate – cannot exist or survive without a host
o Facultative/Opportunistic – may live without a
host; free living existence
o Commensal – nonpathogenic; does not cause
disease
o Intermittent – visit or come during feeding time
o Coprozoic/Spurious – merely pass through the
intestine and recovered in human feces; cannot
cause parasitic infection
o Accidental/Incidental parasite – where it does
not ordinarily live
o Permanent parasite – entire life
o Temporary parasite – short period of time
TYPES OF HOSTS
o Definitive Host (Final Host) – harbors the mature
parasite and where sexual reproduction occurs
o Intermediate Host – harbors the immature
parasite and where asexual reproduction occurs
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INTRODUCTION TO PARASITOLOGY
o Accidental Host – harbors a parasite that usually
does not infect it ADDITIONAL NOTES:
o Paratenic Host (Transfer Host) – harbors a
parasite that do that develop to further or later
stages
o Dead-End Host (Incidental Host) – host that
does not anymore allow the life cycle of the
parasite to continue
o Reservoir Host – host other than the parasite’s
usual hosts that allow the life cycle to continue
VECTORS are responsible for transmitting the parasite
from one host to another
o Biological vector – transmits the parasite only
after the latter has completed its development
within the host
o Mechanical vector – transport the parasite
SOURCE OF INFECTION
o Contaminated Soil or Water – require further
development in the soil or water before infecting
the host
o Food with Immature Infective Stage – require
further development within an intermediate or
reservoir host before infecting the host
o Blood-Sucking Arthropods – transmitted by
insect bite or arthropod vector
o Domestic Animal Harboring – found in animal
that may serve or direct source for human
MODE OF TRANSMISSION
o Fecal-Oral Route
o Skin Penetration
o Sexual Intercourse
o Congenital Transfer
o Airborne
REFERENCE: Medical Parasitology in the Philippines by
Belizario, V. Y., de Leon, W. U.

MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE: PARASITOLOGY | RBGS, RMT 2