Parasites & People Host - Parasite Relationship

Department of Parasitology Faculty of Medicine Peradeniya

Objectives:
Define the following terms Parasite

host,
endoparasite, ectoparasite, pathogen, commensal, obligatory parasite, facultative parasite, definitive host, intermediate host, reservoir host Describe the

growth, survival and spread of protozoan and helminth parasites

within and outside the human host

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOST AND THE PARASITE

Symbiosis: "life together two organisms live in an association with one another.

MUTUALISM: Both members of the association benefit.

Lactobacill in vagina

COMMENSALISM: parasite derives the benefit without causing any injury to the host

PARASITISM:
Parasites derives benefit from the host causing injury to the host

Parasite:
An organism that lives in or on and takes its nourishment from another organism. A parasite cannot live independently. Parasitized RBC

RBC

PARASITISM- association between parasite and host (MAN)

P

MAN
P

Ectoparasite (on the host- skin,hair eg. arthropods)

Endoparasite
(inside hostextra cellular/intra cellular)

ECTOPARASITE
A parasite which lives on the outer surface of the host. Eg : Lice

Endoparasites
exist in one of two forms:

Parasites which lives within the host

Extracellular (inhabiting spaces in the hosts body) or

intracellular (inhabiting cells in the hosts body)

Intracellular parasite

Extracellular parasite

Parasites can also be classified as

OBLIGATORY PARASITE : Parasitic throughout their life cycle. Cannot exist without a parasitic life and totally dependent on the host FACULTATIVE PARASITE: live a parasitic or free-living existence when the opportunity arises ACCIDENTAL PARASITE: A parasite which attaches to a unusual host

HOST:
Organism which harbours the parasite and provides nourishment and shelter

The hosts are relatively larger in size in comparison to their parasites

HOSTS
Intermediate host : Asexual reproduction/larval stages Sexual reproduction/adult stage

Definitive host:

Reservoir host: Vertebrates which harbour the parasites in nature. Act as a source of infection.(not affected by parasite) Accidental host: The host in which the parasite is not usually found

Pathogen : Parasite that causes damage to the host

Infection : The growth of a parasitic organism within the body. Virulence: Ability of an organism to

cause disease

ONCE THEY ENTER, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Multiplication: Like prokaryotes, splits into 2 but more complex All genes copied, each daughter cell receives a complete duplicate set - mitosis other structures eg. cytoplasm splits as well into TWO - binary fission eg. Intestinal protozoa (30 min)

or into several (hundreds) - multiple fission eg. malaria, other tissue protozoa

Asexual reproduction malaria parasite in liver cell

1 parasite x 60,000 in 5-6 days RBC No mixing/shuffling of genes But allows rapid increase in numbers

Methods of multiplication - to allow shuffling of genes 1. Conjugation: cells in intimate contact exchange genes and later divide 2. Sexual reproduction: cells with 2 sets of genes (Diploid) divide into female and male cells, each with only one set (Haploid) These unite to form the diploid cell = fertilization Result - a combination from 2 parent cells Increased possibility of genetic variation and accelerated evolution

Human host is constantly in contact with microorganisms only few of them are able to establish in human tissues WHY?

RESISTANCE: Ability of host to prevent infection through Defense Mechanisms

HOW DO PARASITES OVERCOME HOST RESISTANCE

Immune evasion survival strategy of parasites Successful parasites need to persist in host for transmission - with minimal damage to itself or the host. These parasites devise strategies of evading the host immune response

unlike prokaryotic microorganisms.

parasites are eukaryotes

more complex morphology with multiple organelles - wide array of Ag diversity

longer generation time

multicellular parasites eg. helminths some helminths life span is 15-20 y not much less than life span of host

Immune evasion strategies of parasites help in survival within the host at all levels of the immune response both non-specific and specific
many are common with those adopted by prokaryotes such as bacteria, viruses

but some adapted and exploited successfully by parasites during evolution

Key strategies

Avoidance of recognition Immune modulation (change)

Successful parasites have learnt to exploit the fundamental basis of immune response - recognition as foreign

Mechanisms of avoidance of recognition: antigenic variation

host mimicry sequestration/intracellular retreat

Antigenic variation
Switching surface antigens that have induced protective immune response, to new antigens which are unaffected by that response.

classic mechanism by which parasites confound the immune system to promote its own survival
shown by many blood parasites eg.Trypanosomes, Plasmodium

some protozoa adapted to live intracellular in macrophages

Molecular mimicry
Schistosomes live inside blood vessels for years unaffected by host defense

main strategy: expressing antigens similar/identical to host molecules

Malarial parasite

Invades erythrocytes RED BLOOD CELLS no organelles, incapable of phagocytic activity, only a food store

Transmission of infection
Successful parasitism requires ability to infect host and transmission to another host
Simple life cycles: no developmental stage during transmission, resistant stages - spores, cysts Complex life cycles: some protozoa & all metazoa sexual + asexual cycles often in different hosts

HOW DO PARASITES ENTER INTO HOST?

PORTALS OF ENTRY- of parasites direct contact SKIN wound infection injection by vector/human active penetration by agent Tissue communicating with outside eg. Resp Tract, GIT, GUT

Placenta - congenital transmission

Blood/ blood products/ tissue /organ transplant

VECTOR
P H vector

invertebrate transmitting parasite from one host to another development or/and Biological vector: multiplication of parasite in vector Mechanical vector: parasite does not undergo biological change in vector

ZOONOSES

diseases and infections that are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and man

dynamic
From domestic or wild animals Importance depends on human contact

Infections transmitted to man from lower vertebrates

Anthropozoonoses MAN Zooanthroponoses

Infections transmitted from man to animals VERTEBRATE ANIMAL

Amphixenoses
Infections maintained in both man and lower vertebrates, and may be naturally transmitted in either direction

LIFE CYCLES of parasites

Protozoans & metazoans: Life cycles have several stages that vary in structure = morphology A clear an accurate knowledge of LCs essential for understanding -

pathogenesis, transmission, diagnosis, treatment, control & prevention of diseases caused by parasites

Protozoan life cycles

Intestinal protozoansTrophozoite- growing form

Cysts- resistant forms can survive in

environment (stage of transmission)

Tissue protozoansTrophozoites- various stages, single/dividing nuclei

Gametocytes = gamete forming cells = sexual forms

Helminthes have complex life cycle

Reproductive stages egg/larva released

develop into adults in another host - Intestinal nematodes

Egg/larva has to undergo further development in

one or more intermediate hosts - tape worms & flukes or in insect vector to become adults - tissue nematodes

Tape worms (Cestodes):

Adults in small intestine of vertebrates live for several years (10-12 y) absorbs nutrients through their integument (wall)

Life cycle Adult

In Man/Vertebrate Definitive host

Egg

Larva
Invertebrate/Vertebrate/Man

Helminthes- multiplication factor

One infective stage one adult

Adult thousands of infective stages during life span

Eg. round worm - 250,000 eggs/day for 6 m tape worm - 50,000 eggs/day for >10 y

Arthropods:
A few have adapted to live as ectoparasites eg. lice, mites use humans as source of food - blood / tissue fluid

Many act as vectors of disease

Some are intermediate hosts to parasites
My grateful thanks to Dr. Devika Iddawela for permission to use some of her slides