52.Parasites and parasitism. Parasite-host interactions. Classification of parasites and diseases.
Covers the definition of parasites and parasitism, and how parasitism sits among commensalism and mutualism as forms of symbiosis. It then classifies parasites by location, host number, duration of association and origin, and defines definitive, intermediate, reservoir and paratenic hosts. Also covered are the mechanisms by which parasites harm hosts, transmissive diseases, and a table placing protozoa and metazoan groups into their taxonomic categories.
Topic 52 of 63 in the MU Pleven syllabus for Biology (Medicine, Year 1). The free AceMed note covers it in 8 sections, about 600 words (5 min of reading), with 117 flashcards.
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Parasites and parasitism. Parasite-host interactions. Classification of parasites and diseases.
Parasites and Parasitism
Parasite–Host Interactions
Classification of Parasites
Types of Hosts
Pathogenic Effects of Parasites
Parasitic Diseases and Transmission
Classification of Parasites (Taxonomic)
Parasites and Parasitism
A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another organism and benefits by living off the host nutrients at the host’s expense. Parasitism therefore describes a symbiotic relationship between a parasite and its host in which the host is injured to some degree due to the activities of the parasite.
Parasite life cycles may be simple or complex. Simple life cycles involve only one host, whereas complex life cycles involve two or more intermediate hosts.
Parasite–Host Interactions
Symbiosis refers to a close association between two species in which one species obtains food from the other. Depending on the effect on the organisms involved, symbiosis may take different forms.
Commensalism – the association is beneficial to one species and does not harm the other.
Mutualism – the association is beneficial to both species.
Parasitism – the association is beneficial to one organism and harmful to the other. The relationship is close and prolonged. Parasites are generally small and weak, unlike predators which are large and strong.
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