Parasite and Parasitism surrounding the

parasite
Recall:
o Macro-environment
▪ Habitat of the host, not
the parasite
- Occupy a specific site
o Surface
o Within host
▪ Intracellular
• Restricted to
size,
microscopic
Parasite • Inside cell
- Gr. Para sitos = “Eating at another’s ▪ Extracellular
table” • Outside the cell
- Associated with food for all or part of (matrix of
their life’cycle tissue, organs)

Parasitology

- Biology of parasite and host

- Specialized branch of ecology
o Host is environment of parasite
- Also probes on evolution and
adaptation

Major problem of parasite

- The environment in which the parasite

lives is also its source of food, but reacts
against it
o Immune response
- Host excludes invader because its
presence cause damage

Younger host-parasite relationship = less

tolerant host
- Parasite has to adapt to - Ex: antibiotic resistance
o Micro-environment
▪ Within the host
immediately
Methods of invasion and escape o Escape can occur through any
of the orifices
- Vector
o While feeding
o Passively consume parasite
- Tissue damage
o Actively break through the
tissues to escape
A. Balance relationship -- ideal
B. Parasite more infectious
Parasite invasion C. Host higher immune response
- Oral
o Via contaminated food/water
- Penetration by larvae
o Pierce through the skin
- Via vector
o Inoculate method – injected via
the arthropod mouth parts into
the host
o Contaminated method – General effects of parasites to host
parasite enters through an - No appreciable damage
opening o (Due to immune response when
- In order to increase the odds of entering)
reaching a new host, the majority of - Mechanical damage
parasites are very fecund - Nutrient deprivation
o Large number of eggs - Toxicity
- Migration within the host - Immunosuppression
o Indication of wrong host
o Relatively new host-parasite Pathology due to host response
relationship
- All multicellular organisms react against
o Strong host reactions
internalized non-self-material
o Chosen site is where the
- Different genomes → cell membrane
immune response is weak or
with different structures
non-existent
- Recognition of difference → host cells
- Both man and domestic animals are
attacking the invader
gregarious
- This first reaction leads to non-specific
o The closer the hosts live
inflammation which is an innate
together the easier it becomes
immune response
for the infective stage to find a
new host

Method of escape

- Feces or urine
o Most common
 - Ex: Schistosoma
- Innate response does resolve the
infection → development of an
adaptive immune response
- Greater the number of infective stages
= greater will be the pathological
damage

No appreciable damage

- Asymptomatic Mechanical damage: invasion and destruction

- Possible reasons of tissue and cells
o No. of parasites not high
- Physical features damage the cells
enough →no immunologic
immediately surrounding the parasite
response
o Hooks, etc
o Parasites successfully evade
- Parasites move through the intercellular
host’s defenses
matrix
Mechanical damage: obstruction - Movement, secretion of enzymes, and
feeding activities of parasites can inflict
- Parasites block free vessels, ducts, and
physical damage
canals
- Body fluids and cellular debris around
parasites → swelling and redness
o Blockage has damaging effect
- Immune response → granuloma
o Parasite surrounded by fibrous
cells
o Calcium is deposited as it dies
off
o May block fluid flow → necrosis
of surrounding tissues
Reasons for parasite migration

- Point of infection is not in the area of

the parasite’s organ or tissue
o Fasciola hepatica metacercaria
 o Mesocestoides corti – o Host’s immune system has to
swallowed, migrate through either continuously react or
intestinal wall, liver become tolerant
o Ancylostoma duodenale – o This condition can make the
cutaneous larva migrans to host more susceptible to
reach DH gut normally lesser infections which
▪ Larvae in humans - may lead to Polyparasitism
Visceral larva migrans
Overview to general life cycles
- Developing stages require different
physiological environment - Sexual phase
o Ascaris lumbricoides and o Genetic
Toxocara canis – intestine, combination/rearrangement
visceral larvae migrans, - Asexual phase
intestine o Does not involve fusion of
o Plasmodium spp. – gametes
bloodstream, liver - Internal accumulation
o Filarian nematodes – body o Increase in number of
fluids → nervous tissues individuals within a single host
Nutrient deprivation Types of life cycles
- Feeding activities of the parasite can - Direct
have profound effect on the host o Life cycles in which the parasite
o Deplete the host of essential do not have an intermediate
nutrients host, it only needs one host to
o Damage surrounding tissues complete its life cycle
- Protozoans, cestodes, and trematodes - Indirect
o Absorb their nutrient either o Parasite required at least two
through their cell membrane or host, one of which is an
via the outer tegument intermediate host (not a
o They absorb molecules into reservoir host)
their tissues from the
surrounding host fluid Infective stage

Increased toxicity - Stage wherein the parasite is inoculated

into or onto the host
- Toxins are simply excreted and - Only one time
deposited into the host’s fluid and
tissues Diagnostic stage
- Trigger strong immunologic response - Stage/s that will confirm the existence
- Ex: parasite metabolic product of parasite in a host
o Haematin - Also confirms the identity of the
Immunosuppression parasite
- One or more
- Most parasitic infections are chronic
o Continuous release of antigens