PARASITOLOGY • Commensalism

o A symbiotic relationship in which one

DEFINITIONS organism benefits and the other is
neither harmed nor benefitting (neutral).
• Parasitology
o Study of Host-Parasite relationship • Mutualism
o A symbiotic relationship in which both
• Study of parasites that infect humans
organisms of different species benefit.
• Parasite
• Parasitism
o any organism that lives in or on the body
o A symbiotic relationship in which one
of another organism in order to survive
species benefits in the expense of
• Host
another.
o any organism that harbors a parasite
• Mode of Transmission TYPES OF PARASITES
o refers to the manner of how a parasite
• Endoparasite – established inside the host
successfully enters a susceptible host.
• Ectoparasite – established outside the body of
▪ Includes:
the host
▪ ingestion,
▪ inhalation, • Obligatory Parasite
▪ breastfeeding, o Cannot survive without a host
▪ insect bite or o Can’t complete its life cycle without a
▪ sexual transmission host
• Pathogenic parasites • Facultative Parasite
o are disease-causing parasites o may exist in a free-living state or may
become parasitic when the need arises
• Non- pathogenic parasites
o also known as commensal parasites that • Erratic Parasite
do not harm the host o found in an organ which is not its usual
habitat
• Ectoparasites
o thrive externally on host. Ex. Lice and • Accidental/Incidental Parasite
fleas. o Found in a host where it does not
ordinarily live
• Endoparasites
o parasite found inside the body of an • Permanent Parasite
infected host. More problematic and o remains on or in the body of the host for
require special specimen preparation its entire life
• Eosinophilia • Temporary Parasite
o refers to the increase in eosinophil o lives on the host only for a short period
counts in blood associated usually with of time
parasitism. Act as cellular protectors • Spurious Parasite
against parasites. o free-living organism that passes through
o They eventually degrade and are passed the digestive tract without infecting the
in the stool in the form of Charcot – host
Leyden crystals
• Symbiosis TYPES OF HOSTS
o close association between two • Definitive/Final
organisms that is permanent wherein o Where parasite attains sexual maturity
one cannot exist independently • INTERMEDIATE HOST
o Types: o It harbors the asexual or larval stage of
▪ Mutualism the parasite
▪ Commensalism o If there is more than one intermediate
▪ Parasitism host, these can be classified as first and
second intermediate hosts
• PARATENIC HOST
o parasite does not develop further to later
stages.
Parasitology |Page 1 of 5
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DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY - MANILA
 o parasite remains alive and is able to
infect another susceptible host
o widen the parasite distribution and
bridge the ecological gap between the
definitive and intermediate hosts.
• Reservoir Hosts
o animals that harbor the parasite
o allow the parasite’s life cycle to
continue and become additional sources
of human infection
• Humans
o not always the final host
o may be the most important host in the
spread of the disease
o May be incidental host of parasites
prevalent in other animals
• Accidental/Incidental Host
o Hosts other than the normal one that is
harboring a parasite
• TRANSPORT HOST
o For transferring a parasite from one
location to another
• CARRIER
o Parasite-harboring host that is not
exhibiting any clinical symptoms but
can infect others
PORTAL OF ENTRY

• Mouth - Ingestion , Intimate oral contact

• Skin - Active larval penetration, Introduction of
the vector
• Intranasal
• Transmammary
• Transplacental
• Sexual
PORTAL OF EXIT

• Stool
• Urine
• Sputum
• Blood
LIFE CYCLE

• Three Common Components

• Mode of Transmission
• Infective stage
• Diagnostic Stage

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DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY - MANILA
SPECIMEN COLLECTION AND TRANSPORT • MICROSCOPIC
• Stool collection Protocol: • A. Direct wet preparation
• · 3 specimens in the span of 10 days ▪ · Direct wet mount
• · Except for the Diagnosis of amoebiasis ▪ · Mix a small portion of unfixed
• For patients taking medications stool with saline or iodine
• · Prior to therapy ▪ · Detection of trophozoite
• · Not until 5-7 days after completion of • B. Cellophane covered thick smear
therapy ▪ · Kato thick
• For patients who have taken antibiotics or ▪ · Kato Katz
anti-malarial medications • C. Concentration Techniques
• 2 weeks after the therapy ▪ · Sedimentation
• INSTRUCTIONS ▪ · Flotation
• Clean, watertight container with a tight- • Parasite Measurements
fitting lid. ▪ Using an Ocular Micrometer
• Cardboard or a pan. ▪ µ or µm (micron or micrometer)
• transfer to a clean, dry, sterile, wide- ▪ LARGEST protozoan known to
humans
mouthed container with a tight-fitting lid
& sufficient moisture before submitting • Balantidium coli
to the lab. ▪ LARGEST known intestinal
nematode (roundworm)
• Acceptable amount of stool specimen: 2
to 5 g • Ascaris lumbricoides
• pea/walnut/thumb sized • 22 to 35 centimeters
▪ PORK TAPEWORM
• REJECTED IF:
• it contains urine & toilet paper • Taenia solium
• retrieved from toilet bowl • 2 to 7 METERS
• the lid is not screwed tightly (leaks) • OTHER SPECIMENS
• Blood (Aseptic Technique) –
• there is no label
Plasmodium spp.
• For the demonstration of the trophozoites
• Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) – Naegleria
motility.
fowleri
• Fresh stool samples are required
• Tissues – Trichinella spiralis
• CONSISTENCY OF STOOL:
• Sputum – Paragonimus wesetermani
• Liquid stool - within 30 minutes
• Urine – Schistosoma haematobium
• Semisolid stool - within one hour
• Genital Secretions – Trichomonas
• Formed stool - can be held for 24 hrs
vaginalis
following collection
• Eye specimens – Acanthamoeba
keratitis
• Mouth Scrapings – Trichomonas tenax
SPECIMEN PROCESSING • Nasal Discharge – Naegleria fowleri
• Stool specimen for Ova & Parasite (O&P) - most • Skin Snips – Onchocerca volvulus
common procedure
• Routine Parasitology
• Macroscopic
▪ Determine the color and
consistency
▪ Examine the Gross
Abnormalities
▪ Fresh and unpreserved stool.
• Microscopic

Parasitology |Page 3 of 5
Prepared by: Mr. D.N.P. Sumulong, RMT
This copy is for students of MTY 1201 – Principles of Medical Technology Practice 1 ONLY. Unauthorized duplication of this document is strictly prohibited.
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY - MANILA
 Parasitology |Page 4 of 5
Prepared by: Mr. D.N.P. Sumulong, RMT
This copy is for students of MTY 1201 – Principles of Medical Technology Practice 1 ONLY. Unauthorized duplication of this document is strictly prohibited.
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY - MANILA
 Parasitology |Page 5 of 5
Prepared by: Mr. D.N.P. Sumulong, RMT
This copy is for students of MTY 1201 – Principles of Medical Technology Practice 1 ONLY. Unauthorized duplication of this document is strictly prohibited.
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY - MANILA