INTRODUCTION TO PARASITOLOGY

HELMINTHOLOGY

PARASITOLOGY
science that deals with the study of the dependence of organism (parasite) on another (host) or organism who lives at others expense without making any useful return.

Host-Parasite relationship

Helminths

Human parasite

Protozoa

Arthropods

Type of parasite
Obligate:
organism which are completely dependent on the host for existence cannot exist without a host die ex: nematodes ( Trichuris

trichiura )

Type of parasite (contd)

Facultative :
when a parasite is capable of

living even without a host . can exist as free living or as parasite , ex.:

Strongyloides stercoralis

Type of parasite (contd)

Ectoparasite:
organism that lives outside of the surface or epidermis of the host , such as lice

Endoparasite:
parasites that harbors /live

inside the body of the host. invade deep (sub cutis ) and internal organs of the body

Type of parasite (contd)

Permanent :
parasite that remains on or in the body of the host from early life until maturity or for its entire life ( Ascaris ) Temporary : parasite that act as parasite when its needed for food ( ex: mosquito )

Host :
Definitive (final) host: harbors adult or sexually reproductive stage of a parasite.

Intermediate host: harbors larval or asexually reproductive stage of a parasite (according to priority: are classified into first/ second intermediate host

Host ( contd)
Reservoir host is other animal that harbors the same parasite (act as additional source of human infection). Paratenic host : animal which carries the infective stage of parasite in an arrested state ( no continuity of life cycle )

 Vectors: Usually arthropods actively transmit parasite

Helminthology
Study of worms that pathogens to human being Helminthic infection has worldwide distribution, especially in the developing countries ( 80 % people live in endemic area) 1221 millions people infected by Ascaris (de Silva, 2003)

Helminth (contd)
The body wall is composed of an outer cuticle or tegument that has a non cellular, chemically complex structure The tegument of helminthes resistant to digestion has a head and tail end

Classification
A. Phylum Platyhelminthes (Flat worms)

Class Trematodes (Flukes) Class Cestodes (Tape worms)

B. Phylum Nemathelminthes ( Round worms)

Class Nematodes

Classification :
Intestinal

NEMATODES

Tissue
Blood flukes Liver flukes Lung fluke Intestinal Flukes

TREMATODES
(Flukes )

CESTODES

Pseudophyllidae
Cyclophyllidae

(tape worm)

Nematodes
Nematodes has a cylindrical body The mouth is surrounded by lips bearing sensory papillae The esophagus, an important feature of nematodes, is a muscular structure that pumps food into the intestine;

Structure of Nematodes

Transverse sections

GI tract

Excretory system

Nerves system

Nematodes (contd)
Females can lay as many as 200,000 eggs per day. The eggs well protected by hard shells, ensures that some will survive and reproduce. Most roundworms that parasitize humans, such as hookworms and pinworms, live mainly in the intestinal tract

Nematodes (contd)
Filaria , such as Wuchereria, have larval forms that live in blood or lymph

General life cycle of Intestinal Nematodes

Trichinella

Flukes
Adult flukes : A dorso-ventrally flat body, leaf-shaped bilateral symmetry Prominent oral and ventral suckers are hermaphroditic except for blood flukes, which are bisexual. need a snail as first intermediate host. Length : from a few mm to 5-7 cm.

Structure of flukes

Final host

Intermediate host

Cestodes (Tape worms)

flattened, elongated, and consist of segments called proglottids. hermaphrodite inhabit the intestinal lumen. Larval forms, which are cystic or solid, inhabit extra-intestinal tissues. vary in length from 2 - 3 mm to 10 m, and may have three to several thousand segments.

Cestodes (cont;d)
Anatomically, are divided into a
scolex or head: bears the organs of attachment, a neck that is the region of segment proliferation, and a chain of proglottids : the strobila. The strobila elongates as new proglottids form in the neck region, consist of immature, mature and gravid proglottids

General life Cycle of Cestodes

Infection:
terms applied to invasion of the body by pathogenic organism and the reaction of the body to their presence and to the toxins generated by them.

Type of Infection:
Auto infection: infection acquired by an individual resulting from their own direct source of exposure. Re infection when a person is infected with a parasite after months of cure again gets re infected with the same species of parasite. Super infection when a host is harboring more than one parasite at a time.

Diagnosis
2 methods of approach: Clinical approach

easy when patient lives in an

endemic area & doctor is familiar with the manifestation of infection.

problem if disease is

uncommon in the community or migrants

 Laboratory diagnosis
purpose : to make specific diagnosis collect proper specimen like stool, urine, blood, sputum, aspirate from body orifices, tissue scrapings
know how & when to collect specimen

precautionary measures taken

to have satisfactory specimen for examination

Control and Preventions

Treat infection to reduce source of infection Proper waste disposal decrease soil contamination Teaching and training individual about personal hygiene Complete destruction of vectors and control of reservoir hosts