MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

Bushehr University of Medical Sciences

Department: Microbiology and Parasitology

Module: Medical Parasitology (Introduction)

Instructor: Dr. Mohammad Rayani, Ph.D

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Protozoa

CystTrophozoite

Helminths

Egg Larvae Worm

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Nematodes

Cestodes

Trematodes3

Introduction to parasitology

Parasitology is a type of SYMBIOSIS (living together)

(Any plant, animal, or protist that is intimately

associated with another organism of a different species;

each member is termed a SYMBIONT).

Commensalism, Mutualism and Parasitism are

various type of symbiosis.

4Dr. M. Rayani (Bushehr University of Medical Sciences)

COMMENSALISM

(when one symbiont, the COMMENSAL, benefits and the

other animal is neither helped nor harmed.

An association in which the commensal takes the benefit

without causing injury to the host.

E.g. most of the normal floras of the humans’ body can be

considered as commensals.

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(each member, a MUTUALIST, depends upon the other;

oblilgatory or facultative).

An association in which both partners are metabolically

dependent upon each other and one cannot live without the

help of the other; however, none of the partners suffers any

harm from the association.

For instance, flagellates produce cellulase in gut of

termites; ciliates in ruminants.

MUTUALISM

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PARASITISM

(where one member, the PARASITE, lives in or on another

organism, the HOST, at the expense of that organism).

A parasite is a living organism, which takes its

nourishment and other needs from a host.

The host is an organism which supports the parasite.

An association where one of the partners is harmed and the

other lives at the expense of the other.

E.g. worms like Ascaris lumbricoides reside in the

gastrointestinal tract of man, and feed on important items

of intestinal food causing various illnesses.

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Parasitology The study of the relationship between a

parasite and its host.

Medical parasitology is the science that deals with

organisms living in the human body (the host) and the

medical significance of this host-parasite relationship.

In medical parasitology we will focus on most of the disease

causing (pathogenic) parasites.

The parasites included in medical parasitology are

protozoa, helminths, and some arthropods.

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(Parasites):ها انگل

داشته مختلف انواع كه ائ زنده موجودات

و بوده پست تكاملي درجه نظر از

نيستند (حرارت درجه و ،رطوبت غذا،مسكن) خود زيستي احتياجات تامين به قادر

و هستند (ميزبان)ديگر موجودات به وابسته منظور اين براي و

.رسانندمی صدمه آن به گاهی

9Dr. M. Rayani (Bushehr University of Medical Sciences)

انواع انگل ها

تک یاخته ها(Protozoa)

کرم ها((Helminths

كرم هاي گرد(Nematoda)

كرم هاي پهن(Platyhelminths)

كرم هاي نواري شكل(Cestoda)

كرم هاي برگي شكل(Trematoda)

بندپایان(Arthropoda)

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DIFFERENT KINDS OF PARASITES

Ectoparasite – a parasitic organism that lives on the outer surface of its

host, e.g. lice, ticks, mites etc. Appropriate terminology includes the

terms "infected" and "infested").

Endoparasites – parasites that live inside the body of their host, e.g.

Entamoeba histolytica. Appropriate terminology is "infected;

roundworms in gut.

Obligate Parasite - This parasite is completely dependent on the host

during a segment or all of its life cycle, e.g. Plasmodium spp.

Facultative parasite – an organism that exhibits both parasitic and non-

parasitic modes of living; e.g. Naegleria fowleri.

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DIFFERENT KINDS OF HOSTS

Definitive or final host – a host that harbors a parasite in the adult stage

or where the parasite undergoes a sexual method of reproduction.

Intermediate host - harbors the larval stages of the parasite or an asexual

cycle of development.

Reservoir host – a host that makes the parasite available for the

transmission to another host and is usually not affected by the infection.

(non-human animals that serve as sources of infection to humans).

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EFFECT OF PARASITES ON THE HOST

The damage which pathogenic parasites produce in the tissues of the

host may be described in the following two ways;

Mechanical injury - may be inflicted by a parasite by means of pressure

as it grows larger, e.g. Hydatid cyst causes blockage of ducts such as

blood vessels producing infraction.

Deleterious effect of toxic substances- in Plasmodium falciparum

production of toxic substances may cause rigors and other symptoms.

Deprivation of nutrients, fluids and metabolites -parasite may produce

disease by competing with the host for nutrients.

Immunological reaction: Tissue damage may be caused by

immunological response of the host, e.g. nephritic syndrome following

Plasmodium infections.

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EFFECT OF PARASITES ON THE HOST

Invasion by some parasites can also cause tissue damage in man, e.g.

fibrosis of liver after deposition of the ova of Schistosoma.

Ulceration of intestinal wall and liver by cysteine proteases of

Entamoeba histolytica;

Ulceration due to insertion of hooks, spines, etc. into intestinal wall

Anaphylaxis of excretory products of some trematodes and cestodes

Fibrosis and inflammation around schistosome eggs

Blood loss, hookworms and anaemia

Nutritional diversion; giardiasis results in diarrhea and

malabsorption; Diphyllobothrium absorbs vitamin B12.

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Mechanisms for evading the host response

Parasites often have evolved methods of evading host

immune system:

Antigenic variation of trypanosomes

Intracellular habitat of coccidia and Trichinella larvae

Camouflage schistosomes

Suppression eosinophil or neutrophil migration to the site of

the parasite

Encystment, encystation amoebae

Ability to cleave antibodies

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Terminology

Epidemic (disease that affects a large number of humans and spreads

rapidly)

Heteroxenous (alternation of generations of a parasite; altrnative hostlife cycle)

Infection (parasitic invasion resulting in injury and reaction to injury)

Monoxenous (single host life cycle)

Parasitemia (parasites in blood)

Pathogenic (results in disease or morbid symptoms)

Virulence (relative infectiousness of a parasite)

Zoonosis (animal diseases that may be transmitted from animals to

humans

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Typical ways parasites transmitted:

INGESTION from food or water / inhalation

DIRECT PENETRATION of skin from environment

VECTORS (transmits parasites from host to host)

BIOLOGICAL

(essential in life-cycle of parasite)

MECHANICAL

(unessential in life-cycle of parasite(

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BASIC CONCEPTS IN MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

In medical parasitology, each of the medically important

parasites are discussed under the standard subheadings of

morphology, life cycle, means of infection, pathology, clinical

manifestations of infection, laboratory diagnosis, treatment,

geographical distribution, preventive/control measures of

parasites.

18Dr. M. Rayani (Bushehr University of Medical Sciences)

MORPHOLOGY

Includes size, shape, color and position of different

organelles in different parasites at various stages of their

development.

This is especially important in laboratory diagnosis which

helps to identify the different stages of development and

differentiate between pathogenic and commensal

organisms. For example, Entamoeba histolytica and

Entamoeba coli.

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LIFE CYCLE of PARASITES

The route followed by a parasite from the time of entry to the host to

exit, including outside the host life.

A parasite’s life cycle consists of two common phases:

One phase involves the route a parasite follows inside the body. This

information provides an understanding of the symptomatology and

pathology of the parasite. In addition the method of diagnosis may also

be determined.

The other phase, the route a parasite follows outside of the body,

provides crucial information pertinent to epidemiology, prevention, and

control.

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LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS

Depending on the nature of the parasitic infections, the

following specimens are selected for laboratory diagnosis:

a) Blood – in those parasitic infections where the parasite

itself in any stage of its development circulates in the blood

stream, examination of blood film forms one of the main

procedures for specific diagnosis.

in malaria the parasites are found inside the red blood cells. in

Bancroftian and filariasis, microfilariae are found in the blood plasma.

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B) Stool – examination of the stool forms an important part

in the diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections; also for

those helminthic parasites that localize in the biliary tract

and discharge their eggs into the intestine.

In protozoan infections, either trophozoites or cystic forms

may be detected; the active phase and chronic phase.

(Amoebiasis, Giardiasis, etc).

In the case of helmithic infections, the adult worms, their

eggs, or larvae are found in the stool.

LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS

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c) Urine – when the parasite localizes in the urinary tract, examination of

the urine will be of help in establishing the parasitological diagnosis.

In urinary Schistosomiasis, eggs of Schistosoma haematobium are found

in the urine.

d) Sputum – examination of the sputum is useful in the following:

In cases where the habitat of the parasite is in the respiratory tract.

in Paragonimiasis, the eggs of Paragonimus westermani are found.

In amoebic abscess of lung the trophozoites of E. histolytica are detected

in the sputum.

e) Biopsy material - varies with different parasitic infections.

spleen punctures in cases of kala-azar, muscle biopsy in cases of

Cysticercosis, Trichinelliasis, and Chagas’ disease.

f) Urethral or vaginal discharge – for Trichomonas vaginalis

LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS

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Indirect evidences

a. Cytological changes in the blood

Eosiniphilia often gives an indication of tissue invasion by

helminthes, a reduction in white blood cell count is an

indication of kala-azar, and anemia is a feature of

hookworm infestation and malaria.

b. Serological tests

are carried out only in laboratories where special antigens

are available.

LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS

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Treatment

Many parasitic infections can be cured by specific

chemotherapy.

To obtain maximum parasiticidal effect, it is desirable that

the drugs administered should not be absorbed and the

drugs should also have minimum toxic effect on the host.

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GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

Although there is a much stronger association with the level of housing,

nutrition, sanitation and general public health than climate; many of

parasitic diseases are still found in abundance in the tropics.

Once we are clear about the geographical distribution, effective

preventive and control measures can more easily be devised and

implemented.

Distribution of parasites depends upon:

a. Environmental conditions- favoring survival outside the body of the

host, i.e. temperature, the presence of water, humidity etc.

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b. The presence of a suitable host

• Host specificity, for example, Ancylostoma duodenale requires man as

a host where Ancylostoma caninum requires a dog.

c. The presence of food habits

• Food habits, e.g. consumption of raw or undercooked meat or

vegetables predisposes to Taeniasis.

d. Easy escape of the parasite from the host

the different developmental stages of a parasite which are released from

the body along with faeces and urine are widely distributed in many

parts of the world as compared to those parasites which require a

vector.

e. The presence of an appropriate vector or intermediate host

parasites that do not require an intermediate host (vector) for

transmission are more widely distributed than those that do require

vectors.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

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PREVENTION

Preventive measures designed against every parasite

infectiving humans to break the transmission cycle.

Reduction of the source of infection-

A prompt diagnosis and treatment of parasitic diseases is

an important component in the prevention of

dissemination.

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Sanitary control of drinking water and food.

Proper waste disposal – through establishing safe sewage

systems, use of screened latrines, and treatment of night

soil.

The use of insecticides and other chemicals used to control

the vector population.

Protective clothing that would prevent vectors from

resting in the surface of the body and inoculate pathogens

during their blood meal.

Good personal hygiene.

Avoidance of unprotected sexual practices.

PREVENTION

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NOMENCLATURE

Describing animal parasites follow certain rules of

zoological nomenclature and each phylum may be further

subdivided as follows:

Phylum Class Order Family Genus

Species

30Dr. M. Rayani (Bushehr University of Medical Sciences)

Medical Protozoology

Deals with the study of medically important protozoa.

PROTOZOAN parasites consist of a single "cell-like unit“ can perform all

functions of life.

Medical Helminthology

Deals with the study of helminths (worms) that affect man.

The HELIMINTHIC parasites are multicellular and well developed organ

systems.

Medical Entomology

Deals with the study of arthropods which cause or transmit

disease to man.

CLASSIFICATION OF MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY

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SUMMARY

A parasite is an organism which lives in/on the body of a host.

A host is that which harbors the parasite.

There is usually some association such as mutualism, commensalisms,

or parasitism between the parasite and the host.

Symbiosis: “Any two organisms living in close association, commonlyone living in or on the body of the other.

Commensalism: One partner benefits but the other is not hurt.

Mutualism: Both partners benefit.

Parasitism: One partner (the parasite) lives on the expense of the other(host) and harms.

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Medical Parasitology focuses on parasites which causedisease in humans.

In general, the protozoa, helminthes and arthropods themost important parasites in medical parasitology.

Parasitic diseases are in their majority the diseases ofthe poor around the globe. Poverty is a major riskfactor for disease but disease is also a major contributorto poverty.

SUMMARY

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لطفی علیرضا کواکب؛ پرویس هحبعلی؛ ههدی ترجوه .2006 .نهن ویرایش هارکل پسشکی شناسی انگل -1.1389 ،تهراى ،رفیع اندیشه انتشارات سوم، چاپ .کیاى

.1381،تهراى ،آییژ انتشارات .پنجن چاپ .اطهری عوید ترجوه .براوى -نوا پسشکی شناسی انگل -2.1388 تهراى، دیباج، -خسروی انتشارات .هفتن ویرایش .پسشکی شناسی کرم :فریدوى ارفع، -3 انتشارات هفتن، چاپ ای، یاخته تک بیواریهای اول، جلد ایراى، انگلی بیواریهای :اسواعیل صائبی، -4

.1382 تهراى، حیاى، حیاى، انتشارات دوم، چاپ کرهی، بیواریهای دوم، جلد ایراى، انگلی بیواریهای :اسواعیل صائبی، -5

.1389 تهراى،.1378 تهراى، ،تیوورزاده انتشارات .اول چاپ .پسشکی شناسی یاخته تک :جواد هحود غروی،-6

7- John DT, Petri WA, Markell Ek, Voge, M. Markel & Voge's Medical parasitology. 8

edition, Saunders Elsevier, 2006.

8- Neva FA, Brown HW. Basic Clinical Parasitology. Appleton & Lange, 6 edition,

1996.

9- http://dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/Default.htm

10- http://www.who.int/tdr/diseases-topics/en/

References:

34Dr. M. Rayani (Bushehr University of Medical Sciences)