Parasite ecology

 

What is parasite ecology?

Parasites can provide information about the host population ecology. Parasites can be used to distinguish the various species of animals.

 

Concepts in parasite ecology

- There is a negative impact of individual on host, in many ways the host should be viewed as a resource for the parasite.

- Parasites exist in non-equilibrium conditions.

 

Principles:

- The first rule is that vertically transmitted parasites, namely, those that tend to pass from parent to child, evolve toward decreasing virulence, ultimately approaching benign or symbiotic configurations.

- Rule number 2 states that the disease is often connected to horizontal modes of transmission, where parasites are transmitted indiscriminately with respect to host relationships.

We do not take credit for any of the information found in this website. All the information is obtained from various forms of literature.

Parasite is defined as an organism that derives its nutrients from another living organism, the host. Parasitic diseases are usually referred to those caused by protozoa, helminths and arthropods which love at the expense of their host. Successful parasites are the ones who are able to maintain their own life processes without killing their host.

Several ways to distinguish parasites infection and bacteria/viruses infection:

  1. Parasites have a complex life cycle that involves the formation of resistant cyst in the organism. (it can usually survive for long periods outside the host.)
  2. Life cycle might involve an insect vector (carrier) that is important for the transmission of disease. In most cases, it is impossible to eliminate the vector effectively.
  3. Some parasites are capable of infecting both humans and animals, thus both can act as reservoirs for the infection. This is true for most protozal infections carried by insects.
  4. Many parasites has life cycle that requires enough time to allow for the various stages to mature, either in soil or in an insect or host.