General Parasitology Zoology 4104

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General ParasitologyZoology 4104
Matthew Bolek, LSW 415 bolek_at_okstate.edu
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Introduction to Parasitology

• Each animal is a host of many parasites thus,
  there are far more parasitic organisms on earth
  than there are nonparasitic organisms.

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Introduction to Parasitology

• Each animal is a host of many parasites thus,
  there are far more parasitic organisms on earth
  than there are nonparasitic organisms.
• It has been estimated that more than 50 of all
  living plants and animals are parasitic at some
  stage during their life cycle.

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Introduction to Parasitology

• In this course we will concentrate on 3 major
  groups of parasites
• 1. Protozoa- flagellates, amebas, malarial
  organisms
• 2. Helminths - parasitic worms such as the
  flukes, tapeworms, and roundworms
• 3. Arthropods - insects and arachnids that are
  ectoparasites and carriers (vectors) of diseases

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Protozoa!
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Helminths!
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Arthropods!
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Why do we study parasites?

• Parasites provide unique examples of biological
  phenomena not found in free-living organisms.

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Why do we study parasites?

• Parasites provide unique examples of biological
  phenomena not found in free-living organisms.
• Medical Importance

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Why do we study parasites?

• Parasites provide unique examples of biological
  phenomena not found in free-living organisms.
• Medical Importance
• Veterinary Importance

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Why do we study parasites?

• Parasites provide unique examples of biological
  phenomena not found in free-living organisms.
• Medical Importance
• Veterinary Importance
• Economic Importance

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Medical Importance of Parasites

• Humans are hosts to many species of parasites.

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Medical Importance of Parasites

• Humans are hosts to many species of parasites.
• Many of these parasites are causative agents of
  major public health problems of the world.

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Recent estimates of the number of people infected
with parasites in the world are
Ascaris 1.3 billion

Hookworms 1.3 billion
Whipworms 1
billion
Filarial worms 657
million
Malaria 500 million
Schistosomes 270 million

Amebiasis 50 million
Taeniad
tapeworms 50 million

Clonorchis 20 million

Chagas Disease 15 million   These
parasites cause untold suffering and death in the
world today.
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Examples of Medical Importance in the World
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Examples of Medical Importance in the World

• The life expectancy of an Egyptian is in the
  mid-40's due to Schistosomes.

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Examples of Medical Importance in the World

• The life expectancy of an Egyptian is in the
  mid-40's due to Schistosomes.
• 15 million children in the world will die this
  year from a combination of malnutrition and
  parasites.

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Examples of Medical Importance in the World

• The life expectancy of an Egyptian is in the
  mid-40's due to Schistosomes.
• 15 million children in the world will die this
  year from a combination of malnutrition and
  parasites.
• Over 1 million African children will die this
  year from the effects of malaria.

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Examples of Medical Importance in the World

• The life expectancy of an Egyptian is in the
  mid-40's due to Schistosomes.
• 15 million children in the world will die this
  year from a combination of malnutrition and
  parasites.
• Over 1 million African children will die this
  year from the effects of malaria.
• Many cases of plague, transmitted by fleas, still
  occur throughout the world.

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Examples of Medical Importance in the U.S.

• We in the comfort of the U.S. are not immune from
  parasites.

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Common parasitic diseases in the U.S. include
Pinworms Giardiasis Dog
roundworms Ticks
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Importation of Parasites from Tropics to the U.S.

• Movement of persons from all areas of the world
  have introduced parasitic diseases into the U.S.

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Importation of Parasites from Tropics to the U.S.

• Movement of persons from all areas of the world
  have introduced parasitic diseases into the U.S.
• Numerous cases of malaria are brought back by
  vacationers from the tropics.

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Importation of Parasites from Tropics to the U.S.

• Movement of persons from all areas of the world
  have introduced parasitic diseases into the U.S.
• Numerous cases of malaria are brought back by
  vacationers from the tropics.
• Service personnel are often employed in areas
  endemic with many parasites.

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Importation of Parasites from Tropics to the U.S.

• Movement of persons from all areas of the world
  have introduced parasitic diseases into the U.S.
• Numerous cases of malaria are brought back by
  vacationers from the tropics.
• Service personnel are often employed in areas
  endemic with many parasites.
• Many immigrants have brought their parasites with
  them.

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Veterinary Importance of Parasites
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Veterinary Importance of Parasites

• In Africa, cattle cannot be raised in an area
  equal to that of the U.S. due to trypanosoms.

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Veterinary Importance of Parasites

• In Africa, cattle cannot be raised in an area
  equal to that of the U.S. due to trypanosoms.
• A poultry farmer can be wiped out by coccidia.

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Veterinary Importance of Parasites

• In Africa, cattle cannot be raised in an area
  equal to that of the U.S. due to trypanosoms.
• A poultry farmer can be wiped out by coccidia.
• Cattle, pigs, and sheep infected with parasites
  fail to gain weight and may not reproduce.

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Veterinary Importance of Parasites

• In Africa, cattle cannot be raised in an area
  equal to that of the U.S. due to trypanosoms.
• A poultry farmer can be wiped out by coccidia.
• Cattle, pigs, and sheep infected with parasites
  fail to gain weight and may not reproduce.
• Dogs may become infected with heartworm and die
  if untreated.

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Veterinary Importance of Parasites

• In Africa, cattle cannot be raised in an area
  equal to that of the U.S. due to trypanosoms.
• A poultry farmer can be wiped out by coccidia.
• Cattle, pigs, and sheep infected with parasites
  fail to gain weight and may not reproduce.
• Dogs may become infected with heartworm and die
  if untreated.
• Cats are infected by many species of protozoans
  and helminths.

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Some Veterinary Parasites may infect Humans

• Several dog parasites are transmissible to
  humans

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Intestinal roundworm can infect humans causing
the disease Visceral Larval Migrants
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Some Veterinary Parasites may infect Humans

• Many species of dog and cat tapeworms can infect
  humans.

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Some Veterinary Parasites may infect Humans

• Many species of dog and cat tapeworms can infect
  humans.
• Cattle are infected with Cryptosporidium that can
  contaminate drinking water and infect humans.

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Some Veterinary Parasites may infect Humans

• Many species of dog and cat tapeworms can infect
  humans.
• Cattle are infected with Cryptosporidium that can
  contaminate drinking water and infect humans.
• Toxoplasma gondii occurs in cats and can cause
  serious congenital infections in humans.