MB 210

MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY - PARASITOLOGY

Dr. Elder Moonga

35 Mutandwa Road/Apex Campus 3
Contacts : 0955 995160
eldmoo@yahoo.com
MB 210 - Parasitology Component Content

Total Time Allocation 7 Weeks

30 Hours of Lectures

8 Hours of Practicals (Laboratory based)

2 Hours Continuous Assessment 4
Short Answer Questions (60 or 65)
Recommended Books

1. Human Parasitology, 3rd Edition - Burton Jerome

Bogitsh
2. Medical Parasitology: A Self-Instructional Text, 6th
Edition - Ruth Leventhal
3. Markell and Voge's Medical Parasitology, 9th Edition -
David T John, William A Petri, Jr
4. Textbook of Medical Parasitology: Prozoology &
Helminthology, 4nd Edition Parija S E
5. Medical Parasitology Book, 4th - Rattan Lal Ichhpujani
6. E Books
 INTRODUCTION TO PARASITOLOGY
- PARASITIC TERMINOLOGIES
Symbiotic Relationships intimate association, living together, different
species
Parasitism/Parasite - Its a living organism requiring nourishment and
other needs from a host, thereby causing harm
o PARASITOLOGY: study of parasites and their relationship to their
host
o Obligate Parasite Completely dependent on the host during part or
entire life cycle;
o Facultative Parasite Opportunist/Exhibiting both parasitic and non
parasitic modes of life;
o Accidental/Erratic Parasites Parasite attacks an unnatural host
- Parasite wonders about
o Ectoparasite Living on the outer surface of its host (Infests the host)
o Endoparasite Living inside the body of its host (infects the host)
Mutualism Both partners in the association are dependent upon each
other. BUT, no partner suffers any harm
Commensalism Only one partner takes the benefit without causing
harm.
PARASITIC TERMINOLOGIES, continued
Host - Its a living organism that supports a parasite for its
nourishment and other needs
o Definitive Host Harbors a parasite in its adult stage (+ sexual type of
reproduction);
o Intermediate Host - Harbors a parasite in its larval stages (+ asexual
type of reproduction);
o Reservoir Host - Avails a parasite for transmission to another host and
usually not affected by the infection
o Natural Host - Naturally infected with certain species of parasites;
o Paratenic/Transport Host - parasite remains alive and infective for a
normal host;
o Accidental Host - infection is by chance
Vector a Vehicle for carrying a parasite from one host to the
other. A Host can also be a Vector:
o Biological Vector a parasite undergoes development before
transmission;
o Mechanical Vector - only passive transfer occurs
PARASITIC TERMINOLOGIES, continued
Zoonosis - Infectious agent that can be transmitted from
animals to man
Host Specificity - varies from non-specific to very host specific
Host Susceptibility - parasite can establish infection before host
can eliminate it
Host Resistance - host eliminates parasite before it
establishes infection
Premunition - host has low level of parasite infection (may be
clinically undetectable) that protects it against challenge
infection
Etiology - the cause of a disease (infectious agent; genetic
/environment factors)
Pathogenesis - the processes involved in the development of
the disease
Adaptation to Parasitism

Parasite organs not necessary to Parasitic existence are

frequently lost
The Phyla Apicomplexa & Microspora have no locomotor organelles
Trematodes and Cestodes have no cilia
Trematodes have an incomplete digestive tract and Cestodes have
none
Suckers and hooks exist with tape worms
Specialized host entry mechanisms like E.hytolytica or cercarial stage
of flukes
Overcoming the Host Immune Response
Location
Surface Antigenic changes
Parasitic metabolic products
Host Effects on the Parasite
Genetic Constitution Duffy Blood Group
Diet/Nutritional Status High Protein; High Carbohydrates
Immunity
Premunition resistance to hyperinfection
Immunoglobulins
Eosinophils
Cytokines TNF
Parasite secretions/metabolic products
Immune compromised Host
Corticosteroids
Treatments of Malignancies
HIV/AIDS
Host Effects on the Parasite, continued

Disease state parasites dominates and the host suffers

Carrier state Harmonious/equilibrium existence of
parasite and the host
Parasite destruction host dominates; Specific
Chemotherapy
Parasitic Effects on the Host
Direct Effects
Mechanical Injury to the Host
Interference with vital processes host enzyme system
Toxic substances
Capillary blockages
Deprivation of essential substances; nutrients; fluids; &
metabolites
Indirect Effects
Immune Reactions - Plasmodium
Excessive tissue proliferation liver fibrosis
OTHER CONCEPTS IN PARASITOLOGY
Geographical Distribution
o Environmental conditions temperature; water; humidity,
vector/intermediate host; etc

Life Cycles
o Commonly, 2 Phases (Inside the host; Outside The host)
o Morphology Sizes; Shapes;
o Reproduction
Asexual multiplication Simple binary fission; Multiple/Schizogony
Sexual multiplication conjugation; Syngamy (zygote)
o Understanding of Symptomatology; Pathology; and Epidemiology
(prevention and control)
CONCEPTS IN PARASITOLOGY

Laboratory Diagnosis
o Most commonly used specimen Blood; Stool; Urine; Biopsy
material; Sputum; Urethral/vaginal discharges
o Indirect methods Cytological; Serological

Prevention and Control

o Proper waste disposal
o Sanitary control of food/drinking water
o Use of insecticides
o Good personal hygiene
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MEDICALLY
IMPORTANT PARASITES

Medical Parasitology Classification:-

1. Medical Protozoology
2. Medical Helminthology
3. Medical Entomology
 Protozoa

Have a single cell like unit morphologically and functionally complete

Made up a mass of Protoplasm (Cytoplasm; Nucleoplasm)
Cytoplasm consists:-
Ectoplasm
Endoplasm
Ectoplasm functions:-
Protection
Locomotion
Ingestion of food
Excretion
Respiration
Protozoa
Cytoplasm vacuoles functions:-
Storage of food
Digestion
Excretion of waste products

Nucleus functions in Reproduction

Developmental stages:-
Trophozoite Active stage
Cysts Inactive, Resistant, & Infective stage
Protozoa Reproduction
Sexual Reproduction:-
Conjugation interchange of nuclear material takes
place between 2 parasites
Syngamy sexually differentiated cells (gametes) unite
permanently and complete fusion of nuclear material
takes place. The Product is a Zygote.
Asexual Reproduction:-
Simple Binary Fission individual parasite divides into 2
parasites (longitudinally; transversely)
Multiple Fission ; Schizogony - individual parasite
divides into more than 2 parasites
Protozoa locomotion Characteristics
Protozoa Locomotion Important
organ Parasites
Amoeba Pseudopodia Entamoeba
hystolytica
Flagellates Flagella Trypanosomes
Leishmania
Trichomonas
Giardia

Sporozoa None Plasmodium

Ciliates Cilia Balantidium coli

Helminthes
Cestodes Trematodes Nematodes

Shape Tape like Leaf like Elongate

Segmented Unsegmented Cylindrical
Sexes Monoecious Monoecious Dioecious
(Not Separate) (Not Separate) Seperate
*Except Blood
Flukes which are
Dioecious
End Head Suckers Suckers Absent
With Hooks No Hooks
Alimentary Absent Present Present
Canal But, Incomplete Complete

Body Cavity Absent Absent Present

Medical helminthology
Helminthes - trophoblastic metazoa (multi-cellular
organisms)
They cause high morbidity of people worldwide
They cause anemia and malnutrition
In children they cause a reduction in academic
performance
They cause economic losses as a result of infections of
domestic animals
Classified into three major groups:-
Trematodes (Flukes)
Nematodes (Round worms)
Cestodes (Tape worms)
Medical helminthology
The sources of the parasites are different
Exposure of humans to the parasites occurs by the
following ways:-
Contaminated Soil (Geo-helminthes);
Contaminated Water (cercariae of blood flukes);
Contaminated Food (Taenia in raw meat).
Blood sucking insects/arthropods (as in filarial worms);
Domestic or wild animals harboring the parasite (as in
echinococcus in dogs);
Person to person (as in Enterobius vermicularis,) and
Oneself (auto-infection) as in Enterobius vermicularis.
MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
-The study of arthropods
Arthropods are the most numerous and widely distributed of all animal
groups:
Importance
Direct agents for diseases
Agents of diseases transmission

Characteristics
Bilaterally Symmetrical
Segmented Bodies
Joined appendages - legs, antennae, or mouthparts
Head; Thorax; Abdomen;
Hard exoskeleton (cuticle) for protection
A body cavity called haemocele - contains haemolymph (blood and
lymph)
Ecdysis or moulting - cuticle is shed at regular intervals
Open Circulatory System Heart; Arteries; Body Spaces (Haemocoeles)
Other systems present Digestive; Respiratory; Excretory;Reproductive;
& Nervous
MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY

DEVELOPMENT OF ARTHROPODS
development of arthropods metamorphosis
from egg to adult
Incomplete - development from the egg to nymph
Complete development extending from the egg to larva,
pupa, and later to adult

CLASSIFICATION OF ARTHROPODS
Class Insecta- consists of mosquitoes, fleas, bugs, lice and
flies, etc;
Class Arachnida- consists of ticks, mites and scorpion; and
Class Crustacea- consists of cyclops.
Parasites Classifications

The Classification (Subdivisions)

Kingdom Phylum Class Order

Specie Genus Family

Subphylum; Super/Sub Class; Super/Sub Family;

Parasites Classifications

Classification of important Medical Parasites by Phyla :

Sarcomastigophora (Flagellates and Amoeba)
Apicomplexa (Plasmodium, Isospora, Cyclospora,
Cryptosporidium, Carcocystis, Toxoplasma)
Microspora (Microsporidium)
Ciliophora (Balantidium)
Platyhelminthes (Trematodes and Cestodes)
Aschelminthes/Nemathelminthes (Nematodes)
Arthropoda (Insects, Ticks, Cyclops)
Phylum : Sarcomastigophora
Subphylum : Mastigophora
Class : Zoomastogophoria
Order : Diplomonadida
Family : Hexamitidae
Genera : Giardia
Hexamita
Phylum : Sarcomastigophora
Subphylum : Mastigophora
Class : Zoomastogophoria
Order : Kinetoplastida
Family : Tryposomatidae
Genera : Trypanasoma
Leishmania
Phylum : Sarcomastigophora
Subphylum : Mastigophora
Class : Zoomastogophoria
Order : Trichomonadida
Family : Trichomonadidae
Genera : Trichomonas
Tritrichomonas
Phylum : Sarcomastigophora
Subphylum : Sarcodina
Class : Rhizopoda
Order : Amoebida
Family : Endamoebidae
Genera : Dientamoeba
Entamoeba
Iodamoeba
Endamoeba
Endolimax
Phylum : Apicomplexa
Class : Sporozoa
Subclass : Coccidia
Order : Eucoccidida
Suborder : Eimeriina
Family : Eimeriidae
Genera : Isospora
Phylum : Apicomplexa
Class : Sporozoa
Subclass : Coccidia
Order : Eucoccidida
Suborder : Eimeriina
Family : Cryptosporidiidae
Genera : Cryptosporidium
Phylum : Apicomplexa
Class : Sporozoa
Subclass : Coccidia
Order : Eucoccidida
Suborder : Eimeriina
Family : Sarcocystidae
Subfamily : Toxoplasmatinae
Genera : Toxoplasma
Cystoisospora
Phylum : Apicomplexa
Class : Sporozoa
Subclass : Coccidia
Order : Eucoccidida
Suborder : Eimeriina
Family : Sarcocystidae
Subfamily : Sarcocystinae
Genera : Sarcocystis
Phylum : Apicomplexa
Class : Sporozoa
Subclass : Coccidia
Order : Eucoccidida
Suborder : Haemosporina
Family : Plasmodiidae
Genera : Plasmodium
Phylum : Microspora
Class : Microsporea
Genera : Microsporidium

Phylum : Ciliophora
Class : Kinetofragminophorea
Order : Trichostomatida
Family : Balantidiidae
Genera : Balantidium
Phylum : Platyhelminthes
Class : Trematoda
Eucestoda

Phylum : Nemathelminthes
Class : Nematoda

Phylum : Athropoda
Class : Crustacia
Insecta
Arachnida