Parasitology Lecture
Parasitology Lecture
PARASITE-HOST RELATIONSHIPS Accidental Host Other than the normal one that is
Symbiosis - living together of UNLIKE organisms. It may also harboring a parasite
involve protection or other ADVANTAGES to one or both
organism Carrier Parasite-harboring host that is not
exhibiting any clinical symptoms but
can infect others
1) Commensalism - a symbiotic relationship in which
two species live together and one species BENEFITS
from the relationship PARASITIC LIFE CYCLES
2) Mutualism - a symbiotic relationship in which two 3 Components of parasitic life cycle:
organisms MUTUALLY BENEFIT from each other 1) Mode of transmission - transfer parasite to different
3) Parasitism - a symbiotic relationship where one host
organism, the parasite, lives in or on another, 2) Infective stage - stages of development, that can
DEPENDING on the latter for its SURVIVAL and develop into one host to another
usually at the EXPENSE of the host 3) Diagnostic stage - identify morphologically the
parasites harboring in specific host
TYPES OF PARASITE
2 kinds of parasitic life cycle
Types of Parasite Definition / Description 1) Direct life cycle - when a parasite requires only A
SINGLE HOST to complete its development
Obligatory Parasite Parasite that cannot survive
outside the host 2) Indirect life cycle - when a parasite requires 2 OR
MORE SPECIES OF HOST to complete its
Facultative Parasite Parasite that is capable of existing development
independently of a host
INFECTION - presence of
endoparasite
INFESTATION - presence of
ectoparasite
MODES OF TRANSMISSION
1) Oral Transmission (mouth)
2) Skin Transmission (directly infect)
3) Vector Transmission (vectors)
MODES OF INFECTION
1) Direct Transmission (Oral, Sexually, Accidents)
2) Vertical Transmission (congenital or transplacental)
3) Iatrogenic Transmission (blood transfusion, organ
transplant
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ASCARIS
● Ascariasis
● Usual infection of 10-20 worms may not show
symptoms
● Causes Ascaris Pneumonitis - chest pain, cough,
fever, increased eosinophil (with heart to lung
migration)
● Lung infection, asthmatic attack and edema of the
lips
● Difficulty in breathing
TRICHURIS TRICHIURA
Parameter
Size 50-55 by 25 um
Shell Smooth
Yellow-brown color because of bile
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF TRICHURIS TRICHIURA
contact
● 3rd most common helminth, found primarily in warm
climates
Plug ● Poor sanitation practices
(1) Portal of entry - nutrients ● Symptoms (Children): ulcerative colitis, chronic
(2) Protection - chemicals dysentery, severe anemia and possible growth
(3) Portal of exit - worm retardation
● Rectal prolapse and peristalsis
Trichuris Trichiura (Adult) ● Symptoms (Adult): inflammatory bowel disease,
Female Adult weight loss, weakness and mucoid or bloody diarrhea
Filariform Larva
Parameter
○ Common Name: Old World Hookworm
○ Causes: Hookworm infection, ancylostomiasis Size Short
○ Size: 55-60 um
○ Width: 35-40 um
○ Shell: colorless Tail Pointed
● Necator americanus
Hookworm (Adult)
Rhabditiform Larva
Characteristics Female Adults Male Adults
Parameter
Size 48 - 35 um
Rhabditiform Larva
● Size: 220 by 15 um
● Short buccal cavity; prominent genital primordium
ENTEROBIUS VERMICULARIS
Parameter
CAPILLARIA PHILIPPINENSIS
● One of four Capillaria species that are known to infect
Adult Female Adult Male humans
● First reported in Northern Luzon
Length 7-14mm 2-4mm
● Fish-eating birds are the natural hosts of the
Width Up to 0.5 mm <or = 0.3 mm nematode
Tail Pointed
Resembles pinhead
● Size: 36 to 45 um by 20 um
● Peanut-shaped with striated shells and flattened
bipolar plugs
● They must reach the water in order to be ingested by
small species of freshwater or brackish water fish
● Size in Length:
○ Male - 1.5 to 3.9 mm
○ Female - 2.3 to 5.3 mm
● Has thin filamentous anterior end and a slightly
thicker and shorter posterior end
● Stichocytes - rows of secretory cells in esophagus
● Stichosome - term for the entire esophageal structure
of C. Philippinensis
EXTRAINTESTINAL
● Infect areas other than the intestine
● It can infect skin and brain
● Systemic at most
● Zoonotic
○ Human can be an accidental host
ANISAKIS SPP.
Anisakis simplex complex: A simplex sensu stricto, A.
02223 pegreffii, A. berlandi (=A. Simplex C)
ABCeyDCan
DRACUNCULUS MEDINENSIS
● Common Name: Guinea worm, Fiery Serpent, Dragon
worm
● Causes: Dracunculosis, dracunculiasis, guinea worm
infection
● The adult females of D. medinensis are usually found
in the subcutaneous tissue of the legs, arms, and back
in man
TRICHINELLA SPIRALIS
● Trichinella Spiralis - carnivorous and omnivorous
animals
○ Common Name: Pork muscle roundworm,
Trichina worm
● Trichinella britovi - carnivores of Europe and western
Asia
● Trichinella pseudospiralis - mammals and birds. Do
not encyst in the muscle
● Trichinella papuae - wild and domestic pigs in Papua
New Guinea and Thailand. Do not encyst in the muscle
● Trichinella nativa - Arctic bears
● Trichinella nelsoni - african predators and scavengers
● Trichinella zimbabwensis - crocodiles in Africa
Trichinella Spiralis
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ANGIOSTRONGYLUS
Angiostrongylus Cantonensis ADULT CANTONENSIS
GNATHOSTOMA SPINIGERUM
Causes: Visceral gnathostomiasis or larva migrans profundus
Parameter Male Female Has a wide range of paratenic host in the life cycle
Parameter
Size 2 mm to 2 cm
FILARIAL NEMATODES
● Blood Nematodes
○ Lymphatic ● Common Name: Bancroft’s filaria
○ Wuchereria bancrofti ● Causative Agent: Bancroft’s filariasis or elephantiasis
○ Brugia malayi ● Size: 240 - 300 um
● Sheath is present
● Tissue Nematodes ● Nuclei is not present on the tip of the tail
○ Subcutaneous ● Laboratory diagnosis: Giemsa stain, Knott Technique
○ Loa loa ● Peak hours of blood collection: between 9pm to
○ Onchocerca volvulus 4am; sometimes can be detected throughout the day
and more prevalent in the late afternoon
○ Serous cavity and Subcutaneous ● Intermediate hosts: Culex, Aedes, Anopheles spp.
○ Mansonella spp.
Clinical Symptoms:
GENERAL NOTES Asymptomatic
● Adult filariae produce larvae called microfilariae that 1. Eosinophilia
are usually detected in the blood 2. Enlarged lymph nodes, particularly in the inguinal
● Dimorphic area
● May exhibit periodicity 3. Self-limiting
● They are usually found in vectors
● Distribution: Asia, South and Central America, the Symptomatic
Caribbean 1. Fever and chills
2. Eosinophilia
LIFE CYCLE OF FILARIAL WORMS 3. Granulamotous lesions, lymphaginitis, and
lymphadenopathy
4. Lower elephantiasis
5. Calcification or formation of abscess
Treatment
1. Diethycarbamazine
2. Ivermectin (stromectol) + albendazole
3. Surgical removal of the microfilariae (rare case)
4. Unna’s paste boots
5. Elevation of infected area with bandages or simple
elevation
BLOOD NEMATODES
WUCHERERIA BANCROFTI
Symptomatic
● Almost the same with bancroft filariasis but with
upper elephantiasis
Treatment
● The same with W. bancroft with DEC being the most
effective medication
BRUGIA MALAYI
ONCHOCERCA VOLVULUS
Clinical Symptoms
1. Development of Calabar swelling
2. Noticeable migration under the conjunctiva of the eye
or crossing under the skin of the bridge of the nose
3. Eosinophilia
● Common Name: Blinding filaria
● Causative Agent: River blindness, Onchocerciasis
Treatment
● Size: 150 to 355 um
1. Surgical removal
● Sheath is absent
2. DEC
● Nuclei are continuous but does not extend the tip of
the pointed tall
● Laboratory diagnosis: Giemsa stain
● Sample: Tissue biopsies, skin snips
● Peak hours of blood collection: random
● Intermediate hosts: Simulium black fly
Clinical Symptoms
1. Severe allergic reactions
2. Blindness
3. Loss of skin elasticity
Treatment
1. Ivermectin
2. Surgical removal
Treatment
1. Ivermectin
MANSONELLA OZZARDI
MANSONELLA PERSTAN
Clinical Symptoms
● Asymptomatic is common
Symptomatic features
1. Minor allergic reaction
2. Moderate eosinophilia
3. Calabar swellings
4. Arthralgia
5. Liver enlargement
Treatment
1. DEC
2. Mebendazole
Larval Stages:
● L1: Coracidium
○ A ciliated free-swimming larva called the
coracidium hatches from the egg
TWO KINDS OF GRAVID PROGLOTTIDS ○ It must be ingested by the first intermediate
host (usually a copepod – a tiny aquatic
crustacean)
● L2: Procercoid
○ Inside the copepod, the coracidium develops
into the procercoid larva
○ This larva is infective to the second
intermediate host
● L3: Plerocercoid
Apolytic ○ When the copepod is eaten by a fish (second
● Entire mature or gravid proglottids break off and pass intermediate host), the procercoid develops
out with the host's feces into the plerocercoid larva
Human Infection
● Humans (or other definitive hosts) get infected by
eating raw or undercooked fish containing the
plerocercoid
● Inside the human intestine, the larva develops into an
adult tapeworm, completing the cycle
DIPHYLLOBOTHRIUM LATUM
● Common name: Fish broad tapeworm, Broad
tapeworm, Russian Broad tapeworm
● Causative agent: of Diphyllobothariasis, Fish PLEROCERCOID
tapeworm infection, Fish tapeworm infection
● Size: 55-75 um long; 40-45 um wide
● Laboratory Diagnosis: Direct Fecal Examination
● Intermediate Hosts:
○ 1st IH - Copepod
○ 2nd IH - Fish - Human
MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Scolex
LARVAL STAGES
CORACIDIUM
Treatment: PRAZIQUANTEL
● L2: Oncosphere
○ The oncosphere is the larval form that has
hooks
○ It penetrates the intestinal wall and migrates
via blood to tissues like muscle
● L3: Cysticercus
○ In the tissues, the oncosphere develops into a
cysticercus — a fluid-filled cyst containing an
immature tapeworm
● Human Infection
○ Humans get infected by eating raw or
undercooked meat containing the cysticercus
○ Once inside the human intestine, the
cysticercus develops into an adult tapeworm,
completing the life cycle
● Key Hosts:
○ Intermediate Hosts: Pig, cow, goat, sheep,
arthropods
○ Definitive Host: Human
SCOLEX
Rostellum Hooks
Cysticercus Cellulosae
T. Solium NO NO
Rostellum Hooks
YES YES
Double row (double crown) of brown chitinous PATHOGENESIS, CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS, AND
hooks arranged around the rostellum TREATMENT
Clinical symptoms
T. solium Proglottids 1. Digestive disorders and obstructions
2. Pruritis ani
3. Neurocysticercosis (T. solium)
Distinguishing Feature
HYMENOLEPSIS DIMINUTA LIFE CYCLE a. PRESENT
b. PRESENT
c. ABSENT
MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Treatment: PRAZIQUANTEL
Alternative Treatment: Niclosamide, Paromomycin
ECHINOCOCCUS GRANULOSUS
Common Name: Dog Tapeworm, hydatid tapeworm
Causative Agent of Echinococcosis, hydatid cyst. Hydatid
disease, hyatidosis
Laboratory Diagnosis: Biopsy, serologic test, radiography
Intermediate Host: Sheeps, Goat
MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
LARVAL STAGE
Hydatid cyst
SCOLEX
E. granulosus - cystic
E. multilocularis - alveoli (lungs)
E. vogeli & oligartus - polycystic
SPARGANUM
PROGLOTTIDS
Indented operculum
● According to habitat
○ Lungs, Liver, Intestine, Blood
3. Miracidium
● The egg hatches into a free-swimming larva
called a miracidium
● The miracidium seeks out and penetrates the
first intermediate host (1st IH), typically a
snail.
Morphological notes
● 1st Intermediate Host = Snail
● Broadly ovoidal
● 2nd Intermediate Host = Fish, plants, crustaceans,
● With opercular rim
etc.
● Flat operculum
● Definitive Host (DH) = Where the adult trematode
● Abopercular thickening
lives and reproduces (often humans or animals)
PARAGONIMUS WESTERMANI
PATHOGENESIS, CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS, AND
● Common Name: Oriental Lung Fluke
TREATMENT
● Causative Agent: of Paragonimiasis, Pulmonary
Clinical manifestations:
distomiasis
1. Sputum color in paragonimiasis: coffee-colored,
● Laboratory Diagnosis: Sputum examination,
blood-tinged colored, rusty-colored sputum
serological tests
(hemoptysis(
● Intermediate Hosts: 2nd IH - Freshwater crab,
2. Pulmonary discomfort (mimics tuberculosis)
crayfish
3. Fibrosis in lung tissue
4. Migrates to the brain
Paragonimus Westermani OVA
Treatment: PRAZIQUANTEL
FASCIOLA HEPATICA
● Common Name: Sheep Liver Fluke, Temperate Liver
Fluke
● Causative Agent: of Fascioliasis, Sheep Liver Rot
● Laboratory Diagnosis: Stool examination, serological
tests
● Intermediate Hosts: 2nd IH - Water plants
(kangkong [ipomea obscura], watercress [Nasturtium
officinale])
CLONORCHIS SINENSIS
● Common Name: Chinese Liver Fluke, Oriental Liver
Fluke
● Causative Agent: of Clonorchiasis
● Laboratory Diagnosis: Stool examination, serological
tests
● Intermediate Hosts: 2nd IH - Fish
● Thick, convex operculum, small abopercular knob PATHOGENESIS, CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS, AND
TREATMENT
Opisthorchis Felineus OVA Clinical manifestations:
1. Cholangiocarcinoma
2. Hepatocellular carcinoma
3. 4 Histopathological phases
a. Desquamation of epithelial cells
b. Hyperplasia
c. Adenomatose tissue formation
d. Abortive acini & fibrosis
● Lancet shaped
● Dendritic testes
● Granular vitellaria
● Lobed testes
Treatment: PRAZIQUANTEL
FASCIOLOPSIS BUSKI
● Common Name: Giant Intestinal Fluke, Large
Intestinal Fluke
● Causative Agent: of Fasciolopsiasis
● Laboratory Diagnosis: DFS
● Genital sucker (3rd sucker) ● Intermediate Hosts: 2nd IH - Aquatic plants,
● With gonotyl chestnut, bamboo shots
● Skin covered with scale-like spines
Fasciolopsis Buski OVA
METAGONIMUS YOKOGAWAI
● Common Name: Heterophyid Fluke, Yokogawa’s
Fluke
● Causative Agent: of Metagonomiasis
● Laboratory Diagnosis: Stool examination
● Intermediate Hosts: 2nd IH - Fish
● No shoulders
● No cephalic cone
● Intestinal cecum not branched
SCHISTOSOMA JAPONICUM
● Common Name: Oriental Blood Fluke
● Causative Agent: of Oriental Schistosomiasis
● Laboratory Diagnosis: DFS, Liver and Rectal Biopsy,
MIFC
● Intermediate Hosts: Oncomelania quadrasi
● Habitat: Mesenteric vein of INTESTINE
● Straw colored
● Can be mistaken as Fasciola and Fasciolopsis egg
although the latter two are bigger in size
ADULT
DIOECIOUS FLUKES
● Blood Flukes
○ Schistosoma spp.
● Round
● Terminal spine
ADULT
● Smooth (non-tuberculated)
● Median, long
● Rounder
● Small lateral spine