Difference between revisions of "Parasites"

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|pagetitle =Parasites
|linkpage =Infectious agents and parasites
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|pagebody = Parasitism is the relationship between two organisms where one is living at the expense of the other. Parasites are  highly specialised, have nutritional dependence on the host and can avoid an immunological attack. They have evolved to integrate their life cycle with that of their host species.
|linktext =INFECTIOUS AGENTS AND PARASITES
 
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[[Image:Sea Lice.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Sea Lice - Copyright Joseph G. Kunkel at The Kunkel Fish & Aquatic Invert Site]]
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The two main groups of parasites are the microparasites and the macroparasites. Protozoa are microparasites as they multiply within the host. Macroparasites on the other hand, establish themselves in or on the host but produce eggs or larvae which are dispersed to the environment. Macroparasites include helminths and arthropods. The number of macroparasites in the body reflects the number which invaded the animal.
==Introduction==
 
Parasitology is the study of parasites, their hosts and the relationship between the two. Parasitology, as opposed to microbiology is generally concerned with eukaryote organisms. The parasitic mode of life is the most common on the planet and the number of parasitic species greatly exceeds the number of free-living hosts.
 
  
Parasitism affects agricultural economics, plays an important role in animal welfare and in veterinary public health- as there is a risk of zoonosis in numerous animal parasitic species.  Identification, control and treatment will be part of the daily routine for most vets, from common problems such as fleas on domestic animals, seasonal outbreaks of worms in livestock to tick problems in wildlife and the prevention of the spread of zoonotic diseases to humans. Therefore, understanding parasitology is crucial to veterinarians.
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Clinical disease is often only the tip of the iceberg in a parasitic infection as the effects on the host are not readily seen on examination. Sub-clinical disease is often only seen as a decrease in productivity of the animal, for example, reduced weight gain, reduced milk yield and decreased quality of milk, hide or wool.
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In this parasitology section, entomology, protozoology and helminthology will be described with the most important veterinary species covered in greater details than the lesser important parasites. Anthelmintics, antiparasiticides and the [[Parasites - WikiBlood#Immunity to parasites|immune response]] to parasitic infection are covered elsewhere on the wiki and should be used to reinforce how parasites can be treated and controlled.
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[[Parasites - WikiBlood#Parasites|The Basics]]
 
 
 
==Division by Class==
 
[[Image:Mites parasitising a harvestman.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mites parasitising a harvestman - Wikimedia Commons]]
 
[[Arthropods]]
 
 
 
[[Crustacea]]
 
 
 
[[Protozoa]]
 
 
 
[[Helminths]]
 
 
 
==[[Antiparasitic Drugs]]==
 
 
 
==[[Flash Cards - WikiBugs|Parasite Flashcards]]==
 
  
 
==Useful Resources==
 
==Useful Resources==
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[[Image:Sea Lice.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Sea Lice - Copyright Joseph G. Kunkel at The Kunkel Fish & Aquatic Invert Site]][[Image:Mites parasitising a harvestman.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Mites parasitising a harvestman - Wikimedia Commons]]
  
 
*http://www.rvc.ac.uk/review/Parasitology/Index/Index.htm
 
*http://www.rvc.ac.uk/review/Parasitology/Index/Index.htm
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*[[Parasitology videos]]
 
*[[Parasitology videos]]
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*[http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/parasit06/website/index.htm  Veterinary Parasitology Images "Courtesy of Thomas Nolan, Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine" ]
  
 
==[[WikiWords]]==
 
==[[WikiWords]]==
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*http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/dxendopar/diagnostages/felinelibrary/fellib.html
 
*http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/dxendopar/diagnostages/felinelibrary/fellib.html
 
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[[Category:Infectious_Agents]]
===Creators===
 
 
 
[[Laura-Jayne Bown]]
 
 
 
[[Natalie Brown]]
 
 
 
[[Lizzie Slack]]
 
 
 
[[Barbora Stanikova]]
 

Latest revision as of 20:05, 25 June 2015

Parasites

Parasitism is the relationship between two organisms where one is living at the expense of the other. Parasites are highly specialised, have nutritional dependence on the host and can avoid an immunological attack. They have evolved to integrate their life cycle with that of their host species. The two main groups of parasites are the microparasites and the macroparasites. Protozoa are microparasites as they multiply within the host. Macroparasites on the other hand, establish themselves in or on the host but produce eggs or larvae which are dispersed to the environment. Macroparasites include helminths and arthropods. The number of macroparasites in the body reflects the number which invaded the animal.


Useful Resources

Sea Lice - Copyright Joseph G. Kunkel at The Kunkel Fish & Aquatic Invert Site
Mites parasitising a harvestman - Wikimedia Commons

Information on the diagnostic tests, collecting of samples and identification of parasites

WikiWords

A glossary of the important concepts and terms in parasitology

References

This section relies heavily on lecture notes and input from:

  • Professor Dennis Jacobs
  • Dr Mark T Fox BVetMed PhD HFEA DipEVPC MRCVS

Other sources

  • Wall and Shearer: Veterinary Entomology
  • Taylor, Coop and Wall: Veterinary Parasitology, third edition