TK34: Parasite 1 Test Kit
Parasite: “any organism living in or on any other living creature and deriving advantage from doing so,
while causing disadvantage to the host” BMA Complete Family Health Encyclopaedia.
Parasites are commonly acquired by eating contaminated meat, swallowing eggs on food,
contaminating fingers with faecal material or through contact with infected water.
Categories of parasites:
Parasites are divided into the following categories:
1. flatworms
a) tapeworms (also called cestodes)
b) flukes (also called trematodes)
2. roundworms
a) threadworms
b) pinworms
c) hookworms
Life stages:
1. Roundworms:
egg → larva → adult
2. Tapeworms:
egg → larva → encased by body in a cyst
→ adult
3. Fluke:
egg → miracidia → redia → cercaria →
metacercaria → adult
Scolex = part of tapeworm attached by suckers and hooks to gut wall of host;
sometimes called head Proglottides = segment-like units of the tapeworm body which, when mature, leave the gut of the primary host in the faeces;
they are budded off from the scolex
Code
Latin Name
Common Name
Symptoms
Comment
PA 1
Ancylostoma
Caninum
Hookworm
Damage to intestinal walls, anaemia, itchy skin, dizziness, pneumonitis, anorexia.
Tropical parasite;
usual host is dogs
PA 2
Ancylostoma,
Egg
Hookworm
Tropical parasite;
picked up from working barefoot among faeces or eating contaminated food.
PA 3
Ancylostoma,
Female
Hookworm
Tropical parasite;
picked up from working barefoot among faeces or eating contaminated food.
PA 4
Ascaris,
Female
Human
Roundworm
Sometimes asymptomatic;
urticaria;
mild to acute colicky pain with distension;
reduced appetite;
larvae in lungs can provoke pneumonia.
The most common worm infection worldwide, particularly in developing countries;
commonly found in dogs and cats.
PA 5
Ascaris,
Male
Human
Roundworm
Sometimes asymptomatic;
urticaria;
mild to acute colicky pain with distension;
reduced appetite;
larvae in lungs can provoke pneumonia.
The most common worm infection worldwide, particularly in developing countries;
commonly found in dogs and cats.
PA 6
Cimex
Bed Bug
Itchy, painful bites which can lead to bacterial infection.
Lives in plaster, walls, furniture, bed frames
PA 7
Clonorchis
Sinensis
Human Oriental
Liver Fluke
Chronic liver disease; death if left untreated.
Widespread in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam;
via domestic dogs and cats.
PA 8
Culex Adult,
Female
Gnat/
Mosquito
PA 9
Dipylidium,
Scolex
Mature & Gravid
Proglottides
Tapeworm
Grows in segments;
the end can be uterus packed with eggs.
PA 10
Echinococcus
Granulosus
Tapeworm
Affects liver, lungs, brain and bones.
From sheep and cattle
PA 11
Enterobius
Vermicularis
Threadworm/
Pinworm
Often cause itching of the anus;
may provoke appendicitis
The most common worm infection in UK;
lives in upper part of large intestine;
children particularly affected.
PA 12
Fasciola
Liver Fluke
PA 13
Fasciola,
Cercaria
Liver Fluke
Mainly lives in liver of sheep.
PA 14
!!!!!!!!!
Fasciola,
Egg
Liver Fluke
Mainly lives in liver of sheep.
PA 15
Fasciola,
Redia
Liver Fluke
PA 16
Necator
Americanus,
Eggs
Hookworm
Symptoms can include coughing and wheezing, but may be asymptomatic.
Common infection in the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, south Asia and the pacif
PA 17
Onchocerca
Volvulus
Filarial
Worm
Asymptomatic until worm dies when causes inflammation and itching.
Predominantly Africa, but also South America and Yemen.
PA 18
Paragonimus
Westermani,
Eggs
Lung Fluke
Coughing, chest pains, fever, night sweats.
Most important lung fluke affecting humans, widespread in the far east and SE Asia.
PA 19
Pediculus
Humanus
Capitis
Head Lice/
Head Louse
Itching
Can spread other diseases such as typhus and trench fever.
PA 20
Schistosoma
Mansoni,
Adult Female
Blood Fluke
Common tropical fluke, responsible for bilharzia, found in Africa, parts of S. America, the Caribbean and Arabia.
PA 21
Schistosoma
Mansoni,
Cercariae
Blood Fluke
Common tropical fluke, responsible for bilharzia, found in Africa, parts of S. America, the Caribbean and Arabia.
PA 22
Schistosoma
Mansoni,
Egg
Blood Fluke
Common tropical fluke, responsible for bilharzia, found in Africa, parts of S. America, the Caribbean and Arabia.
PA 23
Schistosoma
Mansoni,
Miracidia
Blood Fluke
Common tropical fluke, responsible for bilharzia, found in Africa, parts of S. America, the Caribbean and Arabia.
PA 24
Taenia,
Scolex
Tapeworm
Hunger, weakness, weight loss.
From eating uncooked meat;
common in tropical countries.
PA 25
Taenia,
Scolex
Immature,
Mature &
Gravid
Proglottids
Tapeworm
Hunger, weakness, weight loss.
From eating uncooked meat;
common in tropical countries.
PA 26
Trichinella
Spiralis,
Encysted
Larvae
Intestinal
Nematode/
PorkWorm
Abdominal pain and diarrhoea followed by muscle and joint pain and fever.
Found in Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and the arctic, main sources are undercooked pork and wild meat.
PA 27
Trichinella
Spiralis,
Female
Intestinal
Nematode/
PorkWorm
Abdominal pain and diarrhoea followed by muscle and joint pain and fever
Found in Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and the arctic, main sources are undercooked pork and wild meat.
PA 28
Trichinella
Spiralis,
Male
Intestinal
Nematode/
PorkWorm
Abdominal pain and diarrhoea followed by muscle and joint pain and fever
Found in Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and the arctic, main sources are undercooked pork and wild meat.
PA 29
Trichuris
Trichiura
Whipworm
Asymptomatic but can cause dysentery-like illness
Worldwide distribution.
PA 30
Trichuris
Trichiura,
Egg
Whipworm
Asymptomatic but can cause dysentery-like illness
Worldwide distribution.
PA 31
Xenopsylla
Cheopsis
Rat Flea
Transmits plague, typhus and two tape worms.
References:
B. K. Mandal et al Infectious Diseases
D.R. Bell Tropical Medicine
M. Thain & M. Hickman Penguin Dictionary of Biology
Miranda Linden Welton has also contributed information.
© Jane Thurnell-Read 1992-2019
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