TK35: Parasite 2 Test Kit

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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

PA2 32

Amblyomma
Americanum

Lone Star
Tick

A major carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.

PA2 33

Ancylostoma
Braziliense

Human
Hookworm

Severe skin itching

PA2 34

Ancylostoma
Duodenale,
Male

Human
Hookworm

Itching, gastro-intestinal bleeding, iron deficiency.

Common in north Africa, northern India, northern parts of the far east and the Andean region of south America.

PA2 35

Ascaris
Lumbricoides,
Eggs

Human
Hookworm

Sometimes asymptomatic;
urticaria;
mild to acute colicky pain with distension;
reduced appetite;
larvae in lungs can provoke pneumonia.

Commonly found in cats and dogs.

PA2 36

Blastocystis
Hominis

Watery or loose stools, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, anal itching, weight loss, and excess gas.

Common microscopic parasitic organism found throughout the world.

PA2 37

Chilomastix
Mesnili,
Cysts

An amoeba found in intestine.

Viewed as harmless by the medical profession.

PA2 38

Chilomastix
Mesnili,
Trophozoites

An amoeba found in intestine.

Viewed as harmless by the medical profession.

PA2 39

Clonorchis
Sinensis,
Eggs

Human
Oriental
Liver Fluke

Chronic liver disease;
death if left untreated.

Widespread in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam; via domestic dogs and cats.

PA2 40

Ctenocephalides
Felis, Adult

Cat Flea

PA2 41

Dermacentor
Andersoni,
Nymph

Tick which carries Rocky Mountain fever.

PA2 42

Dermacentor
Variabilis,
Male

American
Dog Tick

Transmits spotted fever; carries Lyme disease bacteria, but unclear if can transmit it to humans.

PA2 43

Dientamoeba
Fragilis

Found in large intestine;
abdominal pain, gas and mild diarrhoea

PA2 44

Diphyllobothrium,
Eggs

Broadfish
Tapeworm

Found in small intestine from eating raw or undercooked fish.

Prevalent in Scandinavia and around American great lakes.

PA2 45

Dirofilaria
Immitis

Dog
Heartworm

In dogs & cats, rarely in humans.

PA2 46

Endolimax
Nana,
Cyst

An amoeba found in intestine.

Originally thought to be non-pathogenic, studies suggest it can cause intermittent or chronic diarrhea.

PA2 47

Enterobius
Vermicularis,
Eggs

Threadworm

Often cause itching of the anus;
may provoke appendicitis;
lives in upper part of large intestine.

The most common worm infection in UK;
children particularly affected.

PA2 48

Fasciolopsis
Buski,
Eggs

Chronic infections may lead to inflammation, ulceration, haemorrhage, and abscesses of the small intestine.

Found in SE Asia.

PA2 49

Hymenolepis
Nana/
Vampirolepis
Nana,
Eggs

Dwarf
Tapeworm

Often no symptoms; headaches, dizziness, anorexia, abdominal pain, diarrhoea.

A particular problem in humans in areas of high population density and close contact, and where sanitary conditions are poor; most common tapeworm worldwide.

PA2 50

Isospora,
Oocysts

Infection causes acute, non-bloody diarrhoea with cramping abdominal pain, which can last for weeks and result in malabsorption and weight loss.

PA2 51

Necator
Americanus,
Adult

New World
Hookworm

Symptoms can include coughing and wheezing, but may be asymptomatic.

Common infection in the Americas, subSaharan Africa, south Asia and the pacific.

PA2 52

Necator
Americanus,
Infective
Larvae

New World
Hookworm

Symptoms can include coughing and wheezing, but may be asymptomatic.

Common infection in the Americas, subSaharan Africa, south Asia and the pacific.