Parasitology

Parasitology is a discipline that studies the structure and physiology of parasites, their host, and host-parasite interactions.

  • In biology, parasites are not determined by the nature of the organism or the environment, but these are classified by their mode of life.
  • Although parasitology originated in the zoologic sciences, it is today an independent, interdisciplinary field, highly influenced by microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, and other life sciences.
  • Traditional medical parasitological studies have included studies related to three major groups of animals: parasitic protozoa, helminths, and arthropods that directly cause disease or act as vectors of various pathogens.
  • A large number of infections of humans are caused by parasites which range from relatively benign to fatal with some parasitic diseases being the cause for major human health problems throughout the world. 
  • Traditionally, parasitology has been limited to the identification of parasites, their mechanisms, and diseases caused in plants, animals, and humans.
  • Modern parasitology research is more focused on the determination of signal transduction mechanisms controlling the behavior, survival, virulence, and gene expression of parasites, which have a crucial role in influencing the outcome of the interaction between host and parasite. 
  • Parasitology has importance in veterinary and ecology, where the diseases caused by parasites in animals and the role of parasites in the ecosystem are the two major areas of focus.
  • Most parasites, unlike viruses, are not host-specific and can infect multiple hosts. These depend entirely on the living beings for their nutrients and survival.
  • Parasites can be differentiated from fungi based on their host as parasites rely on living beings while fungi depend on dead particles for survival.
  • Parasites are mostly macroscopic and belong to the invertebrate subphylum of the Animal kingdom.
  • Diagnosis of parasitic diseases is based on the identification of the infectious agent, which is mostly made through microscopic examination.
  • With the continuous emergence of new parasites and parasitic diseases, parasitology is considered a necessary scientific discipline.