Anthropophilic
Anthropophilic
Anthropophilic (pronunciation: an·thro·po·phil·ic, /ˌænθrəpəˈfɪlɪk/) is a term used in various fields of study, most notably in Epidemiology and Parasitology. The term is derived from the Greek words "anthropos" (human) and "philos" (loving), and it refers to organisms, particularly parasites, that have a preference for humans as hosts.
Etymology
The term "Anthropophilic" is derived from two Greek words: "anthropos" which means human, and "philos" which means loving. Thus, the term literally translates to "human-loving". It is used to describe organisms that prefer humans as their hosts.
Usage in Epidemiology
In Epidemiology, the term "Anthropophilic" is used to describe diseases and parasites that preferentially infect humans. This is in contrast to Zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans. Anthropophilic diseases are a major concern in public health, as they have the potential to cause widespread outbreaks.
Usage in Parasitology
In Parasitology, "Anthropophilic" is used to describe parasites that prefer humans as their hosts. These parasites have adapted to survive and reproduce within the human body. Examples of anthropophilic parasites include the Plasmodium species, which cause Malaria, and the Trypanosoma brucei species, which cause Sleeping sickness.
Related Terms
- Zoonotic: Refers to diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans.
- Ectoparasite: A parasite that lives on the surface of its host.
- Endoparasite: A parasite that lives inside its host.
- Vector (epidemiology): An organism that does not cause disease itself but spreads infection by conveying pathogens from one host to another.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Anthropophilic
- Wikipedia's article - Anthropophilic
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski