List of parasites of humans

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

List of Parasites of Humans

Parasites[1] are organisms that live on or in a host organism and get their food from or at the expense of their host. There are several types of parasites that can affect humans. This article provides a list of some of the most common parasites that infect humans.

Protozoa

Protozoa[2] are microscopic, one-celled organisms that can be free-living or parasitic in nature. They are able to multiply in humans, which contributes to their survival and also permits serious infections to develop from just a single organism.

  • Giardia lamblia[3] (pronounced: jee-AR-dee-uh LAM-blee-uh), also known as Giardia intestinalis, is a flagellated parasitic microorganism, that colonizes and reproduces in the small intestine, causing giardiasis.
  • Cryptosporidium parvum[4] (pronounced: krip-toe-spor-ID-ee-um PAR-vum) is a protozoan parasite that causes the disease cryptosporidiosis.

Helminths

Helminths[5] are large, multicellular organisms that are generally visible to the naked eye in their adult stages. They are more commonly known as worms.

  • Ascaris lumbricoides[6] (pronounced: AS-kar-is lum-bri-KOY-deez), also known as the "giant roundworm", is a helminth which causes the disease ascariasis.
  • Taenia solium[7] (pronounced: TAY-nee-uh SO-lee-um), also known as the pork tapeworm, is a species of tapeworm, a helminth, that is capable of producing cysts in the brain and causing a condition known as neurocysticercosis.

Ectoparasites

Ectoparasites[8] are organisms that live on the skin of a host, from which they derive their sustenance.

  • Pediculus humanus capitis[9] (pronounced: pe-DIK-yoo-lus HYOO-man-us ka-PIT-is), also known as the head louse, is an ectoparasite that infests the hair and scalp of humans and feeds on human blood.
  • Sarcoptes scabiei[10] (pronounced: sar-KOP-teez SKAY-bee-eye), also known as the itch mite, is an ectoparasite that burrows into the skin and causes a condition known as scabies.

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Parasite
  2. ↑ Protozoa
  3. ↑ Giardia lamblia
  4. ↑ Cryptosporidium parvum
  5. ↑ Helminths
  6. ↑ Ascaris lumbricoides
  7. ↑ Taenia solium
  8. ↑ Ectoparasites
  9. ↑ Pediculus humanus capitis
  10. ↑ Sarcoptes scabiei

External links

Esculaap.svg

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

Retrieved from "https://wikimd.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_parasites_of_humans&oldid=1497141"