Ectoparasite
Ectoparasite
Ectoparasite (/ɛktoʊˈpærəsaɪt/; from the Greek: εκτός, ektos, "outside" and παράσιτος, parasitos, "parasite") is a type of parasite that lives on the exterior of a host organism.
Etymology
The term "ectoparasite" is derived from the Greek words "ektos," meaning "outside," and "parasitos," meaning "parasite." This term is used to describe parasites that live on the exterior of their host.
Definition
Ectoparasites are organisms that live on the skin or the outer surface of their host. They can include lice, ticks, fleas, mites, and some fungi. Unlike endoparasites, which live inside the host's body, ectoparasites remain on the outside.
Related Terms
- Parasitism: The relationship between the parasite and the host where the parasite benefits at the expense of the host.
- Endoparasite: A parasite that lives inside the body of its host.
- Host (biology): An organism that harbors a parasite, or a mutual or commensal symbiont, typically providing nourishment and shelter.
- Parasite load: The number of parasites within a host.
- Vector (epidemiology): Any agent (person, animal, or microorganism) that carries and transmits an infectious pathogen into another living organism.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ectoparasite
- Wikipedia's article - Ectoparasite
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