What is Parasitology?

Parasitology is the study of parasites and is tadritionally limited to parasitic protozoa, heminths (worms) an arthropods that directly cause disease or act as vectors of various pathogens. A parasite is a pathogen that simultaneously injures and derives sustenance from it´s host.

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There are two types of parasites: Endoparasites live within the host (obligate parasites, facultative parasites and accidental parasites) and  and Ectoparasites are parasites which live on the outer surface of the host. They can be transmitted by oral route, penetration by skin or mucous membrane, incoulation by arthropod vectors, and lastly by sexual contact.

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There are diferent fields of parasitology and some include veterinary parasitology, parasite ecology, structural parasitology, and medical parasitology just to name a few.

This last one is focused on medical parasites and includes their morphology, life cycle, and relationship with host and enviroment.  

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Infections of humans caused by parasites number in the billions and range from relatively innocuous to fatal. The diseases caused by these parasites constitute a major human health problems throughtout the world.

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