List of parasites (human)
Encyclopedia
Protozoan organisms
| Common name of organism or disease | Latin name (sorted) | Body parts affected | Diagnostic specimen | Prevalence | Source/ Transmission (Reservoir/ Vector) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acanthamoeba Acanthamoeba Acanthamoeba is a genus of amoebae, one of the most common protozoa in soil, and also frequently found in fresh water and other habitats. The cells are small, usually 15 to 35 μm in length and oval to triangular in shape when moving. The pseudopods form a clear hemispherical lobe at the anterior,... |
Acanthamoeba Acanthamoeba Acanthamoeba is a genus of amoebae, one of the most common protozoa in soil, and also frequently found in fresh water and other habitats. The cells are small, usually 15 to 35 μm in length and oval to triangular in shape when moving. The pseudopods form a clear hemispherical lobe at the anterior,... |
eye, brain | culture | worldwide | contact lenses cleaned with tap water Tap water Tap water is a principal component of "indoor plumbing", which became available in urban areas of the developed world during the last quarter of the 19th century, and common during the mid-20th century... |
| Babesiosis Babesiosis Babesiosis is a malaria-like parasitic disease caused by infection with Babesia, a genus of protozoal piroplasms. After trypanosomes, Babesia are thought to be the second most common blood parasites of mammals and they can have a major impact on health of domestic animals in areas without severe... |
Babesia Babesia Babesia is a protozoan parasite of the blood that causes a hemolytic disease known as Babesiosis. There are over 100 species of Babesia identified; however only a handful have been documented as pathogenic in humans.... B. divergens, B. bigemina, B. equi, B. microfti, B. duncani |
red blood cells | Giemsa-stained thin blood smear Giemsa stain Giemsa stain, named after Gustav Giemsa, an early German microbiologist, is used in cytogenetics and for the histopathological diagnosis of malaria and other parasites.-Uses:... |
New York, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket (different species have worldwide distribution) | tick bites |
| Balantidiasis Balantidiasis Balantidiasis is a protozoan infection caused by infection with Balantidium coli.-Symptoms:Symptoms can be local due to involvement of the intestinal mucosa, or systemic in nature and include either diarrhea or constipation.-Treatment:... |
Balantidium coli Balantidium coli Balantidium coli is a parasitic species of ciliate protozoan that causes the disease Balantidiasis. It is the only member of the ciliate phylum known to be pathogenic to humans.-Morphology:... |
intestinal mucosa | stool | ||
| Blastocystosis Blastocystosis Blastocystosis refers to a medical condition caused by infection with Blastocystis. Blastocystis is a protozoal, single-celled parasite that inhabits the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals... |
Blastocystis Blastocystis Blastocystis is a genus of single-celled protozoan parasites belonging to a group of organisms known as the Stramenopiles that includes algae, diatoms, and water molds... |
intestinal | direct microscopy of stool (PCR, anti body) | 2 - 20% of population | eating food contaminated with feces from an infected human or animal |
| Coccidia Coccidia Coccidia is a subclass of microscopic, spore-forming, single-celled obligate parasites belonging to the apicomplexan class Conoidasida. Coccidian parasites infect the intestinal tracts of animals, and are the largest group of apicomplexan protozoa.... |
Cryptosporidium | intestines | stool | widespread | |
| Dientamoebiasis Dientamoebiasis Dientamoebiasis is a medical condition caused by infection with Dientamoeba fragilis. Dientamoeba fragilis is a single celled parasite that infects the lower gastrointestinal tract of humans... |
Dientamoeba fragilis Dientamoeba fragilis Dientamoeba fragilis is a single celled parasite found in the gastrointestinal tract of some humans, pigs and gorillas. In some people it causes gastrointestinal upset while in others it does not... |
intestines | stool | up to 10% in industrialized countries | ingesting water or food contaminated with feces |
| Amoebiasis Amoebiasis Entamebiasis is a term for the infection more commonly known as amoebiasis.It became the preferred term in MeSH in 1991, but the term amoebiasis is used by the World Health Organization and by those working in the field of amoebiasis research.... |
Entamoeba histolytica Entamoeba histolytica Entamoeba histolytica is an anaerobic parasitic protozoan, part of the genus Entamoeba. Predominantly infecting humans and other primates, E. histolytica is estimated to infect about 50 million people worldwide... |
Intestines | stool | areas with poor sanitation, high population density and tropical regions | fecal-oral transmission |
| Giardiasis Giardiasis Giardiasis or beaver fever in humans is a diarrheal infection of the small intestine by a single-celled organism Giardia lamblia. Giardiasis occurs worldwide with a prevalence of 20–30% in developing countries. In the U.S., 20,000 cases are reported to the CDC annually, but the true annual... |
Giardia lamblia Giardia lamblia Giardia lamblia is a flagellated protozoan parasite that colonizes and reproduces in the small intestine, causing giardiasis. The giardia parasite attaches to the epithelium by a ventral adhesive disc, and reproduces via binary fission... |
lumen Lumen (anatomy) A lumen in biology is the inside space of a tubular structure, such as an artery or intestine... of the small intestine Small intestine The small intestine is the part of the gastrointestinal tract following the stomach and followed by the large intestine, and is where much of the digestion and absorption of food takes place. In invertebrates such as worms, the terms "gastrointestinal tract" and "large intestine" are often used to... |
stool | widespread | ingestion of dormant cysts in fecal contaminated water or food |
| Isosporiasis Isosporiasis Isosporiasis is a human intestinal disease caused by the parasite Isospora belli. It is found worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Infection often occurs in immuno-compromised individuals, notably AIDS patients, and outbreaks have been reported in institutionalized groups in the... |
Isospora belli Isospora belli Isospora belli is a species of internal parasites classified under Coccidia. It is responsible for the condition isosporiasis. Autofluorescence aids detection.... |
epithelial cells of small intestine Small intestine The small intestine is the part of the gastrointestinal tract following the stomach and followed by the large intestine, and is where much of the digestion and absorption of food takes place. In invertebrates such as worms, the terms "gastrointestinal tract" and "large intestine" are often used to... s |
stool | worldwide - less common than Toxoplasma or Cryptosporidium | fecal oral route |
| Leishmaniasis Leishmaniasis Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoan parasites that belong to the genus Leishmania and is transmitted by the bite of certain species of sand fly... |
Leishmania Leishmania Leishmania is a genus of Trypanosomatid protozoa, and is the parasite responsible for the disease leishmaniasis. It is spread through sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus in the Old World, and of the genus Lutzomyia in the New World. Their primary hosts are vertebrates; Leishmania commonly infects... |
cutaneous, mucocutaneous, or visceral | visual identification of lesion or microscopic stain with Leishman's or Giemsa's stain | Visceral leishmaniasis Visceral leishmaniasis Visceral leishmaniasis , also known as kala-azar, black fever, and Dumdum fever, is the most severe form of leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus. This disease is the second-largest parasitic killer in the world , responsible for an... - Worldwide; Cutaneous leishmaniasis Cutaneous leishmaniasis Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form of leishmaniasis. It is a skin infection caused by a single-celled parasite that is transmitted by sandfly bites... - Old World; Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is a cutaneous condition which occurs at the site of a fly bite, and is characterized by an ulceration of the skin.... - New World |
Phlebotomus Phlebotomus Phlebotomus is a genus of "sand fly" in the Dipteran family Psychodidae. In the past, they have sometimes been considered to belong in a separate family, Phlebotomidae, but this alternative classification has not gained wide acceptance.-Epidemiology:... - bite of several species of nocturnal phlebotomus sandflies |
| Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis is a disease of the central nervous system caused by infection from Naegleria fowleri.-Presentation:... (PAM) |
Naegleria fowleri Naegleria fowleri Naegleria fowleri is a free-living excavate form of protist typically found in warm bodies of fresh water, such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and hot springs. It is also found in soil, near warm-water discharges of industrial plants, and unchlorinated swimming pools in an amoeboid or temporary... |
brain | culture | rare but deadly | Nasal insufflation Insufflation (medicine) Insufflation is the practice of inhaling a substance. Insufflation has limited medical use, but is a common route of administration with many respiratory drugs used to treat conditions in the lungs and paranasal sinus .The technique is common for many recreational drugs and is also used for some... of contaminated warm fresh water, poorly chlorinated swimming pool Swimming pool A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool... s, hot spring Hot spring A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:... s, soil |
| Malaria Malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases... |
Plasmodium falciparum Plasmodium falciparum Plasmodium falciparum is a protozoan parasite, one of the species of Plasmodium that cause malaria in humans. It is transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito. Malaria caused by this species is the most dangerous form of malaria, with the highest rates of complications and mortality... (80% of cases), Plasmodium vivax Plasmodium vivax Plasmodium vivax is a protozoal parasite and a human pathogen. The most frequent and widely distributed cause of recurring malaria, P. vivax is one of the four species of malarial parasite that commonly infect humans. It is less virulent than Plasmodium falciparum, which is the deadliest of the... , Plasmodium ovale Plasmodium ovale Plasmodium ovale is a species of parasitic protozoa that causes tertian malaria in humans. It is closely related to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, which are responsible for most malaria. It is rare compared to these two parasites, and substantially less dangerous than P... , Plasmodium malariae Plasmodium malariae Plasmodium malariae is a parasitic protozoa that causes malaria in humans. It is closely related to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax which are responsible for most malarial infection. While found worldwide, it is a so-called "benign malaria" and is not nearly as dangerous as that... , Plasmodium knowlesi Plasmodium knowlesi Plasmodium knowlesi is a primate malaria parasite commonly found in Southeast Asia. It causes malaria in long-tailed macaques , but it may also infect humans, either naturally or artificially.... |
red blood cells, liver | Blood film Blood film A blood film or peripheral blood smear is a thin layer of blood smeared on a microscope slide and then stained in such a way to allow the various blood cells to be examined microscopically... |
tropical - 250 million cases/year | Anopheles Anopheles Anopheles is a genus of mosquito. There are approximately 460 recognized species: while over 100 can transmit human malaria, only 30–40 commonly transmit parasites of the genus Plasmodium, which cause malaria in humans in endemic areas... mosquito, bites at night |
| Rhinosporidiosis Rhinosporidiosis -Classification:This organism was previously considered to be a fungus, and rhinosporidiosis is classified as a fungal disease under ICD-10.It is now considered to be a parasite, classified under Mesomycetozoea.... |
Rhinosporidium seeberi Rhinosporidium seeberi Rhinosporidium seeberi is a eukaryotic pathogen responsible for rhinosporidiosis, a disease which affects humans, horses, dogs, and to a lesser extent cattle, cats, foxes, and birds... |
nose, nasopharynx Nasopharynx The nasopharynx is the uppermost part of the pharynx. It extends from the base of the skull to the upper surface of the soft palate; it differs from the oral and laryngeal parts of the pharynx in that its cavity always remains patent .-Lateral:On its lateral wall is the pharyngeal ostium of the... |
reservoir water and soil | India and Sri Lanka | nasal mucosa came into contact with infected material through bathing in common ponds |
| Toxoplasmosis Toxoplasmosis Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite infects most genera of warm-blooded animals, including humans, but the primary host is the felid family. Animals are infected by eating infected meat, by ingestion of feces of a cat that has itself... - Parasitic pneumonia Parasitic pneumonia Parasitic pneumonia is an infection of the lungs by parasites. It is a rare cause of pneumonia, occurring almost exclusively in immunocompromised persons . This is a respiratory infection that may or may not be serious.There are a variety of parasites which can affect the lungs... |
Toxoplasma gondii Toxoplasma gondii Toxoplasma gondii is a species of parasitic protozoa in the genus Toxoplasma. The definitive host of T. gondii is the cat, but the parasite can be carried by many warm-blooded animals . Toxoplasmosis, the disease of which T... |
eyes, brain, heart, liver | blood and PCR | widespread - up to one third of all humans | ingestion of uncooked/undercooked pork/lamb/goat with Toxoplasma bradyzoites, ingestion of raw milk with Toxoplasma tachyzoites, ingestion of contaminated water food or soil with oocysts in cat feces that is more than one day old |
| Trichomoniasis Trichomoniasis Trichomoniasis, sometimes referred to as "trich", is a common cause of vaginitis. It is a sexually transmitted disease, and is caused by the single-celled protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis producing mechanical stress on host cells and then ingesting cell fragments after cell death... |
Trichomonas vaginalis Trichomonas vaginalis Trichomonas vaginalis is an anaerobic, flagellated protozoan, a form of microorganism. The parasitic microorganism is the causative agent of trichomoniasis, and is the most common pathogenic protozoan infection of humans in industrialized countries. Infection rates between men and women are the... |
female urogenital tract (males asymptomatic) | microscopic examination of genital swab | 7.4 million Americans | sexually transmitted infection |
| Sleeping sickness | Trypanosoma brucei Trypanosoma brucei Trypanosoma brucei is a parasitic protist species that causes African trypanosomiasis in humans and nagana in animals in Africa. There are 3 sub-species of T. brucei: T. b. brucei, T. b. gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense.These obligate parasites have two hosts - an insect vector and mammalian host... |
blood lymph and central nervous systems | microscopic examination of chancre Chancre A chancre is a painless ulceration formed during the primary stage of syphilis. This infectious lesion forms approximately 21 days after the initial exposure to Treponema pallidum, the gram-negative spirochaete bacterium yielding syphilis. Chancres transmit the sexually transmissible disease of... fluid, lymph node aspirates, blood, bone marrow |
50,000 to 70,000 people | tsetse fly Tsetse fly Tsetse , sometimes spelled tzetze and also known as tik-tik flies, are large biting flies that inhabit much of mid-continental Africa between the Sahara and the Kalahari deserts. They live by feeding on the blood of vertebrate animals and are the primary biological vectors of trypanosomes, which... , bites at night |
| Chagas disease Chagas disease Chagas disease is a tropical parasitic disease caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. T. cruzi is commonly transmitted to humans and other mammals by an insect vector, the blood-sucking insects of the subfamily Triatominae most commonly species belonging to the Triatoma, Rhodnius,... |
Trypanosoma cruzi Trypanosoma cruzi Trypanosoma cruzi is a species of parasitic euglenoid trypanosomes. This species causes the trypanosomiasis diseases in humans and animals in America... |
colon, esophagus, heart, nerves, muscle and blood | Giemsa stain Giemsa stain Giemsa stain, named after Gustav Giemsa, an early German microbiologist, is used in cytogenetics and for the histopathological diagnosis of malaria and other parasites.-Uses:... - blood |
Mexico Mexico The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of... , Central America, South America - 16-18 million |
Triatoma Triatoma Triatoma is a genus of assassin bug in the subfamily Triatominae The members of Triatoma are blood-sucking insects that can transmit serious diseases, such as Chagas disease.... /Reduviidae Reduviidae Reduviidae is a large, cosmopolitan family of predatory insects in the suborder Heteroptera... - Insect Vector, bites at night |
Helminths organisms (worms)
| Common name of organism or disease | Latin name (sorted) | Body parts affected | Diagnostic specimen | Prevalence | Transmission/Vector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancylostomiasis Ancylostomiasis Ancylostomiasis is the condition of infection by Ancylostoma hookworms. The name is derived from Greek ancylos αγκυλος "crooked, bent" and stoma στομα "mouth."... /Hookworm Hookworm The hookworm is a parasitic nematode that lives in the small intestine of its host, which may be a mammal such as a dog, cat, or human. Two species of hookworms commonly infect humans, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus. A. duodenale predominates in the Middle East, North Africa, India... |
Ancylostoma duodenale Ancylostoma duodenale Ancylostoma duodenale is a species of the worm genus Ancylostoma. It is a parasitic nematode worm and commonly known as Old World hookworm. It lives in the small intestine of host such as humans, cats and dogs.... , Necator americanus Necator americanus Necator americanus is a species of Necator. It is a class within the phylum Nematodes and commonly known as New World hookworm. It is a parasitic nematode worm that lives in the small intestine of hosts such as humans, dogs and cats. It is responsible for Necatoriasis... |
lungs, small intestine, blood | stool | common in tropical, warm, moist climates | penetration of skin by L3 larva |
| Anisakiasis | Anisakis Anisakis Anisakis is a genus of parasitic nematodes, which have a life cycle involving fish and marine mammals. They are infective to humans and cause anisakiasis... |
allergic reaction | biopsy | incidental host | ingestion of raw fish, squid, cuttlefish, octopus |
| Roundworm - Parasitic pneumonia Parasitic pneumonia Parasitic pneumonia is an infection of the lungs by parasites. It is a rare cause of pneumonia, occurring almost exclusively in immunocompromised persons . This is a respiratory infection that may or may not be serious.There are a variety of parasites which can affect the lungs... |
Ascaris Ascaris Ascaris is a genus of parasitic nematode worms known as the "giant intestinal roundworms". One species, A. suum, typically infects pigs, while another, A. lumbricoides, affects human populations, typically in sub-tropical and tropical areas with poor sanitation. A... sp. Ascaris lumbricoides Ascaris lumbricoides Ascaris lumbricoides is the giant roundworm of humans, belonging to the phylum Nematoda. An ascarid nematode, it is responsible for the disease ascariasis in humans, and it is the largest and most common parasitic worm in humans. One-sixth of the human population is estimated to be infected by this... |
Intestines, liver, appendix, pancreas, lungs, Löffler's syndrome Löffler's syndrome Löffler's syndrome or Loeffler's syndrome is a disease in which eosinophils accumulates in the lung in response to a parasitic infection.... |
stool | common in tropical and subtropical regions | |
| Roundworm - Baylisascariasis | Baylisascaris procyonis Baylisascaris procyonis Baylisascaris procyonis is a roundworm nematode, found ubiquitously in raccoons, its larvae migrating in the intermediate hosts causing visceral larva migrans . Baylisascariasis as the zoonotic infection of humans is rare, though extremely dangerous due to the ability of the parasite's larvae to... |
Intestines, liver, lungs, brain | rare: North America | stool from raccoons | |
| Roundworm-lymphatic filariasis | Brugia malayi Brugia malayi Brugia malayi is a nematode , one of the three causative agents of lymphatic filariasis in humans. Lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, is a condition characterized by swelling of the lower limbs. The two other filarial causes of lymphatic filariasis are Wuchereria bancrofti and... , Brugia timori Brugia timori Brugia timori is a human filarial parasitic nematode which causes the disease "Timor filariasis." While this disease was first described in 1965, the identity of Brugia timori as the causative agent was not known until 1977... |
lymph nodes | blood samples | tropical regions of Asia | Arthropod Arthropod An arthropod is an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton , a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Arthropoda , and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others... s |
| Tapeworm - Tapeworm infection Tapeworm infection Tapeworm infestation is the infection of the digestive tract by adult parasitic flatworms called cestodes or tapeworms. Live tapeworm larvae are sometimes ingested by consuming undercooked food. Once inside the digestive tract, a larva can grow into a very large adult tapeworm. Additionally,... |
Cestoda Cestoda This article describes the flatworm. For the medical condition, see Tapeworm infection.Cestoda is the name given to a class of parasitic flatworms, commonly called tapeworms, of the phylum Platyhelminthes. Its members live in the digestive tract of vertebrates as adults, and often in the bodies... |
intestine | stool | rare | |
| Clonorchiasis Clonorchiasis Clonorchiasis is an infectious disease caused by the Chinese liver fluke, Clonorchis sinensis.Clonorchiasis is a known risk factor for the development of cholangiocarcinoma, a neoplasm of the biliary system.... |
Clonorchis sinensis Clonorchis sinensis Clonorchis sinensis, the Chinese liver fluke, is a human liver fluke in the class Trematoda, Phylum Platyhelminthes. This parasite lives in the liver of humans, and is found mainly in the common bile duct and gall bladder, feeding on bile... ; Clonorchis viverrini |
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| Dicrocoelium dendriticum Dicrocoelium dendriticum The Lancet liver fluke is a parasite fluke that tends to live in cattle or other grazing mammals.- History of discovery :... |
gall bladder | rare | ingestion of ants | ||
| Dioctophyme renalis infection | Dioctophyme renale Dioctophyme renale Dioctophyme renale is commonly referred to as “giant kidney worm” because it is the largest helminth to parasitize humans and has the propensity to affect the kidneys. D. renale is distributed worldwide, but is less common in Africa and Oceania. It affects fish eating mammals, particularly mink... |
kidneys (typically the right) | Urine | Worldwide | Ingestion of undercooked or raw freshwater fish |
| Diphyllobothriasis Diphyllobothriasis Diphyllobothrium is a genus of tapeworm which can cause Diphyllobothriasis in humans through consumption of raw or undercooked fish. The principal species causing diphyllobothriosis is Diphyllobothrium latum, known as the broad or fish tapeworm, or broad fish tapeworm. D. latum is a pseudophyllid... - tapeworm |
Diphyllobothrium latum | intestines, blood | stool (microscope) | Europe, Japan, Uganda, Peru, Chile | ingestion of raw fresh water fish |
| Guinea worm - Dracunculiasis Dracunculiasis Dracunculiasis , also called guinea worm disease , is a parasitic infection caused by Dracunculus medinensis, a long and very thin nematode . The infection begins when a person drinks stagnant water contaminated with copepods infested by the larvae of the guinea worm... |
Dracunculus medinensis Dracunculus Dracunculus is a genus of spiruroid nematode parasites in the family Dracunculidae. Some species infest humans, and alter their hosts’ behaviour in a way that supports the worm’s reproductive cycle. Dracunculus causes a blister to form on foot of the host, causing severe pain and boiling sensation... |
subcutaneous tissues, muscle | skin blister/ulcer | Sudan | |
| Echinococcosis Echinococcosis Echinococcosis, which is often referred to as hydatid disease or echinococcal disease, is a parasitic disease that affects both humans and other mammals, such as sheep, dogs, rodents and horses. There are three different forms of echinococcosis found in humans, each of which is caused by the larval... - tapeworm |
Echinococcus granulosus Echinococcus granulosus Echinococcus granulosus, also called the Hydatid worm or Hyper Tape-worm, is a cyclophyllid cestode that parasitizes the small intestine of canids as an adult, but which has important intermediate hosts such as livestock and humans, where it causes hydatid disease... , Echinococcus multilocularis Echinococcus multilocularis Echinococcus multilocularis is a cyclophyllid tapeworm that, along with some other members of the Echinococcus genus , produces the disease known as echinococcosis in certain terrestrial mammals, including wolves, foxes, jackals, coyotes, domestic dogs and humans. Unlike E. granulosus, E... , E. vogeli, E. oligarthrus |
liver, lungs, kidney, spleen | imaging of hydatid cysts in the liver, lungs, kidney and spleen | Mediterranean countries | as intermediate host Intermediate host A secondary host or intermediate host is a host that harbors the parasite only for a short transition period, during which some developmental stage is completed. For trypanosomes, the cause of sleeping sickness, humans are the primary host, while the tsetse fly is the secondary host... , ingestion of material contaminated by feces from a carnivore Carnivore A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging... ; as definite host, ingestion of uncooked meat (offal Offal Offal , also called, especially in the United States, variety meats or organ meats, refers to the internal organs and entrails of a butchered animal. The word does not refer to a particular list of edible organs, which varies by culture and region, but includes most internal organs other than... ) from a herbivore Herbivore Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in... |
| Echinostoma echinatum Echinostoma Echinostoma is an important genus that includes many parasites.Human echinostomiasis is an intestinal parasitic disease caused by one of at least sixteen trematode flukes from the genus Echinostoma. Found largely in southeast Asia and the Far East, mainly in cosmopolitan areas. It has extensive... |
small intestine | Far East | ingestion of raw fish, mollusks, snails | ||
| Pinworm Pinworm The pinworm , also known as threadworm or seatworm, is a nematode and a common human intestinal parasite, especially in children... - Enterobiasis Enterobiasis A pinworm infection or enterobiasis is a human parasitic disease and one of the most common childhood parasitic worm infections in the developed world. It is caused by infestation with the parasitic roundworm Enterobius vermicularis, commonly called the human pinworm... |
Enterobius vermicularis, Enterobius gregorii | intestines, anus | stool; tape test around anus Anus The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an animal's digestive tract from the mouth. Its function is to control the expulsion of feces, unwanted semi-solid matter produced during digestion, which, depending on the type of animal, may be one or more of: matter which the animal cannot digest,... |
widespread; temperate regions | |
| Liver fluke Liver fluke Liver flukes are a polyphyletic group of trematodes .Adults of liver flukes are localized in the liver of various mammals, including humans. These flatworms can occur in bile ducts, gallbladder, and liver parenchyma. They feed on blood... - Fasciolosis |
Fasciola hepatica Fasciola hepatica Fasciola hepatica, also known as the common liver fluke or sheep liver fluke, is a parasitic flatworm of the class Trematoda, phylum Platyhelminthes that infects the livers of various mammals, including humans. The disease caused by the fluke is called fascioliasis . F... , Fasciola gigantica Fasciola gigantica Fasciola gigantica is a parasitic flatworm of the class Trematoda, which causes tropical fascioliasis. It is regarded as one of the most important single platyhelminth infections of ruminants in Asia and Africa... |
liver, gall bladder | stool | Fasciola hepatica in Europe, Africa, Australia, the Americas and Oceania; Fasciola gigantica only in Africa and Asia, 2.4 million people infected by both species | freshwater snails |
| Fasciolopsiasis Fasciolopsiasis Fasciolopsiasis results from an infection by the trematode Fasciolopsis buski, the largest intestinal fluke of humans .-Infection cycle:... - intestinal fluke |
Fasciolopsis buski | intestines | stool or vomitus (microscope) | East Asia - 10 million people | ingestion of infested water plants or water (intermediate host:amphibic snails) |
| Gnathostomiasis Gnathostomiasis Gnathostomiasis is the human infection by the nematode Gnathostoma spinigerum and/or Gnathostoma hispidum, which infects vertebrates.-Synonyms:... |
Gnathostoma spinigerum Gnathostoma spinigerum Gnathostoma spinigerum is a parasitic nematode that causes gnathostomiasis in humans, also known as its clinical manifestations are creeping eruption, larva migrans, Yangtze edema, Choko-Fuschu Tua chid and wandering swelling. Gnathostomiasis in animals can be serious, and even fatal... , Gnathostoma hispidum Gnathostoma hispidum Gnathostoma hispidum is a nematode that infects many vertebrate animals including humans. Infection of Gnathostoma hispidum, like many species of Gnathostoma causes the disease gnathostomiasis due to the migration of immature worms in the tissues.- Life cyle :In the natural definitive host , the... |
subcutaneous tissues (under the skin) | physical examination | rare - Southeast Asia | ingestion of raw or undercooked meat (e.g., freshwater fish, chicken, snails, frogs, pigs) or contaminated water |
| Hymenolepiasis Hymenolepiasis Hymenolepiasis is infestation by one of two species of tapeworm:* Hymenolepis nana* Hymenolepis diminutaAlternative names are:* Dwarf tapeworm infection* Rat tapeworm-Causes, incidence, and risk factors:... |
Hymenolepis nana Hymenolepis nana Dwarf tapeworm is a cosmopolitan species that is one of the most common cestodes of humans in the world, especially among children. It can be found throughout the world, but is usually most common in temperate zones... , Hymenolepis diminuta Hymenolepis diminuta Hymenolepis diminuta, also known as rat tapeworm, is a species of Hymenolepis tapeworm that causes hymenolepiasis. It has slightly bigger eggs and proglottids than H. nana and infects mammals using insects as intermediate hosts... |
ingestion of material contaminated by flour beetles, meal worms, cockroaches | |||
| Loa loa filariasis Loa loa filariasis Loa loa filariasis is a skin and eye disease caused by the nematode worm, loa loa. Humans contract this disease through the bite of a Deer fly or Mango fly , the vectors for Loa loa... , Calabar swellings |
Loa loa filaria | Connective tissue, lungs, eye | blood (Giemsa, haematoxylin Haematoxylin Haematoxylin, hematoxylin, Natural Black 1, or C.I. 75290 is extracted from the heartwood of the logwood tree. When oxidized it forms haematein, a compound that forms strongly coloured complexes with certain metal ions, the most notable ones being Fe and Al salts. Metal-haematein complexes are used... , eosin Eosin Eosin is a fluorescent red dye resulting from the action of bromine on fluorescein. It can be used to stain cytoplasm, collagen and muscle fibers for examination under the microscope. Structures that stain readily with eosin are termed eosinophilic.... stain) |
rain forest of West Africa - 12-13 million people | Tabanidae - horse fly, bites in the day |
| Mansonelliasis Mansonelliasis Mansonelliasis is the condition of infection by the nematode Mansonella.The disease exists in Africa and tropical Americas, spread by biting midges or blackflies... , Filariasis Filariasis Filariasis is a parasitic disease and is considered an infectious tropical disease, that is caused by thread-like nematodes belonging to the superfamily Filarioidea, also known as "filariae".... |
Mansonella streptocerca Mansonella streptocerca Mansonella streptocerca, , is the scientific name of a human parasitic roundworm causing the disease of streptocerciasis... |
subcutaneous layer of skin | insect | ||
| Metagonimiasis Metagonimiasis Metagonimiasis is a disease caused by an intestinal trematode, most commonly Metagonimus yokagawai, but sometimes by M. takashii or M. miyatai. The metagonimiasis causing flukes are one of two minute flukes called the heterophyids. Metagonimiasis was described by Katsurasa in 1911-1913 when he... - intestinal fluke |
Metagonimus yokogawai | stool | Siberia, Manchuria, Balkan states, Israel, Spain | ingestion of undercooked or salted fish | |
| River blindness | Onchocerca volvulus Onchocerca volvulus Onchocerca volvulus is a nematode that causes onchocerciasis or "river blindness" mostly in Africa. Long-term corneal inflammation, or keratitis, leads to thickening of the corneal stroma which ultimately leads to blindness. Humans are the only definitive host for O. volvulus. The intermediate host... , Onchocerciasis Onchocerciasis Onchocerciasis , also known as river blindness and Robles' disease, is a parasitic disease caused by infection by Onchocerca volvulus, a nematode . Onchocerciasis is the world's second-leading infectious cause of blindness. It is not the nematode, but its endosymbiont, Wolbachia pipientis, that... |
skin, eye, tissue | bloodless skin snip | Africa, Yemen, Central and South America near cool, fast flowing rivers | Simulium Simulium Simulium is a genus of black flies, which may transmit diseases such as onchocerciasis . It is a large genus with several hundred species, and 41 sub-genera.... /Black fly Black fly A black fly is any member of the family Simuliidae of the Culicomorpha infraorder. They are related to the Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae, and Thaumaleidae. There are over 1,800 known species of black flies . Most species belong to the immense genus Simulium... , bite during the day |
| Chinese Liver Fluke | Opisthorchis viverrini Opisthorchis viverrini Opisthorchis viverrini, common name Southeast Asian liver fluke, is a trematode parasite from the family Opisthorchiidae that attacks the area of the bile duct. Infection is acquired when people ingest raw or undercooked fish. It causes the disease opisthorchiasis... , Opisthorchis felineus Opisthorchis felineus Opisthorchis felineus, or cat liver fluke is a trematode parasite that infects the liver in mammals. It was first discovered in 1884 in a cat's liver by Sebastiano Rivolta of Italy. In 1891, Russian scientist K.N. Vinogradov found it in a human, and named the parasite a "Siberian liver fluke"... , Clonorchis sinensis Clonorchis sinensis Clonorchis sinensis, the Chinese liver fluke, is a human liver fluke in the class Trematoda, Phylum Platyhelminthes. This parasite lives in the liver of humans, and is found mainly in the common bile duct and gall bladder, feeding on bile... |
bile duct Bile duct A bile duct is any of a number of long tube-like structures that carry bile.Bile, required for the digestion of food, is excreted by the liver into passages that carry bile toward the hepatic duct, which joins with the cystic duct to form the common bile duct, which opens into the intestine.The... |
1.5 million people in Russia | consuming infected raw, slightly salted or frozen fish | |
| Paragonimiasis Paragonimiasis Paragonimiasis is a food-borne parasitic infection caused by the lung fluke, most commonly Paragonimus westermani. It infects an estimated 22 million people worldwide. It is particularly common in East Asia. More than 30 species of trematodes of the genus Paragonimus have been reported which... , Lung Fluke |
Paragonimus westermani Paragonimus westermani Paragonimus westermani is a lung fluke and is most prominent in Asia and South America. It was discovered from two Bengal tigers that died in zoos in Europe in 1878... ; Paragonimus africanus; Paragonimus caliensis; Paragonimus kellicotti; Paragonimus skrjabini; Paragonimus uterobilateralis |
lungs | sputum, feces | East Asia | ingestion of raw or undercooked freshwater crabs crayfishes or other crustaceans |
| Schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by several species of trematodes , a parasitic worm of the genus Schistosoma. Snails often act as an intermediary agent for the infectious diseases until a new human host is found... - bilharzia, bilharziosis or snail fever (all types) |
Schistosoma Schistosoma A genus of trematodes, Schistosoma, commonly known as blood-flukes and bilharzia, includes flatworms which are responsible for a highly significant parasitic infection of humans by causing the disease schistosomiasis, and are considered by the World Health Organization as the second most... sp. |
Africa, Caribbean, eastern South America, east Asia, Middle East - 200 million people | skin exposure to water contaminated with infected fresh water snails | ||
| intestinal schistosomiasis | Schistosoma mansoni Schistosoma mansoni Schistosoma mansoni is a significant parasite of humans, a trematode that is one of the major agents of the disease schistosomiasis. The schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma mansoni is intestinal schistosomiasis.... |
intestine, liver, spleen, lungs, skin | stool | Africa, Caribbean, South America, Asia, Middle East - 83 million people | skin exposure to water contaminated with infected Biomphalaria Biomphalaria Biomphalaria is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.Biomphalaria is the type genus of the tribe Biomphalariini.... fresh water snails |
| urinary schistosomiasis | Schistosoma haematobium Schistosoma haematobium Schistosoma haematobium is an important digenetic trematode, and is found in the Middle East, India, Portugal and Africa. It is a major agent of schistosomiasis; more specifically, it is associated with urinary schistosomiasis.... |
kidney, bladder, ureters, lungs, skin | urine | Africa, Middle East | skin exposure to water contaminated with infected Bulinus Bulinus Bulinus is a genus of small tropical freshwater snails, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ramshorn snails and their allies.... sp. snails |
| Schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by several species of trematodes , a parasitic worm of the genus Schistosoma. Snails often act as an intermediary agent for the infectious diseases until a new human host is found... by Schistosoma japonicum Schistosoma japonicum Schistosoma japonicum is an important parasite and one of the major infectious agents of schistosomiasis.This parasite has a very wide host range, infecting at least 31 species of wild mammals, including 9 carnivores, 16 rodents, one primate , two insectivores and three artiodactyls and therefore... |
Schistosoma japonicum Schistosoma japonicum Schistosoma japonicum is an important parasite and one of the major infectious agents of schistosomiasis.This parasite has a very wide host range, infecting at least 31 species of wild mammals, including 9 carnivores, 16 rodents, one primate , two insectivores and three artiodactyls and therefore... |
intestine, liver, spleen, lungs, skin | stool | China, East Asia, Philippines | skin exposure to water contaminated with infected Oncomelania Oncomelania Oncomelania is a genus of very small tropical freshwater snails, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the family Pomatiopsidae.These Oncomelania snails are distantly related to the marine periwinkle, and more closely related to the small marine snails of the family Rissoidae.-Species:There are two species... sp. snails |
| Asian intestinal schistosomiasis | Schistosoma mekongi Schistosoma mekongi Schistosoma mekongi is a trematode, also known as a flatworm or fluke. It is one of the five major schistosomes that account for all human infections, the other four being S. haematobium, S. mansoni, S. japonicum, and S. intercalatum... - |
South East Asia | skin exposure to water contaminated with infected Neotricula aperta Neotricula aperta Neotricula aperta is a species of freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Pomatiopsidae.This species serves as an intermediate host for Schistosoma mekongi.-Distribution:This species occurs:... - fresh water snails |
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| Sparganosis Sparganosis Sparganosis is a parasitic infection caused by the plerocercoid larvae of diphyllobothroid tapeworms belonging to the genus Spirometra. First described by Manson in 1882, the infection is transmitted by ingestion of contaminated water, ingestion of a second intermediate host such as a frog or... |
Spirometra erinaceieuropaei Spirometra erinaceieuropaei Spirometra erinaceieuropaei is a tapeworm that infects domestic animals and humans. In humans infection is called sparganosis. The worm has an interesting lifecycle, the adult worm is present in the small intestine of cats and dogs where it may grow as long as 1.5 metres. Eggs from the worm are... |
ingestion of material contaminated with infected dog or cat feces (humans: dead-end host) | |||
| Strongyloidiasis Strongyloidiasis Strongyloidiasis is a human parasitic disease caused by the nematode Strongyloides stercoralis, or sometimes S. fülleborni. It can cause a number of symptoms in people, principally skin symptoms, abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss... - Parasitic pneumonia Parasitic pneumonia Parasitic pneumonia is an infection of the lungs by parasites. It is a rare cause of pneumonia, occurring almost exclusively in immunocompromised persons . This is a respiratory infection that may or may not be serious.There are a variety of parasites which can affect the lungs... |
Strongyloides stercoralis Strongyloides stercoralis Strongyloides stercoralis, also known as the threadworm, is the scientific name of a human parasitic roundworm causing the disease of strongyloidiasis.... |
Intestines, lungs, skin (Larva currens Larva currens Larva currens is an itchy, cutaneous condition caused by infections with Strongyloides stercoralis that intermittently comes and goes every few hours.... ) |
stool, blood | skin penetration | |
| Beef tapeworm | Taenia saginata Taenia saginata Taenia saginata, also known as Taeniarhynchus saginata or the beef tapeworm, is a parasite of both cattle and humans, causing taeniasis in humans. Taenia saginata occurs where cattle are raised by infected humans maintaining poor hygiene, human feces are improperly disposed of, meat inspection... |
Intestines | stool | worldwide distribution | ingestion of undercooked beef |
| Pork tapeworm Pork tapeworm Taenia solium, also called the pork tapeworm, is a cyclophyllid cestode in the family Taeniidae. It infects pigs and humans in Asia, Africa, South America, parts of Southern Europe and pockets of North America. In the larval stage, it causes cysticercosis which is a major cause of seizures in... |
Taenia solium | ingestion of undercooked pork | |||
| Toxocariasis Toxocariasis -History of discovery:Werner described a parasitic nematode in dogs in 1782 which he named Ascaris canis. Johnston determined that what Werner had described was actually a member of the genus Toxocara established by Stiles in 1905. Fữlleborn speculated that T canis larvae might cause granulomatous... |
Toxocara canis Toxocara canis Toxocara canis is worldwide distributed helminth parasite of dogs and other canids. T. canis are gonochorists, adult worms measure from 9 to 18 cm, are yellow-white in color, and occur in the intestine of the definitive host. In adult dogs, the infection is usually asymptomatic. By the... , Toxocara cati Toxocara cati Toxocara cati is worldwide distributed parasite of cats and other felids and it is one of the most common nematode of cats. Adult worms are localised in gut of the host. In adult cats, the infection is usually asymptomatic. However, massive infection in juvenile cats can be fatal.-External links:*... |
liver, brain, eyes (Toxocara canis Toxocara canis Toxocara canis is worldwide distributed helminth parasite of dogs and other canids. T. canis are gonochorists, adult worms measure from 9 to 18 cm, are yellow-white in color, and occur in the intestine of the definitive host. In adult dogs, the infection is usually asymptomatic. By the... - Visceral larva migrans, Ocular larva migrans Ocular larva migrans Ocular larva migrans is the ocular form of the larva migrans syndrome that occurs when toxocara canis larvae invade the eye. They may be associated with visceral larva migrans... ) |
blood, ocular examination | worldwide distribution | pica Pica (disorder) Pica is characterized by an appetite for substances largely non-nutritive . For these actions to be considered pica, they must persist for more than one month at an age where eating such objects is considered developmentally inappropriate... , unwashed food contamined with Toxocara eggs, undercooked livers of chicken |
| Trichinosis Trichinosis Trichinosis, also called trichinellosis, or trichiniasis, is a parasitic disease caused by eating raw or undercooked pork or wild game infected with the larvae of a species of roundworm Trichinella spiralis, commonly called the trichina worm. There are eight Trichinella species; five are... |
Trichinella spiralis Trichinella spiralis Trichinella spiralis is a nematode parasite, occurring in rats, pigs, bears and humans, and is responsible for the disease trichinosis. It is sometimes referred to as the "pork worm" due to it being found commonly in undercooked pork products... , Trichinella britovi Trichinella britovi Trichinella britovi is a nematode parasite responsible for a zoonotic disease called trichinellosis. There are currently eight known species of Trichinella. Only three of the Trichinella species cause trichinellosis, and Trichinella britovi is one of them... , Trichinella nelsoni, Trichinella nativa Trichinella nativa Trichinella nativa is a nematode worm, one of the species of the Trichinella genus.- Features :It is highly pathogenic and has a high resistance to freezing. It is encapsulated. It infects a wide variety of mammals and birds. The life cycle and pathogenesis are similar to Trichinella... |
muscle, periorbital region, small intestine | blood | more common in developing countries due to improved feeding practices in developed countries. | ingestion of undercooked pork |
| Swimmer's itch Swimmer's itch Swimmer’s itch, also known as lake itch, duck itch, cercarial dermatitis, and Schistosome cercarial dermatitis, is a short-term, immune reaction occurring in the skin of humans that have been infected by water-borne schistosomatidae... |
Trichobilharzia regenti Trichobilharzia regenti Trichobilharzia regenti is a nasal parasite of birds that causes cercarial dermatitis in humans.-Life cycle:The life cycle for avian schistosomes is similar to that of human schistosomiasis. Adult flukes mate and produce eggs which are usually excreted with the bird's feces. Once in the water, the... , Schistosomatidae Schistosomatidae Schistosomatidae is a family of digenetic trematodes with complex parasitic life cycles. Immature developmental stages of schistosomes are found in molluscs and adults occur in vertebrates. The best studied group, the blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma, infect and cause disease in humans... |
skin exposure to contaminated water (snails and vertebrates) | |||
| Whipworm Whipworm The human tapworm is a roundworm, which causes trichuriasis when it infects a human large intestine. The name whipworm refers to the shape of the worm; they look like whips with wider "handles" at the posterior end.-Life cycle:The female T. trichiura produces 2,000–10,000 single celled eggs per day... |
Trichuris trichiura, Trichuris vulpis | large intestine, anus | stool (eggs) | common worldwide | accidental ingestion of eggs in dry goods such as beans, rice, and various grains or soil contaminated with human feces |
| Elephantiasis Elephantiasis Elephantiasis is a disease that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs and male genitals. In some cases the disease can cause certain body parts, such as the scrotum, to swell to the size of a softball or basketball. It is caused by... Lymphatic filariasis |
Wuchereria bancrofti Wuchereria bancrofti Filaria, is a parasitic filarial nematode spread by a mosquito vector. It is one of the three parasites that cause lymphatic filariasis, an infection of the lymphatic system by filarial worms. It affects over 120 million people, primarily in Africa, South America, and other tropical and... |
lymphatic system | thick blood smears stained with hematoxylin. | Tropical and subtropical | mosquito, bites at night |
Other organisms
| Common name of organism or disease | Latin name (sorted) | Body parts affected | Diagnostic specimen | Prevalence | Transmission/Vector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| parasitic worm | Archiacanthocephala Archiacanthocephala Archiacanthocephala is a class within the phylum of Acanthocephala . They are microscopic parasitic worms that attach themselves to the intestinal wall of terrestrial vertebrates, including man... |
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| Halzoun Syndrome | Linguatula serrata Linguatula serrata Linguatula serrata is a cosmopolitan zoonotic parasite, belonging to the Pentastomida, also known as tongue worms. They are wormlike parasites of the respiratory systems of vertebrates. They live in the nasopharyngeal region of mammals. Cats, dogs, foxes, and other carnivores are normal hosts of... |
nasopharynx Nasopharynx The nasopharynx is the uppermost part of the pharynx. It extends from the base of the skull to the upper surface of the soft palate; it differs from the oral and laryngeal parts of the pharynx in that its cavity always remains patent .-Lateral:On its lateral wall is the pharyngeal ostium of the... |
physical examination | Mid East | ingestion of raw or undercooked lymph nodes (e.g., meat from infected camels and buffalos) |
| Myiasis Myiasis Myiasis is a general term for infection by parasitic fly larvae feeding on the host's necrotic or living tissue. Colloquialisms for myiasis include flystrike, blowfly strike, and fly-blown. In Greek, "myia" means fly.... |
Oestroidea Oestroidea Oestroidea is a superfamily of Calyptratae.... , Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae |
dead or living tissue | |||
| Chigoe flea Chigoe flea The chigoe flea or jigger is a parasitic arthropod found in most tropical and sub-tropical climates, not to be confused with the larval form of Trombiculidae found in more temperate climates. In Brazil, the parasite is referred to as bicho-de-pé . At 1 mm long, the chigoe flea is the smallest... |
Tunga penetrans | Subcutaneous tissue Subcutaneous tissue The hypodermis, also called the hypoderm, subcutaneous tissue, or superficial fascia is the lowermost layer of the integumentary system in vertebrates. Types of cells that are found in the hypodermis are fibroblasts, adipose cells, and macrophages... |
physical examination | Central and South America | |
| Human Botfly | Dermatobia hominis | Subcutaneous tissue Subcutaneous tissue The hypodermis, also called the hypoderm, subcutaneous tissue, or superficial fascia is the lowermost layer of the integumentary system in vertebrates. Types of cells that are found in the hypodermis are fibroblasts, adipose cells, and macrophages... |
physical examination | Central and South America | Mosquitoes and biting flies |
| Candiru Candirú Candiru or candirú , also known as cañero, toothpick fish, or vampire fish, are a number of genera of parasitic freshwater catfish in the family Trichomycteridae; all are native to the Amazon River... |
Trichomycteridae Trichomycteridae Trichomycteridae is a family of catfishes commonly known as the pencil or parasitic catfishes. This family includes the infamous candiru fish, feared by some people for its alleged habit of entering into the urethra of humans.... |
Urethra Urethra In anatomy, the urethra is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the genitals for the removal of fluids out of the body. In males, the urethra travels through the penis, and carries semen as well as urine... |
physical examination | Amazon River Basin | Urinating in waters inhabited by the fish without proper protection |
Ectoparasites
| Common name of organism or disease | Latin name (sorted) | Body parts affected | Diagnostic specimen | Prevalence | Transmission/Vector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedbug Bedbug Cimicidae are small parasitic insects. The most common type is Cimex lectularius. The term usually refers to species that prefer to feed on human blood... |
Cimicidae Cimex lectularius | skin | visual | Worldwide | sharing of clothing and bedding |
| Head louse Head louse The head louse is an obligate ectoparasite of humans. Head lice are wingless insects spending their entire life on human scalp and feeding exclusively on human blood... - Pediculosis Pediculosis Pediculosis is an infestation of lice — blood-feeding ectoparasitic insects of the order Phthiraptera. The condition can occur in almost any species of warm-blooded animal , including humans... |
Pediculus humanus | hair follicles | visual identification under magnification | Common worldwide | head-to-head contact |
| Body louse Body louse The body louse is a louse which infests humans. The condition of being infested with head lice, body lice, or pubic lice is known as pediculosis.-Origins:... - Pediculosis |
Pediculus humanus corporis | visual identification under magnification (Vagabond's disease) | Worldwide | skin-to-skin contact such as sexual activity and via sharing clothing or bedding | |
| Crab louse Crab louse Crab lice are parasitic insects notorious for infesting human pubic hair. The species may also live on other areas with hair, including the eyelashes. They feed exclusively on blood... - Pediculosis Pediculosis Pediculosis is an infestation of lice — blood-feeding ectoparasitic insects of the order Phthiraptera. The condition can occur in almost any species of warm-blooded animal , including humans... |
Phthirus pubis | pubic area, eyelashes | visual identification under magnification | Worldwide | skin-to-skin contact such as sexual activity and via sharing clothing or bedding |
| Demodex - Demodicosis Demodicosis Demodicosis, also called demodectic mange or red mange, is caused by a sensitivity to and overpopulation of Demodex canis as the animal's immune system is unable to keep the mites under control.... |
Demodex folliculorum/brevis/canis | eyebrow, eyelashes | Microscopy of eyelash or eyebrow hair follicle | Pandemic, worldwide | prolonged skin-to-skin contact |
| Scabies Scabies Scabies , known colloquially as the seven-year itch, is a contagious skin infection that occurs among humans and other animals. It is caused by a tiny and usually not directly visible parasite, the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrows under the host's skin, causing intense allergic itching... |
Sarcoptes scabiei Sarcoptes scabiei Sarcoptes scabiei or the itch mite is a parasitic arthropod that burrows into skin and causes scabies. Animals affected include not only human but also wild and domesticated dogs and cats in which it is one cause of mange... |
skin | microscopy of surface scrapings | Worldwide | skin-to-skin contact such as sexual activity and via sharing clothing or bedding |
| Screwworm, Cochliomyia Cochliomyia Cochliomyia is a genus in the family Calliphoridae, known as blowflies, in the order Diptera. Cochliomyia are commonly referred to as the New World screwworm fly. There are four species in this genus: Cochliomyia macellaria, Cochliomyia hominivorax, Cochliomyia aldrichi, and Cochliomyia minima... |
Cochliomyia hominivorax Cochliomyia hominivorax Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screw-worm fly, or screw-worm for short, is a species of parasitic fly that is well known for the way in which its larvae eat the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. It is present in the New World tropics... |
skin and wounds | visual | North America (eradicated), Central America, North Africa | direct contact with fly |
External links
- A List of Human Intestinal Parasites accessed May 2008