Human Parasitology Questions

HUMAN PARASITOLOGY EXAM 1 QUESTIONS

1) INTRO AND HOST PARASITE INTERACTIONS

1. What is a symbiosis?
What is each participant in a symbiotic relationship called?
What is a trophic interaction?
Give some examples.

2. What type of dependency exists between the participants of a phoretic relationship?
Does the phoront benefit from the relationship?

3. Explain commensalism.
How does the commensal benefit?
Can these organisms survive independently?

4. What is mutualism?
Can these partners survive independently?
What type of dependence exists between the partners?
Give some examples.

5. How is each symbiont affected in an exploitation interaction?
How do a predator and a parasitoid differ?
What is the usually effect of a micropredator on its host?
How do micropredators and parasites differ?

6. What is parasitism?
Which partner is harmed?
Give the definition of parasitism.
What does the parasite get out of the relationship?
What does it mean that the parasite has greater reproductive potential than the host?
What are some characteristics of a parasitic disease?

7. What is a parasite?
For each of the following, identify whether it could be a parasite according to the traditional definition. cestode trematode bacteria nematode virus fungus protozoan arthropod

8. Define the following:

ectoparasite

endoparasite

obligate parasite

facultative parasite

definitive host

intermediate host

direct life cycle

indirect life cycle

9. How are parasites usually distributed within their host population?
What does an overdispersed distribution look like (draw a graph of parasites per host within a host population).
What are some explanations for this type of distribution?

10. What is the environment for a parasite?
What are innate host defenses?
What are some external barriers to parasite invasion?
What is specific immunity?
What is an epitope?

11. Why is a life cycle in understanding parasites?