What is the main focus of parasitology?

Parasitology is the scientific discipline concerned with the study of the biology of parasites and parasitic diseases, including the distribution, biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology, ecology, evolution and clinical aspects of parasites, including the host response to these agents.

What is the purpose of a parasite?

Parasites can function as both predators and prey. Parasites that feed on hosts engage in a special type of predation (Raffel et al. 2008). Alternatively, parasites can also serve as important sources of prey (Figure 1).

What are the medical importance of parasites?

By definition, parasites are harmful to their hosts. However, some parasitic infections may have protective effects against other diseases, such as allergies and chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) [1]. Specifically, long-term infections with parasitic worms were shown to decrease allergies and symptoms of IBD.

Why do we need to study microbiology and parasitology?

Though it sounds niche, microbiology is actually one of the most important sub-sectors of biology. By analysing microorganisms up close, microbiologists play a crucial role in combating disease, creating chemical products for agriculture, and even helping to keep the planet healthy.

What is Parasitology in microbiology?

Generally speaking, parasitology is the branch of microbiology that is concerned with the study of parasites. In the process, it gives focus to various characteristics of the parasite (morphology, life-cycle, ecology, taxonomy, etc), the type of host they infect/affect and the relationship between the two.

What is the importance of microbiology and parasitology?

The Microbiology and Parasitology Option focuses on the mechanisms that underlie diseases caused by a number of important bacteria, protozoa and helminths.

What is the importance of microbiology and parasitology in nursing?

Why microbiology is needed in nursing? to take care of patient and to protect oneself from pathogenic microorganisms. Nurses utilise concepts of microbiology while giving patient care or doing procedures. To prevent spread of infection: Nurses should have knowledge about the mode of spread of infection.

How do parasites affect agriculture?

Parasites have been responsible for economic losses ever since humans first undertook the domestication of animals. Farmers and ranchers whose herds are infected with parasites pay higher costs to raise sick animals and earn less because of lower production.

What is the importance of Parasitology in medical science?

Medical Parasitology Perhaps the best-known aspect of the significance of parasites is the role they play in causing human disease. Insect parasites such as fleas and lice are, at best, annoyances to humans, and as vectors of diseases such as the bubonic plague and typhus they have been responsible for a great deal of human mortality.

What are the different types of Parasitology?

Medical parasitology traditionally has included the study of three major groups of animals: parasitic protozoa, parasitic helminths (worms), and those arthropods that directly cause disease or act as vectors of various pathogens.

What are the job opportunities for immunologists who work with parasites?

Job opportunities for immunologists who desire to work with parasites are likely to increase because of new technical developments in the field and because of new practical applications of that technology. One important thrust in parasite research today is the development of vaccines against parasites of human and domestic animals.

What is the role of parasites in population control?

Population control (trophic interaction) – in the same way that the balance between predator and prey aids the survival of both by ensuring that enough prey is killed so that they don’t destroy the ecological balance, parasites may be seen as fulfilling a similar role. Of course, not all hosts are killed by their parasites.