SOME TYPES OF PARASITES AND WHAT THEY DO: What are parasites? How are they transmitted? How do they vary? What are some common parasites? Hookworm larvae penetrate the skin. When hookworms reach adulthood, they can sap the victim's strength, vitality and overall well-being. Young worms use their teeth to burrow through the intestinal wall and feed on your blood. Symptoms from hookworm are iron deficiency, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, protein deficiency, dry skin and hair, skin irritations, edema, distended abdomen, mental dullness, and eventually cardiac failure (yes you can die from this!) Pinworms infects one in five children. Symptoms are itching and irritation of the anus or vagina, digestive disorders, insomnia, irritability or nervousness. Female worms crawl out of the anus and lay about 15,000 eggs per day. Once airborne, the eggs can survive about two days anywhere in your living environment.Worldwide, about 500 million are infected with pinworms. The worm is white and can grow to about half inch in length. Whipworm infections are estimated at several hundred million worldwide. Symptoms of whipworms are bloody stools, pain in the lower abdomen, weight loss, rectal prolapse, nausea and anemia. Hemorrhage can occur when worms penetrate the intestinal wall and bacterial infections usually follow. 1 to 2 inches length. Amoebae are microorganisms that infect the end of the smaller intestine and colon. They release an enzyme that causes ulcers or abscesses where they can enter the bloodstream. They can eventually reach other organs like the brain or liver. Trichomonas vaginalis are pathogens that resides in the vagina in females and the urethra, epididymis, and swelling in the prostate gland in males. In women there is some yellowish discharge accompanied by itching and burning. Tapeworms may grow to 35 feet long and live ten years inside the persons intestines. Some tapeworms can lay as many as one million eggs per day. Their bodies are in separate segments with hooks and suction cups on their skull. Flukes; Flatworms- found in bladder, blood, liver, lung, kidney and intestines. Human infections of flukes are in excess of 250 million worldwide. They can cause severe disease of the gastrointestinal tract, bladder, liver and destroy blood cells. Size varies from 1 to 2.5 centimeters in length (1/2 to 3 inches long). Spirochetes are very tiny organisms that are spiral-shaped, and multiply in the blood and lymphatic system. Spirochetes (largest), Saprospira, Cristispira, Treponema (smallest), and many more. The host or carrier is usually lice, ticks, fleas, mites, and flying insects, which is then transmitted to humans. Spirochetes are responsible for relapsing fever, infectious jaundice, Lymes disease, sores, ulcers, Vincent angina and Wyles disease. Blastocystis hominis is a microscopic parasite in the world with the feces of humans, abdominal pain, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms were found. The infection is called Blastocystosis.
Giardia duodenalis or intestinalis (formerly called G. lamblia) Giardia duodenalis, cause of giardiasis (GEE-are-DYE-uh-sis), is a one-celled, microscopic parasite that can live in the intestines of animals and people. It is found in every region throughout the world and has become recognized as one of the most common causes of waterborne (and occasionally foodborne) illness in the United States. How do people get giardiasis? Symptoms of giardiasis When will symptoms appear? What is the duration? Who is at risk for contracting giardiasis? How to prevent giardiasis Wash hands with warm water and soap before handling foods and eating,
and after going to the bathroom, changing diapers, and handling animals. Cryptosporidium parvum Cryptosporidium parvum, cause of the disease cryptosporidiosis (KRIP-toe-spo-RID-e-O-sis) also called "Crypto", is a one-celled, microscopic shelled parasite and a significant cause of waterborne and foodborne illness worldwide. It is found in the intestines of many herd animals including cows, sheep, goats, deer, and elk. The illness could be intestinal, tracheal, or pulmonary. How do people get cryptosporidiosis? People get cryptosporidiosis the following ways: Symptoms of intestinal cryptosporidiosis When will symptoms appear? What is the duration? Who is at risk for contracting cryptosporidiosis? How to prevent cryptosporidiosis Wash hands with warm water and soap before handling foods and eating,
and after going to the bathroom, changing diapers, and handling animals. [Top of Page] Cyclospora cayetanensis (SIGH-clo-SPOR-uh KYE-uh-tuh-NEN-sis), cause of cyclosporiasis, is a one-celled, microscopic parasite. Currently little is known about this organism, although cases of cyclosporiasis are being reported from various countries with increasing frequency. How do people get cyclosporiasis? Toxoplasma gondii Toxoplasma gondii, cause of the disease toxoplasmosis (TOX-o-plaz-MO-sis), is a single-celled, microscopic parasite found throughout the world. It is the third leading cause of death from foodborne disease. It is interesting to note that these organisms can only carry out their reproductive cycle within members of the cat family. In this parasite-host relationship, the cat is the definitive host. The infective stage (oocyst) develops in the gut of the cat. The oocysts are then shed into the environment with cat feces. How do people get toxoplasmosis? Trichinella spiralis Trichinella spiralis, cause of trichinellosis (also known as trichinosis) (TRICK-a-NO-sis) is an intestinal roundworm whose larvae may migrate from the digestive tract and form cysts in various muscles of the body. Infections occur worldwide, but are most prevalent in regions where pork or wild game is consumed raw or undercooked. The incidence of trichinosis has declined in the United States due to changes in hog feeding practices. Presently, most cases in this country are caused by consumption of raw or undercooked wild game. How do people get trichinellosis? Taenia saginata/Taenia solium (Tapeworms) Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm) and Taenia solium (pork tapeworm) are parasitic worms (helminths). Taeniasis is the name of the intestinal infection caused by adult-stage tapeworms (beef or pork tapeworms). Cysticercosis is the name of the tissue (other than intestinal) infection caused by the larval-stage of the pork tapeworm only. It is interesting to note that humans are the definitive hosts of both organisms. This means that the reproductive cycle, and thus egg production by the organisms, occurs only within humans. Eggs are passed in human feces and they may be shed into the environment for as long as the worms remain in the intestines (for as long as 30 years). In addition, the eggs may remain viable in the environment for many months. These diseases are more prevalent in underdeveloped countries where sanitation practices may be substandard and in areas where pork and beef are consumed raw or undercooked. They are relatively uncommon in the U.S., although travelers and immigrants are occasionally infected. How do people get Taeniasis? |