Basic Parasites

A Tick

The Tick: This is a parasite that is viewed by some people as harmless and not as deadly as some of the other parasitic infections, but it is in fact one of the most problematic parasites in the world today as it can effect any mammal quite severely. The arachnid feeds all its nutritional requirements by sucking the blood of their hosts. This parasite is found throughout the world and can survive in most conditions, ranging from the hot summers in the Africa, to the cold winters in Iceland. Although the tick can survive in most conditions, the numbers of ticks tend to flourish in warmer climates, because they need a large amount of moisture to develop from an egg to a full grown tick. A full grown tick that has not found a host is usually up to half an inch in length, but they gradually grow larger as they suck more blood from their host. Ticks will continue to affect humans and all other mammals, but it is not a life threatening parasite and will not be in the future.

The Hookworm

Hookworm: The hookworm is a tiny worm that infiltrates the small intestine of humans. The eggs of the hookworm are passed through human feces and once the eggs hatch, they go in search of their next host. The hookworms infect their host by penetrating their skin and travelling to the small intestine. The parasite is usually transmitted when walking barefoot on contaminated soil. Most people who get the hookworm parasite have no symptoms, so it is difficult to know if someone is infected. Hookworm infections are common throughout the world, with 600 million people getting the parasite. The worm eats away at the small intestine, but is not fatal. It will continue to be a burden to a lot of people and animals in the world, but it will never become deadly.

Loa Loa: The Loa Loa, commonly known as the eye worm infects the fat layer of skin in humans causing inflammation across the skin. The vector of the parasite is the horsefly which can be found throughout the world. Places that the parasite is mostly found in are India and Africa. The disease can be spread from the bite of the horse fly which is also commonly known as the march fly. Approximately 12-13 million people have the disease, with no deaths. The worm ranges from 20 mm to 70 mm, which makes it easy to get through the skin and infect the host. The parasite moves along the body by travelling through the subcutaneous tissue such as the back, groin, chest and eye. It will continue to be an irritating parasite throughout India and Africa, but it will never turn into a deadly parasite.

The Loa Loa 

The Human Botfly

The Human Botfly: Spread by over 40 different species of mosquito and fly, as well as one species of tick, the botfly is one of the nastiest and disgusting parasites in the world today. The parasite is spread when the vector lays its eggs on their host. The eggs usually hatch inside the mosquito, but sometimes they hatch on the host and burrow their way into their skin. The larvae is approximately 15 mm in length with a diameter of 5 mm. When the larvae enters the host, it leaves a tumor called a wardle and will remain a that location until the larvae is fully developed. Usually, it takes around 20 to 60 days for the larvae to completely develop. The parasite is found throughout South America and the South of North America. The most effective way of removing the botfly before the larvae has grown, is to apply petroleum jelly over the wardle and then pulling it out with tweezers. It is extremely rare to get the parasite and will be in the future too.

Giant Roundworm

Giant Roundworm: One of the most common parasites in the world today, with 25% of people being affected by it. Measuring up to 35 cm long, this worm lives in the intestinal walls of human beings. Spread through feces, the worm starts off as a tiny egg, hatching into a larvae and then it infects the human. Once the parasite is in the host, it penetrates the wall of the small intestine and goes into the bloodstream. It then is carried to the liver and heart where it grows and molts. The parasite eats through the wall of the intestine and goes up to respiratory tract. From here it is reswallowed by the host and the process is repeated. The parasite is found all throughout the world, affecting roughly 2 billion people. It will continue to damage peoples bodies, but it will never be a deadly parasite.