Medical Parasitology

General Parasitology

Parasitology is the scientific study of parasites. Parasitology studies evaluate the relationship between parasitic organisms and their hosts and also describe different types of parasites. It has applications in human and veterinary medicine. The study of parasites draws on other scientific disciplines, such as microbiology, organic chemistry, and cytology. Though the name parasite has negative connotations, not all parasites adversely affect their hosts. In some cases, parasitology demonstrates how the relationship of a parasite to its host is mutually beneficial, called mutualism. The parasite and the host may gain protection from each other’s presence or provide each other with food. When parasite and host cannot exist apart, their relationship is called symbiotic. The two organisms are equally and mutually dependent upon each other. Parasitology, when used in applications in human and veterinary medicines, tends to examine the relationship between parasites that invade and cause damage to the animal or human body. For example, insects that are vectors for disease are studied to see to what degree they pass those diseases on to humans or animals.