Human parasite
Human parasites include various
Human parasites are divided into endoparasites, which cause infection inside the body, and ectoparasites, which cause infection superficially within the skin.
The cysts and eggs of endoparasites may be found in feces, which aids in the detection of the parasite in the human host while also providing the means for the parasitic species to exit the current host and enter other hosts.[1] Although there are a number of ways in which humans can contract parasitic infections, observing basic hygiene and cleanliness tips can reduce its probability.[2] The most accurate diagnosis is by qPcr DNA antigen assay[citation needed], not generally available by primary care physicians in the USA: most labs offer research only service.
History
Archaeological evidence
It was assumed that early human ancestors generally had parasites, but until recently there was no evidence to support this claim. Generally, the discovery of parasites in ancient humans relies on the study of feces and other
Written evidence
The first written records of parasites date from 3000 to 400 BC in Egyptian
Greece and Rome
In Greece, Hippocrates and Aristotle created considerable medical documentation about parasites in the Corpus Hippocraticus. In this work, they documented the presence of parasitic worms in many animals ranging from fish to domesticated animals and humans. Among the most extensively documented was the Bladder Worm (Taenia solium). This condition was called "measly pork" when present in pigs and was characterized by the presence of the
Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Mesopotamia
The medieval Persian doctor
: 174 As withChina
The Chinese mostly documented diseases rather than the parasites associated with them. Chinese texts contain one of the few references to hookworm disease found in ancient records, but no connection to the hookworm parasite is made.[3]: 174 The Emperor Huang Ti recorded the earliest mentioning (2700 BC) of malaria in his text Nei Ching. He lists chills, headaches, and fevers as the main symptoms and distinguished between the different kinds of fevers.
India
In India, the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita document malaria. These documents list the main symptoms as fever and enlarged spleens.[3][failed verification] The Bhrigu Samhita from 1000 BCE makes the earliest reference to Amebiasis. The symptoms were given as bloody and mucosal diarrhea.[3]
Most common parasites
As of 2013, the parasites causing the most deaths globally were as follows:[5]
Parasitic Disease | Global Deaths in 2013 |
---|---|
Malaria | 854,600 |
Leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) | 62,500 |
Cryptosporidiosis | 41,900 |
Amoebiasis | 11,300 |
Chagas disease | 10,600 |
African trypanosomiasis | 6,900 |
Schistosomiasis | 5,500 |
Ascariasis | 4,500 |
Cystic echinococcosis
|
2,200 |
Cysticercosis | 700 |
Total Deaths from Parasitic Infections | 1,000,700 |
Commonly documented parasites
Endoparasites
Protozoa
- Plasmodium spp.: causes malaria
- Entamoeba: causes amoebiasis
- Giardia: causes giardiasis
- African trypanosomiasis
- Toxoplasma gondii: causes toxoplasmosis
- Acanthamoeba: causes acanthamoeba keratitis
- Leishmania: causes leishmaniasis
- Babesia: causes babesiosis
- Balamuthia mandrillaris: causes granulomatous amoebic encephalitis
- Cryptosporidium: causes cryptosporidiosis
- Cyclospora: causes cyclosporiasis
- primary amoebic meningoencephalitis
Parasitic worms (helminths)
- Ascaris lumbricoides: causes ascariasis
- enterobiasis
- Strongyloides stercoralis: causes trongyloidiasis
- Toxocara: causes toxocariasis
- Guinea worm: causes dracunculiasis.[6]: 495
- Hookworm: causes helminthiasis
- Tapeworm (Eucestoda): causes cysticercosis, echinococcosis, hymenolepiasis, diphyllobothriasis and sparganosis
- Whipworm (Trichuris trichiura): causes trichuriasis
Parasitic flukes
- Schistosoma: causes schistosomiasis
- Gnathostoma: causes gnathostomiasis
- Paragonimus: causes paragonimiasis
- fascioliasis
- cercarial dermatitis
Other organisms
- New World screwworm(Cochliomyia): causes myiasis
Ectoparasites
- Head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) causes pediculosis
- Body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus): causes pediculosis
- phthiriasis
- Human botfly maggot (Dermatobia hominis): causes myiasis
- Flea (Siphonaptera): causes papular urticaria
- Chigoe flea (Tunga penetrans): causes tungiasis
- Mosquito (Culicidae): causes papular urticaria
- Bed bug (Cimex lectularius): causes papular urticaria
- papular urticaria
- Chiggers (Trombiculidae): causes trombiculosis
- Scabies mite (Sarcoptes scabiei): causes scabies
- Red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae): causes gamasoidosis
- Tropical fowl mite(Ornithonyssus bursa): causes gamasoidosis
- Northern fowl mite(Ornithonyssus sylviarum): causes gamasoidosis
- Tropical rat mite (Ornithonyssus bacoti): causes rodent mite dermatitis
- Spiny rat mite (Laelaps echidnina): causes rodent mite dermatitis
- House mouse mite (Liponyssoides sanguineus): causes rodent mite dermatitis
- acne vulgaris and rosacea
References
- ^ "Krumhardt, Barbera, PhD. Human Parasites. 8 October 2008". Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2008.
- ^ "Parasites – How they enter our body and ten precautions to avoid an infection".
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Cox, Francis E. G. "History of human parasitic diseases." Infectious Disease Clinics of North America June 2004
- ^ Kuchenmeister, F. Animal and vegetableparasites. London: The Sydenham Society, 1857
- ^ "One Million Deaths by Parasites | Speaking of Medicine". 16 January 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- ^ Greenaway, C. "Dracunculiasis". Canadian Medical Association Journal (Feb 2004)