The study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them.
Questions tagged [parasitology]
111 questions
37
votes
3 answers
Why do parasites sometimes kill their hosts?
It's bothered me for a while now. I understand why a parasitoid would do this, as it only temporarily requires the host, and that not all parasites kill their hosts.
There seems to be no evolutionary advantage in killing a host, because the parasite…
James
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26
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1 answer
Why is untreated trypanosomiasis invariably fatal in humans?
If left untreated, African trypanosomiasis will invariably kill the patient. The human immune system is unable to clear the infection.
I am aware of a few other infectious diseases with this property and I have a rudimentary understanding of the…
Brian
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22
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2 answers
Are some people more 'attractive' to mosquitos? If so, is that a hereditary trait?
Mosquitos clearly love me-- but I have been told I am just more reactive to mosquito bites. Are some people more 'attractive' to mosquitos (get bit more)? Or is it just that they are more reactive? If it is an 'attractive' trait-- is this…
Shannon
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17
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What's this stuff that looks like white chainmail armor growing on giant kelp?
I found some giant kelp coated with a material that is white, smooth, and forms a chain-mail pattern with small black oblong lumps in between the links. It feels pretty hard but not stiff (the kelp still flexes), and can't be easily removed from the…
Robert
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15
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1 answer
Why is the species-diversity of deadly parasites greatest in the tropics?
There are so many parasites living in tropical regions of Africa, South America, or Asia, but very few in Europe or North America.
Is this due to climate, or are there other reasons?
Many of the tropical diseases and parasites are transmitted by…
Martin Vegter
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13
votes
1 answer
Two different Leucochloridium infected snails - different species?
In the last three days, I have found two snails infected by some species of Leucochloridium. I found them in my garden in the south-west of Sweden. Now I'm wondering if they are the same species or not.
One has broodsacs with green stripes and…
picapica
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12
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2 answers
Can dish soap really be used to kill ticks and fleas?
An answer at Pets suggested using dawn dish soap to kill fleas. I did a little looking around, and found several references supporting the idea. Most of what I found was in 'selfhelp' and 'save a dime' type books and web sites. So while it seems to…
James Jenkins
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11
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How does the immune system fight scabies mites?
After a distressing episode involving my elderly mother and a nursing home, I've been reading up on scabies. It seems that in healthy people, the immune system limits the mite population to around 10 of the creatures at any one time; elderly and…
peterG
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11
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3 answers
Is it possible for a parasitic wasp to alter the behaviour of its host after emerging from it?
I know that parasitic wasp larvae can live for a long time inside their live host (eg. caterpillar), but I always thought that they kill the host when they eventually get out of it. But I've seen a film, where it's shown that not only can a…
Marta Cz-C
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9
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1 answer
How to prove that pork meat has parasites
I suspect that the pork sold at a certain shop is infected with the parasite pork tapeworm (Taenia solium).
Is there a way I can prove this without special equipment? Would it work to leave the raw meat in the fridge (at 4 degrees Celcius, or…
snoram
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8
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Species Identification - small insect: is this a bed bug?
I found this bug in my apartment in Chicago. We had bed bugs in our house the previous year (but we thought we got rid of them). This bug was very small - maybe 2 millimeters in length. These photos are all of the very same bug (just different…
bearMountain
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8
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Found in blood sample - what is it? Hopefully not a nemotode-
After examining someone's blood - through microscope - I found these. There were some more that were not photographed. Could someone please inform me on what these are? Maybe abiotic material on the slide? Hoping that they are not Microfilariae. #3…
Orange_Web
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8
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1 answer
What makes worms' eggs float or sink?
In parasitology, while examining the stool sample, one important thing you do is test whether the eggs float on water or sink. We never did that since our coursework limits itself to microscopic examination, but we still are expected to remember…
Polisetty
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8
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Examples of intracellular parasites of medical or economic importance?
What are examples of intracellular parasites of medical or economic importance? I have read that Xanthomonas oryzae is an intracellular parasite in rice that produces proteins able to cause changes in the gene regulation of the rice cells in order…
719016
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7
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Worm found inside of wahoo
A fisherman from Hawaii wrote the following:
This Fat juicy worm lives inside of every Wahoo that I catch. Inside
the stomach. Right at the junction to the intestines. Sometimes there
are two.
What is this parasite?
Imprisoned Rhesus
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