“A parasite is an organism that obtains nourishment and shelter on another organism”1. The parasite forms a kind of symbiosis with another organism that is called the host. The basic characteristics of this relationship are: a) The parasite lives and...
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“A parasite is an organism that obtains nourishment and shelter on another organism”1. The parasite forms a kind of symbiosis with another organism that is called the host. The basic characteristics of this relationship are: a) The parasite lives and benefits at the expense of the host. b) The parasite takes all of its food from its host c) The parasite can cause the host harm or disease. d) Normally the parasite is smaller than its host. There are a lot of kinds of parasite: tapeworms, flukes, lices, tiks, suck blood leeches, maggots, etc. In general the parasites can be classified into different forms, depending on its characteristics. For example: a) In terms of its size: macroparasites (visible directly) or microparasites (visible with microscopy) b) In terms of the interaction with the host: obligate parasites (need a host to live) or facultative parasites (can be independent of the host). c) In terms of living inside or outside the host: ectoparasites (live outside) and endoparas
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