Life cycle of helminth

Life cycle of helminth

Helminths are worms that are internal parasites. They cause a broad range of diseases, which are infectious. Helminths exit in different forms. There are trematodes, which are also known as flatworms. Others include nematodes and cestodes. They are also known as roundworms and tapeworms respectively. There are other worms called fluke, filarial and hookworms. Flukes are found in blood, lung or liver. Filarial worms are also known as eye worms. They may be found under the eye skin. This disease is called filariasis and is caused by adult worms (Soulsby, 2010).

Helminth can have a simple or complex life cycle. Al types of parasites have the same name for hosts in the different stages. The type of helminth that will be studied will be the tapeworm. The eggs of the tapes need to be laid a host. The adult tapeworm has to find a definitive host. When they get in the definitive hosts, sexual reproduction takes place. The fertilization happens with another tapeworm that is either hermaphroditic or with a male tapeworm. After fertilization, the eggs are produced. In quite rare circumstances, viviparous larvae can fertilize female tapeworms. The eggs of the tapeworms are mostly found in the stool of the host (Soulsby, 2010).

The eggs develops into a larvae and at this stage, it has to look for a different host. The name of the host that harbors the larvae stage is called intermediate. Tapeworms in the larvae stage may have one or more hosts. They could also do without any host. The asexual reproduction of usually happens in the intermediate hosts this is for parasites like the platyhelminth. Tapeworms’ larvae may not develop if they are in an accidental host. This is because the host does not have the essentials, which a tapeworm requires. If it is able to make infection to the host, then it will survive (Bennet et al, 2000).

The larva has different names depending on where it is found in the host. When it is developing in vectors or hosts it is called procercoid. If it is at a stage where it can infect people it is referred to as Ccenurus. At this stage, it is possible for it to be ingested by human when they eat undercooked meat. When tapeworms are hosted by humans, they start showing sign and symptoms after sometimes. The larva that causes these changes is called hydatid. This type of larvae can easily be separated from the host. This is how a doctor makes the diagnosis by detecting these larvae (Coombs & Crompton, 1991).

The final stage of the tapeworm is the adult stage. It attaches itself to the walls of the intestines and feeds on the nutrients of its hosts. A host that allows a tapeworm to compete its life cycle is called a permissive host. A tapeworm might get to its adult stage and not lay eggs because it will in its host. Such a parasite is considered not to have finished development and it host is referred to non- permissive host. In some circumstances, larvae accumulates in a host and for some time, it development is hindered. This goes on until they can get a definitive host, for them to continue with their life cycle (Ashford & Crewe, 2003).

The form of the parasite that becomes parasitic is the larva. It is capable of causing infection to the human who is the host. Larva feeds by using his host. For example, a tapeworm attaches itself to the wall of the intestine and feeds from what a human being consumes. A larva of a parasite must also feed to develop. Some of the larva like viviparous, are capable of fertilizing. This is an indication that a larva has life and it has to depend on its host for survival. The Ccenurus and hydatid larvae have the ability to cause infection. They develop from one stage to another until they can be detected during diagnosis. This is another indication that a larva is parasitic. Parasites cause diseases, which people should always avoid. The basic thing to consider taking preventive measure is hygiene. Foods should be fully cooked to kill any eggs or larvae especially from the meat (Bennet et al, 2000).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References:

Ashford, R. W., & Crewe, W. (2003). The parasites of Homo sapiens: An annotated checklist of the protozoa, helminths, and arthropods for which we are home. London: Taylor & Francis.

Bennet, E.-M., Behm, C. A., Bryant, C., & International Congress of Parasitology. (2000). Comparative biochemistry of parasitic helminths. London: New York.

Coombs, I., & Crompton, D. W. T. (1991). A guide to human helminths. London: Taylor and Francis.

Soulsby, E. J. L. (2010). Helminths. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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