Parasitology

Parasitology is the branch of biology and medicine that studies parasites, their hosts, and the relationships between them.

Parasitism: A biological interaction in which one organism benefits while its host is harmed. This interaction is the central relationship parasitology investigates.
Medical parasitology: The study of parasites that infect humans and the diseases they cause. It applies parasitological methods to human infection and disease.
Parasite transmission: The movement of a parasite from one host or environment to another. Transmission mechanisms determine where infection can spread.
Plasmodium: A genus of protozoan parasites that causes malaria in humans and other animals. Its multi-host life cycle makes it a defining parasitological case.
Microbiology: The study of microscopic organisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, and many protists. Parasitology overlaps with microbiology but also studies multicellular parasites and host relationships.
Host: An organism that provides resources or habitat to a parasite. Hosts shape parasite survival, development, and transmission.
Veterinary parasitology: The study of parasites that infect animals, including livestock and companion animals. Animal parasites affect health, agriculture, and transmission to humans.
Zoonosis: An infectious disease naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and humans. Zoonotic parasites move between animal reservoirs and people.
Trypanosoma: A genus of flagellated protozoan parasites that includes agents of human and animal disease. Its species illustrate vector-borne and blood-borne parasitism.
Entomology: The scientific study of insects. Parasitology draws on entomology when insects act as parasites or vectors.

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