5 Questions
Which type of host harbors the adult or sexually mature stages of the parasite?
Definitive host
Which of the following is true for the intermediate host?
Hosts the larval or sexually immature stages of the parasite
Which example correctly identifies a definitive host relationship?
Female Anopheles mosquito for malaria parasites
In the life cycle of tapeworms, where are specific developmental stages completed?
In a sequence of several different hosts
Which of the following processes occur in the intermediate host?
Asexual reproduction or development of immature stages
Study Notes
Classification of Hosts
- Hosts are classified based on their role in the life cycle of the parasite.
Definitive Host (DH)
- A Definitive Host (DH) harbors the adult or sexually mature stages of the parasite.
- In a DH, sexual reproduction of the parasite occurs.
- Examples: man is a DH for Schistosoma haematobium, and female Anopheles mosquito is a DH for Plasmodium species malaria parasites.
Intermediate Host (IH)
- An Intermediate Host (IH) harbors larval or sexually immature stages of the parasite.
- In an IH, asexual reproduction of the parasite occurs.
- Examples: man is an IH for malaria parasites.
- Tapeworms and other parasitic flatworms have complex life-cycles, with specific developmental stages completed in a sequence of several different hosts.
Learn about the different types of hosts in the life cycle of parasites, including definitive hosts and intermediate hosts. Understand their roles and examples.
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