Medicine:List of parasites of humans
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Endoparasites
Protozoan organisms
Common name of organism or disease | Latin name (sorted) | Body parts affected | Diagnostic specimen | Prevalence | Source/Transmission (Reservoir/Vector) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and Acanthamoeba keratitis (eye infection) | Acanthamoeba spp. | eye, brain, skin | culture | worldwide | contact lenses cleaned with contaminated tap water |
Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis | Balamuthia mandrillaris | brain, skin | culture | worldwide | via inhalation or skin lesion |
Babesiosis | Babesia B. divergens, B. bigemina, B. equi, B. microfti, B. duncani | red blood cells | Giemsa-stained thin blood smear | New England (different species have worldwide distribution) | tick bites, e.g. Ixodes scapularis |
Balantidiasis | Balantidium coli | intestinal mucosa, may become invasive in some patients | stool (diarrhea=ciliated trophozoite; solid stool=large cyst with horseshoe shaped nucleus) | ingestion of cyst, zoonotic infection acquired from pigs (feces) | |
Blastocystosis | Blastocystis spp. | intestinal | direct microscopy of stool (PCR, antibody) | • worldwide: one of the most common human parasites[1][2] • Developing regions: infects 40–100% of the total populations[1][2][3] |
eating food contaminated with feces from an infected human or animal |
Cryptosporidiosis | Cryptosporidium spp. | intestines | stool | widespread | ingestion of oocyst (sporulated), some species are zoonotic (e.g. bovine fecal contamination) |
Cyclosporiasis | Cyclospora cayetanensis | intestines | stool | United States | ingestion of oocyst through contaminated food |
Dientamoebiasis | Dientamoeba fragilis | intestines | stool | up to 10% in industrialized countries | ingesting water or food contaminated with feces |
Amoebiasis | Entamoeba histolytica | intestines (mainly colon, but can cause liver failure if not treated) | stool (fresh diarrheic stools have amoeba, solid stool has cyst) | areas with poor sanitation, high population density and tropical regions | fecal-oral transmission of cyst, not amoeba |
Giardiasis | Giardia lamblia | lumen of the small intestine | stool | worldwide? | ingestion of water containing deer or beaver feces |
Isosporiasis | Isospora belli | epithelial cells of small intestines | stool | worldwide – less common than Toxoplasma or Cryptosporidium | fecal oral route – ingestion of sporulated oocyst |
Leishmaniasis | Leishmania spp. | cutaneous, mucocutaneous, or visceral | visual identification of lesion or microscopic stain with Leishman's or Giemsa's stain | visceral leishmaniasis – worldwide; cutaneous leishmaniasis – Old World; mucocutaneous leishmaniasis – New World | Phlebotomus, Lutzomyia – bite of several species of phlebotomine sandflies |
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)[4][5] | Naegleria fowleri | brain | culture | unknown, but infection is rare | nasal insufflation of contaminated warm fresh water, poorly chlorinated swimming pools, hot springs, soil |
Malaria | Plasmodium falciparum (80% of cases), Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale curtisi, Plasmodium ovale wallikeri, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium knowlesi | red blood cells, liver | blood film | tropical – 250 million cases/year | Anopheles mosquito |
Rhinosporidiosis | Rhinosporidium seeberi | nose, nasopharynx | biopsy | India and Sri Lanka | nasal mucosa came into contact with infected material through bathing in common ponds |
Sarcocystosis | Sarcocystis bovihominis,Sarcocystis suihominis | intestine, muscle | muscle biopsy | widespread | ingestion of uncooked/undercooked beef/pork with Sarcocystis sarcocysts |
Toxoplasmosis (Acute and Latent) | Toxoplasma gondii | eyes, brain, heart, liver | blood and PCR | worldwide: one of the most common human parasites; estimated to infect between 30–50% of the global population.[6][7] | ingestion of uncooked/undercooked pork/lamb/goat with Toxoplasma bradyzoites, ingestion of raw milk with Toxoplasma tachyzoites, ingestion of contaminated water food or soil with oocysts in cat feces that is more than one day old |
Trichomoniasis | Trichomonas vaginalis | female urogenital tract (males asymptomatic) | microscopic examination of genital swab | worldwide | sexually transmitted infection – only trophozoite form (no cysts) |
Sleeping sickness | Trypanosoma brucei | brain and blood | microscopic examination of chancre fluid, lymph node aspirates, blood, bone marrow | 50,000 to 70,000 people; only found in Africa | tsetse fly, day-biting fly of the genus Glossina |
Chagas disease | Trypanosoma cruzi | colon, esophagus, heart, nerves, muscle and blood | Giemsa stain – blood | Mexico, Central America, South America – 16–18 million | Triatoma/Reduviidae – "kissing bug" insect vector, feeds at night |
Helminths (worms)
Helminth organisms (also called helminths or intestinal worms) include:
Tapeworms
Common name of organism or disease | Latin name (sorted) | Body parts affected | Diagnostic specimen | Prevalence | Transmission/Vector |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tapeworm – Tapeworm infection | Cestoda, Taenia multiceps | intestine | stool | rare worldwide | |
Diphyllobothriasis – tapeworm | Diphyllobothrium latum | intestines, blood | stool (microscope) | Europe, Japan, Uganda, Peru, Chile | ingestion of raw fresh water fish |
Diphyllobothriasis – tapeworm | Diphyllobothrium pacificum | intestines | stool (microscope) | Peru | ingestion of raw saltwater fish |
Echinococcosis – tapeworm | Echinococcus granulosus, Echinococcus multilocularis, E. vogeli, E. oligarthrus | liver, lungs, kidney, spleen | imaging of hydatid cysts in the liver, lungs, kidney and spleen | Worldwide in grazing areas | as intermediate host, ingestion of material contaminated by feces from a carnivore; as definite host, ingestion of uncooked meat (offal) from a herbivore |
Hymenolepiasis[8] | Hymenolepis nana, Hymenolepis diminuta | ingestion of material contaminated by flour beetles, mealworms, cockroaches | |||
Beef tapeworm | Taenia saginata | Intestines | stool | worldwide distribution | ingestion of undercooked beef |
Cysticercosis-Pork tapeworm | Taenia solium | Brain, muscle, Eye (Cysts in conjunctiva/anterior chamber/sub-retinal space) | stool, blood, imaging of cysts in the brain or any soft tissue | Asia, Africa, South America, Southern Europe, North America. | as definite host: ingestion of undercooked pork; as intermediate host, ingestion of material contaminated by human feces from a person carrying the adult form |
Bertielliasis | Bertiella mucronata, Bertiella studeri | Intestines | stool | rare | contact with non-human primates |
Sparganosis | Spirometra erinaceieuropaei | ingestion of material contaminated with infected dog or cat feces (humans: dead-end host) |
Flukes
Common name of organism or disease | Latin name (sorted) | Body parts affected | Diagnostic specimen | Prevalence | Transmission/Vector |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clonorchiasis | Clonorchis sinensis; Clonorchis viverrini | gall bladder ducts and inflammation of liver | East Asia | ingestion of under prepared freshwater fish | |
Lancet liver fluke | Dicrocoelium dendriticum | gall bladder | rare | ingestion of ants | |
Liver fluke – Fasciolosis[9] | Fasciola hepatica, Fasciola gigantica | liver, gall bladder | stool | Fasciola hepatica in Europe, Africa, Australia, the Americas and Oceania; Fasciola gigantica only in Africa and Asia, 2.4 million people infected by both species | freshwater snails |
Fasciolopsiasis – intestinal fluke[10] | Fasciolopsis buski | intestines | stool or vomitus (microscope) | East Asia – 10 million people | ingestion of infested water plants or water (intermediate host:amphibic snails) |
Metagonimiasis – intestinal fluke | Metagonimus yokogawai | stool | Siberia, Manchuria, Balkan states, Israel, Spain | ingestion of undercooked or salted fish | |
Metorchiasis | Metorchis conjunctus | Canada, US, Greenland | ingestion of raw fish | ||
Chinese liver fluke | Opisthorchis viverrini, Opisthorchis felineus, Clonorchis sinensis | bile duct | 1.5 million people in Russia | consuming infected raw, slightly salted or frozen fish | |
Paragonimiasis, lung fluke | Paragonimus westermani; Paragonimus africanus; Paragonimus caliensis; Paragonimus kellicotti; Paragonimus skrjabini; Paragonimus uterobilateralis | lungs | sputum, feces | East Asia | ingestion of raw or undercooked freshwater crabs crayfishes or other crustaceans |
Schistosomiasis – bilharzia, bilharziosis or snail fever (all types) | Schistosoma sp. | Africa, Caribbean, eastern South America, east Asia, Middle East – 200 million people | skin exposure to water contaminated with infected freshwater snails | ||
intestinal schistosomiasis | Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma intercalatum | intestine, liver, spleen, lungs, skin, rarely infects the brain | stool | Africa, Caribbean, South America, Asia, Middle East – 83 million people | skin exposure to water contaminated with infected Biomphalaria freshwater snails |
urinary blood fluke | Schistosoma haematobium | kidney, bladder, ureters, lungs, skin | urine | Africa, Middle East | skin exposure to water contaminated with infected Bulinus sp. snails |
Schistosomiasis by Schistosoma japonicum | Schistosoma japonicum | intestine, liver, spleen, lungs, skin | stool | China, East Asia, Philippines | skin exposure to water contaminated with infected Oncomelania sp. snails |
Asian intestinal schistosomiasis | Schistosoma mekongi | South East Asia | skin exposure to water contaminated with infected Neotricula aperta – freshwater snails | ||
Echinostomiasis | Echinostoma echinatum | small intestine | Far East | ingestion of raw fish, mollusks, snails | |
Swimmer's itch | Trichobilharzia regenti, Schistosomatidae | worldwide | skin exposure to contaminated water (snails and vertebrates) |
Roundworms
Disease caused | Latin name (sorted) | Habitat in definite host | Diagnostic Sample | Prevalence | Mode of transmission |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ancylostomiasis/Hookworm | Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus | lungs, small intestine, blood | stool | common in tropical, warm, moist climates | penetration of skin by L3 larva |
Angiostrongyliasis | Angiostrongylus | intestine | stool | ingestion of infected faeces or infected slugs | |
Anisakiasis[11] | Anisakis | allergic reaction | biopsy | incidental host | ingestion of raw fish, squid, cuttlefish, octopus |
Roundworm – Parasitic pneumonia | Ascaris sp. Ascaris lumbricoides | Intestines, liver, appendix, pancreas, lungs, Löffler's syndrome | stool | common in tropical and subtropical regions | |
Roundworm – Baylisascariasis | Baylisascaris procyonis | Intestines, liver, lungs, brain, eye | rare: North America | stool from raccoons | |
Roundworm-lymphatic filariasis | Brugia malayi, Brugia timori | lymph nodes | blood samples | tropical regions of Asia | arthropods |
Dioctophyme renalis infection | Dioctophyme renale | kidneys (typically the right) | urine | rare | ingestion of undercooked or raw freshwater fish |
Ophidascaris robertsi infection | Ophidascaris robertsi | brain | newly discovered infection[12][13] | Single reported case was likely due to ingestion of gathered wild plants, contaminated with feces from pythons | |
Guinea worm – Dracunculiasis | Dracunculus medinensis | subcutaneous tissues, muscle | skin blister/ulcer | South Sudan (eradication ongoing) | |
Pinworm – Enterobiasis | Enterobius vermicularis, Enterobius gregorii | intestines, anus | stool; tape test around anus | widespread; temperate regions | |
Gnathostomiasis[14] | Gnathostoma spinigerum, Gnathostoma hispidum | subcutaneous tissues (under the skin) | physical examination | rare – Southeast Asia | ingestion of raw or undercooked meat (e.g., freshwater fish, chicken, snails, frogs, pigs) or contaminated water |
Halicephalobiasis | Halicephalobus gingivalis | brain | soil-contaminated wounds | ||
Loa loa filariasis, Calabar swellings | Loa loa filaria | connective tissue, lungs, eye | blood (Giemsa, haematoxylin, eosin stain) | rain forest of West Africa – 12–13 million people | Tabanidae – horsefly, bites in the day |
Mansonelliasis, filariasis | Mansonella streptocerca | subcutaneous layer of skin | insect | ||
River blindness, onchocerciasis | Onchocerca volvulus | skin, eye, tissue | bloodless skin snip | Africa, Yemen, Central and South America near cool, fast flowing rivers | Simulium/black fly, bites during the day |
Strongyloidiasis – Parasitic pneumonia | Strongyloides stercoralis | intestines, lungs, skin (Larva currens) | stool, blood | skin penetration | |
Thelaziasis | Thelazia californiensis, Thelazia callipaeda | eyes | ocular examination | Asia, Europe | Amiota (Phortica) variegata, Phortica okadai |
Toxocariasis | Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati, Toxascaris leonina | liver, brain, eyes (Toxocara canis – visceral larva migrans, ocular larva migrans) | blood, ocular examination | worldwide distribution | pica, unwashed food contaminated with Toxocara eggs, undercooked livers of chicken |
Trichinosis | Trichinella spiralis, Trichinella britovi, Trichinella nelsoni, Trichinella nativa | muscle, periorbital region, small intestine | blood | more common in developing countries due to improved feeding practices in developed countries. | ingestion of undercooked pork |
Whipworm | Trichuris trichiura, Trichuris vulpis | large intestine, anus | stool (eggs) | common worldwide | accidental ingestion of eggs in dry goods such as beans, rice, and various grains or soil contaminated with human feces |
Elephantiasis – Lymphatic filariasis | Wuchereria bancrofti | lymphatic system | thick blood smears stained with hematoxylin. | tropical and subtropical | mosquito, bites at night |
Other organisms
Common name of organism or disease | Latin name (sorted) | Body parts affected | Diagnostic specimen | Prevalence | Transmission/Vector |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acanthocephaliasis | Archiacanthocephala, Moniliformis moniliformis | Gastrointestinal tract, peritoneum, eye | Faeces, parasite itself | worldwide | ingestion of intermediate hosts |
Halzoun syndrome | Linguatula serrata | nasopharynx | physical examination | Mid East | ingestion of raw or undercooked lymph nodes (e.g., meat from infected camels and buffaloes) |
Myiasis | Oestroidea, Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae | dead or living tissue | |||
Screwworm, Cochliomyia | Cochliomyia hominivorax (family Calliphoridae) | skin and wounds | visual | North America (eradicated), Central America, North Africa | direct contact with fly |
Chigoe flea | Tunga penetrans | Subcutaneous tissue | physical examination | Central and South America, Sub-Saharan Africa | |
Human botfly | Dermatobia hominis | Subcutaneous tissue | physical examination | Central and South America | mosquitoes and biting flies |
Ectoparasites
Common name of organism or disease | Latin name (sorted) | Body parts affected | Diagnostic specimen | Prevalence | Transmission/Vector |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Head louse – Pediculosis | Pediculus humanus capitis | hair follicles | visual identification under magnification | common worldwide | head-to-head contact |
Body louse – Pediculosis | Pediculus humanus humanus | skin | visual identification under magnification (Vagabond's disease) | common worldwide | skin-to-skin contact such as sexual activity and via sharing clothing or bedding |
Crab louse –Phthiriasis | Pthirus pubis | pubic area, eyelashes | visual identification under magnification | common worldwide | skin-to-skin contact such as sexual activity and via sharing clothing or bedding |
"Chiggers" (Trombiculidae) – Trombiculosis | Arachnida: Trombiculidae | skin | visual identification under magnification, microscopy | worldwide (mesic habitats) | high grass, weeds |
Flea | Siphonaptera: Pulicinae | skin | visual identification under magnification | worldwide | environment |
Bed bug | Cimicidae: Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus | skin | visual | worldwide | sharing of clothing, bedding and hitchhiking in personal possessions |
Tick | Arachnida: Ixodidae and Argasidae | skin | visual | worldwide | high grass, leaf litter, weeds |
Mosquito | Insecta: Diptera | skin | visual | worldwide | high grass, weeds |
Demodex – Demodicosis | Demodex folliculorum/brevis/canis | eyebrow, eyelashes, skin, face, scalp | microscopy of eyelash or eyebrow hair follicle, cellophane tape method (CTP), squeezing method, skin scrapings | pandemic, worldwide | Commensal, prolonged skin-to-skin contact |
Scabies | Sarcoptes scabiei | skin | microscopy of surface scrapings | worldwide | skin-to-skin contact such as sexual activity and via sharing clothing or bedding |
Red mite — Gamasoidosis | Dermanyssus gallinae | skin | visual identification under magnification | worldwide | nesting birds, pets, poultry farming |
Northern fowl mite — Gamasoidosis | Ornithonyssus sylviarum | skin | visual identification under magnification | worldwide | nesting birds, poultry farming |
Tropical fowl mite — Gamasoidosis | Ornithonyssus bursa | skin | visual identification under magnification | worldwide | nesting birds, poultry farming |
Tropical rat mite — Rodent mite dermatitis | Ornithonyssus bacoti | skin | visual identification under magnification | worldwide | rodent infestations |
Spiny rat mite — Rodent mite dermatitis | Laelaps echidnina | skin | visual identification under magnification | worldwide | rodent infestations |
House mouse mite — Rodent mite dermatitis | Liponyssoides sanguineus | skin | visual identification under magnification | worldwide | rodent infestations |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Oh my aching gut: irritable bowel syndrome, Blastocystis, and asymptomatic infection". Parasit Vectors 1 (1): 40. 2008. doi:10.1186/1756-3305-1-40. PMID 18937874. "Blastocystis is now by far the most prevalent mono-infection in symptomatic patients in the United States [14] and was found 28.5 times more often than Giardia lamblia as a mono-infection in symptomatic patients in a 2000 study [14].".Figure 4: Prevalence of IBS and Blastocystosis by country
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Update on the pathogenic potential and treatment options for Blastocystis sp". Gut Pathog 6: 17. May 2014. doi:10.1186/1757-4749-6-17. PMID 24883113. "Blastocystis is one of the most common intestinal protists of humans. ... A recent study showed that 100% of people from low socio-economic villages in Senegal were infected with Blastocystis sp. suggesting that transmission was increased due to poor hygiene sanitation, close contact with domestic animals and livestock, and water supply directly from well and river [10]. ...".Table 2: Summary of treatments and efficacy for Blastocystis infection
- ↑ "Children of Senegal River Basin show the highest prevalence of Blastocystis sp. ever observed worldwide". BMC Infect. Dis. 14: 164. March 2014. doi:10.1186/1471-2334-14-164. PMID 24666632.
- ↑ Cogo PE, Scaglia M, Gatti S, Rossetti F, Alaggio R, Laverda AM, et al. Fatal Naegleria fowleri Meningoencephalitis, Italy Emerging Infectious Diseases [serial on the Internet]. 2004 Oct; accessed Jan 2009
- ↑ Bennett, Nicholas John State University of New York Upstate Medical University Domachowske, Joseph; Khan, Asad A Louisiana State University Health Science Center; King, John W; Cross, J Thomas Naegleria eMedicine; accessed Jan 2009
- ↑ "Toxoplasmosis—a global threat. Correlation of latent toxoplasmosis with specific disease burden in a set of 88 countries". PLOS ONE 9 (3): e90203. March 2014. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0090203. PMID 24662942. Bibcode: 2014PLoSO...990203F. "Toxoplasmosis is becoming a global health hazard as it infects 30-50% of the world human population. Clinically, the life-long presence of the parasite in tissues of a majority of infected individuals is usually considered asymptomatic. However, a number of studies show that this 'asymptomatic infection' may also lead to development of other human pathologies. ... The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis correlated with various disease burden. Statistical associations does not necessarily mean causality. The precautionary principle suggests however that possible role of toxoplasmosis as a triggering factor responsible for development of several clinical entities deserves much more attention and financial support both in everyday medical practice and future clinical research.".
- ↑ Pappas, G; Roussos, N; Falagas, ME (October 2009). "Toxoplasmosis snapshots: global status of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence and implications for pregnancy and congenital toxoplasmosis.". International Journal for Parasitology 39 (12): 1385–94. doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2009.04.003. PMID 19433092.
- ↑ Harbir Singh Arora (21 December 2020). "Hymenolepiasis". http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/998498-overview.
- ↑ Yılmaz, Hasan; Gödekmerdan, Ahmet (2004), "Human fasciolosis in Van province, Turkey", Acta Tropica 92 (2): 161–2, doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2004.04.009, PMID 15350869
- ↑ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Fasciolopsiasis
- ↑ "Anisakiasis". http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Anisakiasis.htm.
- ↑ Davey, Melissa (2023-08-28). "'Oh my god': live worm found in Australian woman's brain in world-first discovery" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/28/live-worm-living-womans-brain-australia-depression-forgetfulness.
- ↑ "Worm found living in woman's brain in world's first case" (in en-US). 2023-08-28. https://nypost.com/2023/08/28/worm-found-living-in-womans-brain-in-worlds-first-case/.
- ↑ Germaine L Defendi (22 May 2023). "Gnathostomiasis". http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/998278-overview.
![]() | Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List of parasites of humans.
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