Opportunistic Take advantage of certain circumstances to initiate an infection in a host
they don't normally infect
Biological Vector Parasites develop or multiply before it is successfully propagated to a
new vector
Mechanical Vector Simply transfer a parasite to a host
Hyperparasite Parasites of parasites
Parasitoid Organisms that spend a significant amount of time on or within a single host;
often sterilize of kill their host
Cleptoparasite Steal of scrounge food obtained by another organism
Social Parasite Invade or lay eggs in the nest of a host organism and develop on food
provided in the nest
, Parasitology Exam 1 Questions And Answers
Definitive Host Host in which parasites can reach "sexual" maturity
Intermediate Host Parasite undergoes a needed developmental step in this host and may
even asexually reproduce, but "sexual" maturation does not take place
Accidental Host Accidentally infected and are not normal hosts to the parasite
Paratenic Host Nonessentail host that increases the chance of transmission to the
definitive host; parasites do not replicate; fills ecological gab between intermediate and definitive
host
Reservoir Host Harbors the parasite and serves as an important source of infection to
other susceptible hosts; parasite can grow or multiply; does not cause disease in the host
Species A group of individuals with similar properties allowing them to interbreed to
produce fertile offspring
Dioecious Species is comprised of separate male and female individuals