HUMAN PARASITOLOGY
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS AND FULL ANSWERS 100%
CORRECT
⩥ micropredator. Answer: attack more than one organism but rarely kills
it
blood feeders like mosquitos and leeches
+/-
⩥ parasite. Answer: only one host attacked but rarely killed, parasite
benefits and host can be harmed
+/-
⩥ definition of a parasite. Answer: lives in or on the host, part or all of
nutrients from host, smaller than host, greater reproductive potential than
host, potential to harm the host
⩥ what organisms are parasites. Answer: helminths (cestodes,
trematodes, nematodes), protozoa, arthropods
⩥ what organisms are not parasites. Answer: bacteria, viruses, fungi
,⩥ ectoparasite. Answer: lives or feeds on host surface
⩥ endoparasite. Answer: lives inside host
⩥ obligate parasite. Answer: must be parasitic for at least part of the
lifecycle, unable to grow outside of a living host
⩥ faculative parasite. Answer: an organism that may resort to parasitic
activity, but does not absolutely rely on any host for completion of its
life cycle
⩥ definitive host. Answer: the host in which the sexual reproduction of a
parasite takes place
⩥ intermediate host. Answer: Host from which the larvae derive their
nourishment, do not reach sexual maturity
⩥ distribution of parasites in host population. Answer: negative binomial
a few hosts are heavily infected and killed while most have a few and
are not killed
⩥ direct life cycle. Answer: No intermediate host, parasite transmits
from one DH to another
through air, food, fomite
,⩥ indirect life cycle. Answer: Has an intermediate host, can't go directly
from DH to DH
⩥ leading causes of death in the US. Answer: mostly noncommunicable
⩥ leading causes of death in low income countries. Answer: mostly
communicable diseases
⩥ UN Sustainable Development Goals. Answer: Goals set by the UN in
2015 to be achieved by 2030 that aim at promoting development,
reducing poverty and protecting the planet.
end epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and NTDs
⩥ Big Three (lots of $$ put in). Answer: HIV/AIDS: antiretroviral meds
tuberculosis: antibiotics and vaccines
malaria: drugs and bed nets
⩥ NTDs. Answer: Neglected Tropical Diseases
1. Helminths (foodborne trematodes, schistosomiasis,
cysticercosis/taeniasis, echinococcosis, soil transmitted helminths,
lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, dracunculiasis)
2. Protazoa
3. Bacteria
, 4.Viruses
⩥ bacterial NTD buruli ulcer. Answer: produces myolactone (toxin that
results in lesions and tissue death)
⩥ bacterial NTD leprosy. Answer: affects skin, PNS, upper respiratory
tract, and eyes
not easily transmissible and curable
⩥ bacterial NTD trachoma. Answer: leading cause of world's infectious
blindness
transmitted by flies and fomites
⩥ bacterial NTD Yaws. Answer: related to syphilis, transmitted by skin
contact, affects skin bone and cartilage
⩥ viral NTD dengue. Answer: fever, headache, muscle pain, skin rash
can lead to hemorrhagic fever
⩥ viral NTD rabies. Answer: 60,000 deaths/ year mainly in Asia and
Africa
⩥ features of NTDs. Answer: rural poverty, ancient diseases, chronic,
disability/disfigurement
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS AND FULL ANSWERS 100%
CORRECT
⩥ micropredator. Answer: attack more than one organism but rarely kills
it
blood feeders like mosquitos and leeches
+/-
⩥ parasite. Answer: only one host attacked but rarely killed, parasite
benefits and host can be harmed
+/-
⩥ definition of a parasite. Answer: lives in or on the host, part or all of
nutrients from host, smaller than host, greater reproductive potential than
host, potential to harm the host
⩥ what organisms are parasites. Answer: helminths (cestodes,
trematodes, nematodes), protozoa, arthropods
⩥ what organisms are not parasites. Answer: bacteria, viruses, fungi
,⩥ ectoparasite. Answer: lives or feeds on host surface
⩥ endoparasite. Answer: lives inside host
⩥ obligate parasite. Answer: must be parasitic for at least part of the
lifecycle, unable to grow outside of a living host
⩥ faculative parasite. Answer: an organism that may resort to parasitic
activity, but does not absolutely rely on any host for completion of its
life cycle
⩥ definitive host. Answer: the host in which the sexual reproduction of a
parasite takes place
⩥ intermediate host. Answer: Host from which the larvae derive their
nourishment, do not reach sexual maturity
⩥ distribution of parasites in host population. Answer: negative binomial
a few hosts are heavily infected and killed while most have a few and
are not killed
⩥ direct life cycle. Answer: No intermediate host, parasite transmits
from one DH to another
through air, food, fomite
,⩥ indirect life cycle. Answer: Has an intermediate host, can't go directly
from DH to DH
⩥ leading causes of death in the US. Answer: mostly noncommunicable
⩥ leading causes of death in low income countries. Answer: mostly
communicable diseases
⩥ UN Sustainable Development Goals. Answer: Goals set by the UN in
2015 to be achieved by 2030 that aim at promoting development,
reducing poverty and protecting the planet.
end epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and NTDs
⩥ Big Three (lots of $$ put in). Answer: HIV/AIDS: antiretroviral meds
tuberculosis: antibiotics and vaccines
malaria: drugs and bed nets
⩥ NTDs. Answer: Neglected Tropical Diseases
1. Helminths (foodborne trematodes, schistosomiasis,
cysticercosis/taeniasis, echinococcosis, soil transmitted helminths,
lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, dracunculiasis)
2. Protazoa
3. Bacteria
, 4.Viruses
⩥ bacterial NTD buruli ulcer. Answer: produces myolactone (toxin that
results in lesions and tissue death)
⩥ bacterial NTD leprosy. Answer: affects skin, PNS, upper respiratory
tract, and eyes
not easily transmissible and curable
⩥ bacterial NTD trachoma. Answer: leading cause of world's infectious
blindness
transmitted by flies and fomites
⩥ bacterial NTD Yaws. Answer: related to syphilis, transmitted by skin
contact, affects skin bone and cartilage
⩥ viral NTD dengue. Answer: fever, headache, muscle pain, skin rash
can lead to hemorrhagic fever
⩥ viral NTD rabies. Answer: 60,000 deaths/ year mainly in Asia and
Africa
⩥ features of NTDs. Answer: rural poverty, ancient diseases, chronic,
disability/disfigurement
