Parasites generally do not kill the host but may harm the host indirectly by spreading pathogens. This may affect the host's behaviour, metabolism or its reproductive activity. Many parasites have hooks, claws or suckers to attach to their host.
Do parasites infect their host?
Parasites have evolved various mechanisms to favor infection of their hosts and enhance the success of the infection. In this respect, time-of-day effects were found during the course of parasitic infections, which can be caused or controlled by circadian rhythms in the physiology of their vertebrate hosts.
Does parasite need a host to survive?
Parasites also vary in the number of hosts they need to survive. While certain parasites need only one host, other parasites use multiple hosts to complete their life cycles. The host in which the parasite completes its sexual reproduction is called the definitive host.
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