All parasites have a life cycle that involves a period of time spent in a host organism and that can be divided into phases of growth, reproduction, and .
What's the life cycle of a parasite?
All parasites have a life cycle that involves a period of time spent in a host organism and that can be divided into phases of growth, reproduction, and transmission. Life cycles of parasites can be further divided into two categories: direct (monoxenous) and indirect (heteroxenous).
How long can parasites live?
Three types of tiny, thread-like worms cause this disease. It's common in the tropics and subtropics. Adult worms can live up to 7 years in a person's lymph system. The disease only spreads from person to person through mosquitoes.
Do parasites have simple life cycles?
Some parasites have direct simple life cycles whereas others have indirect complex lifecycles involving a vector or intermediate host. In complex life cycles the parasite's development and progression through the life cycle is adapted to the physiology and behaviour of the host.
How long have parasites been around?
Hundreds of fossilised animals seemingly covered in worm-like creatures are the oldest hard evidence of parasitism, dating from 512 million years ago when complex animals were still new.
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