Medical parasitology is the branch of medicine that studies parasites—organisms that live on or inside a host and cause disease. It focuses on the biology, life cycles, transmission, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of parasitic infections in humans.

Main Branches of Medical Parasitology

1. Protozoology

• Studies protozoa, single-celled parasites.

• Examples:

  • Plasmodium spp. (malaria)

  • Entamoeba histolytica (amoebiasis)

  • Giardia lamblia (giardiasis)

  • Trypanosoma spp. (sleeping sickness, Chagas disease)

2. Helminthology

• Studies helminths, or parasitic worms.

• Includes:

  • Nematodes (roundworms): e.g., Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis

  • Cestodes (tapeworms): e.g., Taenia spp., Echinococcus spp.

  • Trematodes (flukes): e.g., Schistosoma spp., Fasciola hepatica

3. Entomology (Medical Arthropodology)

• Studies arthropods that act as parasites or vectors.

• Examples:

  • Mosquitoes (malaria, dengue)

  • Ticks (Lyme disease)

  • Fleas, lice, mites

 Key Topics in Medical Parasitology

• Life Cycles of Parasites Understanding transmission and infection stages.

• Host-Parasite Interaction How parasites evade immunity and cause disease.

• Diagnosis Microscopy, serology, molecular tests (PCR), stool exams, blood smears.

• Treatment Antiparasitic drugs like metronidazole, albendazole, praziquantel.

• Prevention and Control Hygiene, sanitation, vector control, vaccination (where available).

• Epidemiology Distribution and public health impact of parasitic diseases.