SPECIFIC PARASITE Meaning and
Definition
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A specific parasite is a term used in biology to describe a type of parasite that exclusively infects and relies on a particular host species to complete their life cycle. This parasitic relationship is characterized by a high degree of host specificity, meaning that the parasite can only survive and proliferate within a limited range of host organisms.
Specific parasites have evolved specialized adaptations to exploit and infest their preferred hosts. These adaptations can include structures or behaviors that enable the parasite to attach, feed, and reproduce within the host's body. Such parasites often have complex life cycles, with distinct stages that may involve multiple hosts, but they ultimately depend on one specific host species for their survival.
The specificity of these parasites is often a result of co-evolutionary processes between the parasite and its preferred host. Over time, the parasite becomes finely tuned to exploit the specific ecological and physiological characteristics of its host, while the host develops defense mechanisms to resist or mitigate the effects of the parasite.
Examples of specific parasites include certain species of ticks that only infest particular mammalian hosts, such as a tick species that solely feeds on deer. Another example is the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which can only reproduce within human red blood cells. Understanding the host specificity of parasites is crucial for effective disease management, as it determines which host populations are at risk and guides the development of targeted control strategies.
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One which habitually lives on its present host.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for SPECIFIC PARASITE
- apecific parasite
- zpecific parasite
- xpecific parasite
- dpecific parasite
- epecific parasite
- wpecific parasite
- soecific parasite
- slecific parasite
- s-ecific parasite
- s0ecific parasite
- spwcific parasite
- spscific parasite
- spdcific parasite
- sprcific parasite
- sp4cific parasite
- sp3cific parasite
- spexific parasite
- spevific parasite
- spefific parasite
- spedific parasite
Etymology of SPECIFIC PARASITE
The word "specific" originated from the Latin word "specificus", meaning "of a particular kind" or "particular to". It is derived from the combination of two Latin words: "species", which means "kind" or "sort", and "facere", which means "to make". In English, "specific" refers to something that is clearly defined, precise, or particular.
The word "parasite" originated from the Greek word "parasitos", which means "one who eats at the table of another". It is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "para", meaning "beside" or "alongside", and "sitos", meaning "food" or "grain". In English, a parasite refers to an organism that lives and feeds on another organism, known as the host, often causing harm to the host in the process.
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