Table 5.1.
Summary and definitions of commonly used terms associated with parasitism
| Term | Definition | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Host | An animal or plant on which a parasite lives. | Martin (2010) |
| Reservoir host (ecological definition) | Hosts that do not exhibit clinical disease as a result of infection. | Nunn and Altizer (2006) |
| Reservoir host (medical definition) | Hosts that serve as a source of infection and potential reinfection of people and sustain parasite populations when humans are not available. | Martin (2010) |
| Parasite (ecological definition) | Any organism that lives on and draws nutrients from another living organism (the host), usually to the host’s detriment. | Nunn and Alitzer (2006) |
| Parasite (medical definition) | An organism that grows, feeds, and is sheltered on (ectoparasite) or in (endoparasite) a different organism while contributing nothing to survival of its host. | Martin (2010) |
| Microparasite | Pathogens, or disease-causing microbes (viruses, bacteria, protozoa, fungi). | Anderson and May (1979) |
| Macroparasite | Multicellular parasites (helminthes, arthropods, most ectoparasites) | May and Anderson (1979) |
| Disease (ecological definition) | Pathology caused by infection, including outward physical signs and internal or behavioral changes. | Nunn and Alitzer (2006) |
| Disease (medical definition) | A disorder with a specific cause (may or may not be known) and recognizable signs and symptoms. | Martin (2010) |
| Pathogen | Disease-causing agent. | Nunn and Alitzer (2006) |
| Virulence (ecological definition) | Disease-induced host mortality and/or reductions in fecundity | Nunn and Alitzer (2006) |
| Virulence (medical definition) | The disease-producing (pathogenic) ability of a microorganism. | Martin (2010) |
| Infection | Invasion of the body by harmful organisms (pathogens), such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, or viruses. | Martin (2010) |
| Prevalence | A measure of morbidity based on current levels of disease in a population; measured as a proportion (i.e. number of infections divided by number of individuals). | Martin (2010) |
| Intensity | A measure of morbidity based on current levels of disease in a population; measured as an absolute number (i.e. the total number of infections). | Martin (2010) |
| Epidemiology | The science concerned with the study of the factors determining and influencing the frequency and distribution of disease in a defined human or animal population. | Martin (2010) |