A parasitic relationship is one in which one organism, the parasite, lives off of another organism, the host, harming it and possibly causing death. The parasite lives on or in the body of the host. There are a lot of parasites in this world and nearly all of them are choosey. I personally love studying about parasites because I find it SO interesting...so I'm going to share some examples...probably too many examples.... Tapeworms are a common parasite found in dogs and cats. This worm is found in the intestinal area and will eat the food that passes through the intestine and take away nutrients the dog or cat needs to thrive. Their heads are fascinating little machines that function really well at attaching and sucking out the food provided by the host. Tiny wasps called gall wasps are found nearly everywhere and attack plants. They irritate the plant and cause it to make these ball like growths called "oak galls". There are different species of gall wasps that make galls of all kinds of shapes. The wasps irritate the plant, the plant uses its energy to make a "sack" around the irritation, the wasp lays eggs in the protected "sack". Too many wasps on a plant will cause the plant or tree to wither and die. There is a type of fungus that infests cows or grazing animals. The fungus grows on or under the jaw of the cattle. When the lump is surgically removed the cattle feel better and regain normal appetites. When leaf-cutter ants are collecting leaves, a phorid fly attacks a worker ant and lay its eggs in the crevice on worker ant's head. When the eggs hatch, its larvae burrows into the ant's body and starts feeding on it from inside, eventually killing it. While the host organism doesn't necessarily die in all the cases, it does suffer as a result of this relationship. The ocean sunfish (Mola mola), for instance, plays host to as many as 40 parasitic species dwelling in the ocean, including flatworms, roundworms, sea lice, shark tapeworm, etc. While some of these parasites are found on its body, others reside within it. The sunfish has a unique adaptation to deal with the situation, wherein it comes to the ocean surface and lies on one side, thus allowing various birds to feed on parasites. Not just animals, but even humans are vulnerable to parasites. Those parasites which infect fish, have the ability to make it to the human body through seafood. At times, you may not even realize that some parasitic species has entered your body, until its adverse effects start surfacing. Chances of an individual not noticing infestation are somewhat rare, as most of these parasites are harmful for humans. Fresh fish that is properly cooked or frozen will destroy most fish parasites.... Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. People with malaria often experience fever, chills, and flu-like illness. Left untreated, they may develop severe complications and die Babesiosis is caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells and are spread by certain ticks. Giardiasis is an infection in your small intestine. It’s caused by a microscopic parasite called Giardia lamblia. Giardiasis spreads through contact with infected people. And you can get giardiasis by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Pet dogs and cats also frequently contract giardia. There are parasites everywhere. When we learn about animal relationships, the levels of parasitism are absolutely creepy!
7 Comments
Sammy
4/20/2018 03:13:03 pm
I think I’m first Yay!!! And good job on the blog Mrs.Taylor.
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Sadie
4/20/2018 07:11:27 pm
Good job on the blog!!!
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David
4/23/2018 07:28:49 am
Good job on the Blog, Parasites look Gross but They Can be pretty interesting.
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Errol
4/23/2018 07:34:28 am
I hate looking at parasites they creep me out......also i feel bad for the cow! :( i also saw Mrs. Taylor at the Jordan river temple open house!
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Mrs. Taylor
4/23/2018 07:45:41 am
Wasn't the temple beautiful!!
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Addy s
4/23/2018 09:52:01 am
Good job on the blog today I thought the fish pic was funny
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Addy s
4/24/2018 04:36:13 pm
Good job on the blog today
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Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |