What is Parasite and
Pathogen?
These are two types of
organisms that can be dangerous to hosts. Both parasites and pathogens are
disease causing agents in the host organisms. Both are specific to the host and
possess high multiplication rates.
The major difference
between a parasite and a pathogen is that parasite can be a category of
pathogen whereas pathogens are disease-causing organisms in the host. However,
not all parasitic organisms are pathogens.
What is Parasite?
A parasite is an
organism that lives inside or on another organism called the host organism and
benefits at the expense of the host. Ideally, parasites are the organisms that
can be seen with naked eye. Therefore, parasites are macroscopic organisms.
Examples include Protozoans and helminths. Also, parasites are host specific.
Hence, they can cause sickness in specific organisms. Approximately, thirty-six
thousand and four hundred species of protozoans have been reported as pathogens
in other living organisms. On the other hand, about seventy species of
protozoans and three hundred species of helminths are identified as parasites
in humans. Among them, about ninety species are responsible for causing
sickness in humans. So, it can be said that all parasites are not responsible
for causing diseases in humans. Plasmodium is one of the examples of protozoan,
which is a known parasite in humans.
Parasites have
diverse-means of transmission in disease endemic areas, many including complex
interrelationships between the host, parasite, vector, and environmental
elements.
What is Pathogen?
Pathogens are disease
causing agents. They cause sickness to their host. Examples include virus,
bacterium, fungus, prion or parasite. The host organism could be an animal,
plant, or a microorganism. Bacteria are as tiny as 10 μm in size and are
responsible for health issues like typhoid, gonorrhea, cholera and food
poisoning. Pathogens like viruses are even smaller than the bacteria. Viruses
replicate and multiply only inside the host cell. The diseases caused by
viruses include HPV (warts), influenza, yellow fever, Herpes 1 and 2, common
cold, Rubella, Dengue fever and AIDS. Another pathogen type are Fungi that are
also eukaryotic organisms. Fungal infections include Aspergillosis,
Blastomycosis, Candidiasis, jock itch and athlete’s foot.
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Difference between
Parasite and Pathogen
Definition
Parasite
Parasites are disease
causing agents that live on or inside the body of other organisms and thrive to
harm their host.
Pathogen
A pathogen is an
organism that causes disease to its host.
Types
Parasite
There are 3 main types
of parasites.
Protozoa: These are
single celled eukaryotes. Protozoa are found everywhere i.e. they are
ubiquitous. A protozoon multiplies or divides within the host. Types of
protozoa include Ciliates, Flagellates, Sporozoans and Sacrodines.
Helminths: These are
the parasitic worms like roundworm, tapeworm, pinworm, trichina spiralis, and
fluke. These are large macro-parasites and feed on a live host organism to get
nutrients, energy and protection, while resulting in poor nutrient absorption,
sickness, fatigue and disease in the host.
These are intestinal worms and can be seen in the small bowel.
Ectoparasites: These
parasites live on the outside of the host organism from which they thrive their
sustenance. The ectoparasites include lice and fleas.
Pathogen
Pathogens are of 6
types;
Viruses: These are tiny
infection causing agents that multiplies only inside the cells of the host
body. It comprises DNA and RNA genome in the interior of a protein shell known
as capsid. Viruses have the potential to infect all types of life forms, plants
to animals to microorganisms. These can cause mild to severe illness in humans,
animals and plants.
Bacteria: Bacteria
consist of single cells (prokaryotes) that can thrive in diverse environments.
They are just few micrometers in length and have different shapes like rod,
spirals and spheres. Diseases associated with bacteria include fever, chills,
inflammation of the lungs, shortness of breath and cough.
Fungi: These pathogens
include yeast, mold and mushroom. These are single celled or multi-celled
parasitic organism.
Protozoa: These are
single-celled tiny organisms that produce disease causing toxins. Diseases
caused by protozoans include Malaria.
Helminth: These are
parasitic worms which are visible to naked eye. These feed on a live host to
get energy, nutrients and protection and cause sickness, fatigue, disease in
the host. Example is Tapeworm.
Rickettsia: These are
pathogens which grow inside living cells and are similar to bacteria. Example
is Typhus.
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Types of Diseases
Caused
Parasite
Giardiasis
Malaria
Amoebic dysentery
Babesiosis,
Anaplasmosis
Dermatophilosis
Theileriosis
Pathogen
Common cold
Influenza
AIDS
Tetanus
Food poisoning
Symptoms
Parasite
Abdominal pain/cramping
Allergies
Anemia
Change in bowels
Skin problems
Diarrhea, nausea, or
vomiting
Unexplained weight loss
Joint pain or hives
Gas/bloating
Dizziness
Fatigue
Constipation
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Pathogen
Feelings of Malaise
High fever
Headache
Redness, rash and
Swelling
Fluid drainage
Hot Incision Site
Muscle soreness
Levels of Organization
Parasite
Most of the parasites
are prokaryotic organisms. A prokaryote is a unicellular organism that does not
have a membrane-bound nucleus and mitochondria. Except Fungi and parasites.
Pathogen
Pathogens are
eukaryotic organisms. Eukaryotes are the organisms in which the cells have a
nucleus with their membranes, unlike prokaryotes.
Summary of Parasite Vs.
Pathogen
The points of
difference between Parasite and Pathogen have been summarized below:
Difference Between
http://www.differencebetween.net/science/health/difference-between-parasite-and-pathogen/
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