Introduction to Parasite - Life Cycles

-Life cycle:
--Whole life story of parasite.

-Direct life cycle:
--Completed without participation of an intermediate host.

-Indirect life cycle:
--Can only be completed with the participation of intermediate host.

-Infective stage:
--Specific stage in lifecycle of parasites.
--Have ability to initiate an infection in definitive or intermediate host.

-Free-living stage:
--Stage in life cycle where parasites exist free in the general environment.

-Biotic potential:
--Reproductive capacity of the parasite.

-Prepatent period:
--Between "initiation of infection of definitive host" & "appearance of product".

-Incubation period:
--Between "initiation of infection" & "onset of disease".

-Infestation:
--Presence of arthropods on skin of host.

-Infection:
--Presence of parasite in or on the tissue of host.
--May or maynot have deleterious effect on the host.

-Route of infection:
--Route which a parasite gains entry to a host.

-Route of migration:
--Route which some parasites follow in the body of the host.

-Ecdysis:
--Loss of the old cuticle during change of larval stage.
--Also called "Molt" => arthropod & nematodes.