Parasite Classification by rabbitears ..... Ask Microbe Detectives
Date: 8/27/2007 7:47:36 PM ( 17 years ago ago)
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Hi:
I’ve seen many classifications of parasites, but this seems to be the best one that I’ve come across. I counted that there are approximately 144 parasites that harm humans under their classification table; of course, there are a lot more parasites that affect people (hundreds into thousands) and yet many are “unidentified” by the establishment. Most likely, this table of classification is still being used by the medical community today (we know how slow they are with updates). Some parasites that are listed as an intestinal parasite (Ascaris, as an example) can also be found in the liver, lungs, and etc.
For anyone seeking to find out what kind of parasites they have through their doctor or wherever, it’s best not to narrow the choices for testing based off of assumptions. For instance, people may assume that they have Ascaris in the nose, but it could be one of the others listed below or something else entirely different.
Best of Health!
DD
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CID/journal/issues/v29n4/CIDv29p734/CIDv29p7...
Correspondence: Lynne S. Garcia, UCLA Clinical Laboratories, 10833 Le-Conte Ave.,
Clinical Infectious Diseases 1999; 29:734–6
This article is in the public domain.
Classification of Human Parasites, Vectors, and Similar Organisms
Lynne S. Garcia
From the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA
When common names are used to describe parasites and parasitic infections, these names may refer to different parasites in different parts of the world. To eliminate these problems in interpretation of names, a binomial system of nomenclature is used in which the scientific name consists of the genus and species.
Classification systems have been developed to indicate the relationship among the various species of parasites, and these schemes have been based primarily on life cycles and morphology of the organism. Closely related species are placed in the same genus, related genera in the same family, related families in the same order, related orders in the same class, and related classes in the same phylum, one of the major categories in the animal kingdom. Organisms in each category will have characteristics in common.
Parasites of humans are classified in six major divisions. These include the Protozoa (amebae, flagellates, ciliates, sporozoans, coccidia, microsporidia), the Nematoda or roundworms, the Platyhelminthes or flatworms (cestodes, trematodes), the Pentastomids or tongue worms (may be grouped with the arthropods), the Acanthocephala or thorny-headed worms, and the Arthropoda (e.g., insects, spiders, mites, ticks). Although these categories appear to be clearly defined, there may be confusion in attempting to classify parasites, often due to the lack of known specimens or the presence of strains or races of the same species with slightly different characteristics.
Reproductive mechanisms have been used as a basis for determining definitions of species, but there are many exceptions within parasite groups. Another difficulty in recognition of species is the ability and tendency of the organisms to alter their morphological forms according to age, host, or nutrition, which may result in different names for the same organism. In many cases, there may be alternation of parasitic and freeliving phases in the life cycle. These organisms may be very different and difficult to recognize as belonging to the same species. However, newer molecular methods of grouping organisms have often confirmed taxonomic conclusions reached hundreds of years before by experienced taxonomists. As studies continue in parasitic genetics, immunology, and biochemistry, the species designation will be defined more clearly by use of highly sophisticated molecular techniques.
No attempt has been made to include every possible organism, but only those considered to be clinically relevant in the context of human parasitology. Not every organism listed below is a human pathogen. Also, although new classification names are proposed frequently and there may be some disagreement among scientists, this list is designed to provide nomenclature that is currently in use.
Protozoa Amebae (Intestinal)
Entamoeba histolytica
Entamoeba dispar*
Entamoeba hartmanni
Entamoeba coli
Entamoeba polecki
Endolimax nana
Iodamoeba bu¨tschlii
Blastocystis hominis
Flagellates (Intestinal)
Giardia lamblia†
Chilomastix mesnili
Dientamoeba fragilis
Trichomonas hominis
Enteromonas hominis
Retortamonas intestinalis
Ciliates (Intestinal)
Balantidium coli
Coccidia, Microsporidia (Intestinal)
Coccidia
Cryptosporidium parvum
Cyclospora cayetanensis
Isospora belli
Sarcocystis hominis
Sarcocystis suihominis
Microsporidia
Enterocytozoon bieneusi
Encephalitozoon intestinalis
Sporozoa, Flagellates (Blood, Tissue)
Sporozoa (Malaria and Babesiosis)
Plasmodium vivax
Plasmodium ovale
Plasmodium malariae
Plasmodium falciparum
Babesia species
Flagellates (Leishmaniae, Trypanosomes)
Leishmania tropica complex
Leishmania mexicana complex
Leishmania braziliensis complex
Leishmania donovani complex
Leishmania peruviana
Trypanosoma brucei gambiense
Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense
Trypanosoma cruzi
Trypanosoma rangeli
Amebae, Flagellates (Other Body Sites)
Amebae
Naegleria fowleri
Acanthamoeba species
Entamoeba gingivalis
Balamuthia mandrillaris (Leptomyxid ameba)
Flagellates
Trichomonas vaginalis
Trichomonas tenax
Coccidia, Sporozoa, Microsporidia (Other Body Sites)
Coccidia
Toxoplasma gondii
Sarcocystis “lindemanni”
Sporozoa
Pneumocystis carinii‡
Microsporidia
Nosema connori
Vittaforma corneae
Pleistophora
Trachipleistophora hominis
Brachiola
Encephalitozoon hellum
Encephalitozoon cuniculi
Encephalitozoon intestinalis
Encephalitozoon bieneusi
“Microsporidium”
Enterocytozoon bieneusi
Nematodes (Roundworms) Intestinal
Ascaris lumbricoides
Enterobius vermicularis
Ancylostoma duodenale
Necator americanus
Strongyloides stercoralis
Trichostrongylus species
Trichuris trichiura
Capillaria philippinensis
Tissue
Trichinella spiralis
Visceral larva migrans (Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati)
Ocular larva migrans (Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati)
Cutaneous larva migrans (Ancylostoma braziliense or Ancylostoma caninum)
Dracunculus medinensis
Angiostrongylus cantonensis
Angiostrongylus costaricensis
Gnathostoma spinigerum
Anisakis species (larvae from saltwater fish)
Phocanema species (larvae from saltwater fish)
Contracaecum species (larvae from saltwater fish)
Eustrongylides species
Capillaria hepatica
Thelazia species
Gnathostoma species
Blood and Tissues (Filarial
Wuchereria bancrofti
Brugia malayi
Brugia timori
Loa loa
Onchocerca volvulus
Mansonella ozzardi
Mansonella streptocerca
Mansonella perstans
Dirofilaria immitis (usually lung lesion; in dogs, heartworm)
Dirofilaria species (may be found in subcutaneous nodules)
Cestodes (Tapeworms) Intestinal
Diphyllobothrium latum
Dipylidium caninum
Hymenolepis nana
Hymenolepis diminuta
Taenia solium
Taenia saginata
Tissue (Larval Forms)
Taenia solium
Echinococcus granulosus
Echinococcus multilocularis
Taenia multiceps (formerly Multiceps multiceps)
Taenia serialis
Spirometra mansonoides
Spirometra mansoni
Diphyllobothrium species
Trematodes (Flukes) Intestinal
Fasciolopsis buski
Echinostoma ilocanum
Heterophyes heterophyes
Metagonimus yokogawai
Liver/Lung
Clonorchis (Opisthorchis) sinensis
Opisthorchis viverrini
Fasciola hepatica
Paragonimus westermani
Paragonimus mexicanus
Paragonimus species
Blood
Schistosoma mansoni
Schistosoma haematobium
Schistosoma japonicum
Schistosoma intercalatum
Schistosoma mekongi
Pentastomids (Tongue Worms)
Tissue (Larval Forms)
Armillifer species
Linguatula serrata
Sebekia species
Nasopharyngeal (Adult
Armillifer species
Linguatula serrata
Acanthocephalans (Thorny-Headed
Macrocanthorynchus hirudinaceus
Moniliformis moniliformis
Arthropods
Diplopoda
Millipedes
Chilopoda
Centipedes
Crustacea
Copepoda: copepods (Cyclops)
Decapoda: crayfish, lobsters, crabs
Arachnida
Scorpiones: scorpions
Araneae: spiders (black widow, brown recluse)
Acari: ticks (Dermacentor, Ixodes, Argas, Ornithodoros)
Mites (Sarcoptes)
Insecta
Anoplura: sucking lice (Pediculus, Phthirus)
Siphonaptera: fleas (Pulex, Xenopsylla, etc.)
Dictyoptera: cockroaches
Hemiptera: true bugs (Triatoma)
Hymenoptera: bees, wasps, etc.
Coleoptera: beetles
Lepidoptera: butterflies, caterpillars, moths, etc.
Diptera: flies, mosquitoes, gnats, midges (Phlebotomus,
Aedes, Anopheles, Glossina, Simulium, etc.)
Pentastomida
Tongue worms (see above)
* Entamoeba histolytica is being used to designate pathogenic zymodemes, while Entamoeba dispar is now being used to designate nonpathogenic zymodemes. However, unless trophozoites containing ingested red blood cells (E. histolytica) are seen, the two organisms cannot be differentiated on the basis of morphology. The laboratory report should indicate: Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar.
† Although some individuals have changed the species designation for the genus Giardia to Giardia intestinalis or Giardia duodenalis, there is no general agreement. Therefore, for this listing, we will retain the name Giardia lamblia.
‡ Pneumocystis carinii has now been reclassified with the fungi.
Suggested
Beaver CB, Jung RC, Cupp EW. Clinical parasitology.
Garcia LS, Bruckner DA. Diagnostic medical parasitology. 3rd ed.
Gibson DI. Nature and classification of parasitic helminths. In: Collier L, Balows A, Susman M, eds. Topley & Wilson’s microbiology and microbial infections.
Goddard J. Arthropods of medical importance. 2nd ed.
CID 1999;29 (October)
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