Online Parasitology Chapter

Parasites are organisms that obtain food and shelter by living on or within another organism. The parasite derives all benefits from association and the host may either not be harmed or may suffer the consequences of this association, a parasite disease. The parasite is termed obligate when it can live only in association with a host or it is classified as facultative when it can live both in or on a host as well as in a free form. Parasites which live inside the body are termed endoparasites whereas those which exist on the body surface are called ectoparasites. Parasites that cause harm to the host are pathogenic parasites while those that benefit from the host without causing it any harm are known as commensals.