Principles of Parasite Infection
Hany M. Elsheikha and Naveed Ahmed Khan
from: Essentials of Veterinary Parasitology (Edited by: Hany M. Elsheikha and Naveed Ahmed Khan). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2011)
Abstract
How do parasites establish themselves inside their hosts is one of the most intriguing questions in parasitology. Given the diversity that exists among parasites, it is not surprising that the mechanics of parasitic infections are highly variable. The diverse strategies that pathogenic parasites use to infect their hosts have become better understood by means of molecular techniques that have allowed the identification of parasitic genes and virulence factors which are crucial to disease establishment and progression. Despite all this progress, predicting and derailing the transmission of any parasitic disease remains a challenge. This chapter addresses the interplay between parasites and their host organisms, introduces the fundamentals of parasite infection, and provides an overview of the multiple determinants - related to the parasite, the host, and the environment - that influence the parasite's capacity to cause a disease at the cellular and population levels read more ...
