Parasitology

Parasitology is a trial event run in New York for Division B and Division C for the 2017-2018 season. The event tests competitors' knowledge on ecological parasites, both macroscopic and microscopic. The event is run with stations and/or a slideshow. The event allows competitors to use a 3-ring binder, similar to the identification-based events Invasive Species and Herpetology.

The Event
Parasitology is run as a station-based event, which has teams identify parasites listed from the Official Parasitology List. Accompanied are questions pertaining to the various characteristics of the parasites. The rules mention clearly that no more than half of a test can include identification. The characteristics mentioned in the rules are: "life history, distribution, anatomy and physiology, reproduction, hosts, ecological niche, behavioral adaptations, epidemiology and transmission" (3e). A brief overview of each parasite on the 2018 list is below.

Lancet Liver Fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum)

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Platyhelminthes
 * Class: Trematoda
 * Order: Plagiorchiida
 * Family: Dicrocoeliidae
 * Genus: Dicrocoelium


 * Life History
 * Most adults lay their eggs inside of the host, and the eggs are then passed in the feces of the host. Eggs are about 36-45 micrometers long and 22-30 micrometers wide. Eggs are then eaten by the first host, a snail. A miracidium (larvae) then leaves the egg after it is in the small intestine of the snail. The miracidium then becomes a sporocyst, which asexually reproduces to create daughter sporocysts, which have cercariae (juvenile stage). Those cercariae then exit its the first immediate host, the snail, through a slime ball, which is ingested by an ant, which is the second intermediate host. Cercariae develop into metacercaria, and a few reach the ant's brain and cause an alteration in the ant's behavior. Those ants are then eaten by the definitive host. Inside the definitive host, the metacercaria will migrate to the liver, maturing in the bile duct. Then they produce eggs and the life cycle starts all over again.


 * Anatomy:
 * The Lancet Liver Fluke (Dicrocoelium dendricitum) has a flattened, lancet shaped body that is semitransparent so that its internal structures can be seen. The length of this species varies from 6 to 10mm, while the width ranges from 1.5 to 2.5mm. The vitellaria (a modified ovary present in many flatworms that produce yolk-filled cells to nourish the actual eggs) are in the midsection of the body. The uterus is located on the posterior end and the oral suckers are at the anterior end. Lobed testes are on the anterior end of the ventral side. There isn't any difference between sexes, as there is only one.


 * Reproduction:
 * Reproduction of the Lancet Liver Fluke occurs in the definitive host. Since adult Dicrocoelium dendricitum produce both eggs and sperm, they can self-fertilize (asexual reproduction). They are capable of sexual reproduction as well. There is no particular breeding season for the Lancet Liver Fluke. It takes 6 to 7 weeks for this species to reach sexual maturity.


 * Hosts:
 * Primary Intermediate Host is the snail. The Lancet Liver Fluke doesn't have too much of an effect on the snail.
 * Secondary Intermediate Host is the ant. This species can get to the brain of the ant and alter its behavior. Because of this, when the temperature decreases, the ants appear and attach to the top of the grass, making it easy for animals to eat them along with the grass.
 * Definitive Host could be a variety of animals, including pigs, sheep, goats, and cows. In some cases, the parasite has gotten into humans as well. The definitive host is the animal that consumes the grass on which the affected ant is on.


 * Ecological niche:
 * The Lancet Liver Fluke is a parasite, so its purpose is to use its hosts in order to survive all while affecting some of its hosts.


 * Behavioral adaptations:
 * All of the stages except for the adult stage of the Lancet Liver Fluke are motile, allowing them to move around the hosts' body. The adults are not all motile, and are confined to the bile ducts of the definitive host.


 * Epidemiology/Distribution:
 * Dicrocoelium dendricitumcan be found in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Australia. The parasite are found in areas that have some of their immediate hosts, which include dry, chalky, and alkaline soils.


 * Transmission:
 * Eggs leave a host through its feces, which is then eaten by snails. The cercariae then leave the snail from a slime ball. The parasite is then transmitted to the ant through ingestion of the slime ball. The definitive host gets the parasite by eating an ant that has the Lancet Liver Fluke present in it.
 * In any cases of humans contracting this parasite, there was ingestion of infected ants.


 * Effect/Symptoms:
 * The parasite doesn't have any major effect on the primary intermediate host, the snail.
 * In the ants, some of the ants go to the brain, causing their behavior to alter so that they stay on top of the grass.
 * In the definitive host,the parasite may not cause any symptoms, but in humans, the Lancet Liver Fluke can cause biliary colic, digestive disturbances, and inflammation of the bile ducts and the liver itself. The name of the disease in humans is dicrocoeliasis.


 * Treatment:
 * For humans, the standard treatment of this parasite can be anthelmintic medicines such as Praziquantel, Triclabendazole, or Mirazid.

Euhaplorchis californiensis

 * Taxonomy
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Platyhelminthes
 * Class: Trematoda
 * Subclass: Digenea
 * Order: Ophisthorchiida
 * Family: Heterophyidae
 * Genus: Euhaplorchis


 * Life History
 * The life cycle of Euhaplorchis californiensis starts off as an egg, which measures about .016 x .025mm. These eggs go into the environment when they are expelled in the bird's feces. The egg is then consumed by the California Horn Snail. Once inside, a miracidium (tiny larval forms covered in cilia) emerges from the egg. The miracidium penetrates the gut wall and then goes to the snail's digestive gland, where the miracidium transforms into a sporocyst. The sporocysts produce hundreds of rediae. The rediae get away from the digestive gland and go into the gonadal tissues, where they produce cercariae. These then get out of the snail and into the water surrounding the snails. The cercaria penetrates a killifish, where it loses its tails and heads for the brain, where it excretes a material that forms a cyst around it. The metacercaria then develop into proto-adults. The killifish is consumed by the host bird, and the parasite moves into the intestine, where it completes its life.


 * Anatomy:
 * An adult worm of this species ranges from .230 to .303 mm in length and a width of .115mm at its widest point. It has an ovoid body shape. There are spines that cover the cuticle of the worm, found in rows. The size of the spines get smaller in the posterior (back) third of the body. The oral sucker is on the ventral (belly) side, just behind the leading edge of the body. The oral sucker leads to the pharynx, which connects to the esophagus. The esophagus leads to the gut, which then divides into two ceca. The ceca of this species are a lot smaller in comparison to other trematodes. An adult E. californiensis has ovaries and a  testis.
 * In its miracidium stage, this species is a small and tear-drop shaped form that is covered in cilia.
 * In its sporocyst phase, the parasite has a baglike body, and doesn't have a pharynx or the capabilities to move around.
 * When they are rediae, they still have a baglike body, but they are smaller and have a mouth, pharynx, and are capable of moving around. Their size ranges from .165 - .536mm
 * As cercariae, they have a long, thin tail. It is also highly contractile, which makes it difficult for the length to be measured. The tail which is 1.5 times longer that the body, and it has fin folds, with one pair covering on the lateral surface and another on the posterior half of the dorsal and ventral surface.


 * Reproduction:
 * Adults of this species are hermaphroditic. It reproduces asexually when in the first intermediate host (California Horn Snail) when forming rediae. Reproduction is then sexual, involving two adults that allow the species to make eggs and continue the life cycle. Sexual reproduction occurs in the intestines of the definitive host. An adult Euhaplorchis californiensis can produce hundreds of eggs per day.


 * Hosts:
 * The primary intermediate host is the California Horn Snail. The parasite lives in the snail until it reaches the cercariae portion of its life cycle, at which that point it exits the snail and goes into the surrounding water.
 * The secondary intermediate host is the California killifish, where the parasite lives in this host until the killifish is eaten by a bird.
 * The definitive host is the bird that eats the killifish, typically shorebirds and piscivorous birds.


 * Ecological niche:
 * Euhaplorchis californiensis serves the purpose of restricting reproduction of the California Horn Snail because it consumes the snail's gonad, castrating it.
 * The parasite also limits the number of killifish, by affecting their brains and making them more likely to be near the surface, where they are predated by shorebirds.
 * The larvae that are found in the water after they are out of the cell also serve as food for some planktivorous fishes.


 * Behavioral adaptations:
 * As a miracidium, the parasite seeks out the digestive gland.
 * As a sporocyst, the parasite is non-motile and asexually produces the redia.
 * Rediae, unlike the sporocyst, is capable of locomotion and consuming snail tissues.
 * Cercariae are motile and they swim away in order to find the secondary intermediate host.
 * Metacercariae can control the behavior of the killifish that is its host.
 * As an adult in the definitive host, the parasite is capable of locomotion and can orient itself in their environment.


 * Epidemiology/Distribution:
 * Euhaplorchis californiensis is found around California, particularly in salt marshes along the coast of California.


 * Transmission:
 * This parasite is first transmitted to the California Horn Snail by ingestion of the eggs. After exiting the snail, the cercariae are consumed by the California killifish. The parasite then reaches the definitive host (shorebirds) through consumption of infected killifish.


 * Effect/Symptoms:
 * In the California Horn Snail, the parasite causes the snail to lose its ability to reproduce and then it eventually dies.
 * In the killifish, the parasite causes more jerky movements than normal, which also makes it more likely to be caught and consumed by a bird.


 * Treatment:
 * There is no treatment for affected species.

Horsehair worm (Paragordius varius)

 * Taxonomy
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Nematomorpha
 * Class: not assigned
 * Order: Gordioidea
 * Family: Chordodidae
 * Genus: Paragordius


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Leucochloridium paradoxum

 * Taxonomy
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Platyhelminthes
 * Class: Trematoda
 * Order: Diplostomida
 * Family: Leucochloridiidae
 * Genus: Leucochloridium


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Schistosoma spp.

 * Taxonomy
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Platyhelminthes
 * Class: Trematoda
 * Order: Diplostomida
 * Family: Schistosomatidae
 * Genus: Schistosoma


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Paragonimus westermani

 * Taxonomy
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Platyhelminthes
 * Class: Trematoda
 * Order: Plagiorchiida
 * Family: Paragonomidae
 * Genus: Paragonimus


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Diphyllobothrium latum

 * Taxonomy
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Platyhelminthes
 * Class: Cestoda
 * Order:Pseudophyllidea
 * Family: Diphyllobothriidae
 * Genus: Diphyllobothrium


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Taenia saginata

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Platyhelminthes
 * Class: Cestoda
 * Order: Cyclophyllidea
 * Family: Taeniidae
 * Genus: Taenia


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Taenia solium

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Platyhelminthes
 * Class: Cestoda
 * Order: Cyclophylidea
 * Family: Taeniidae
 * Genus: Taenia


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Toxocara canis

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Nematoda
 * Class: Secernentea
 * Order: Ascaridida
 * Family: Toxocaridae
 * Genus: Toxocara


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Trichinella spiralis

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Nematoda
 * Class: Enoplea
 * Order: Trichocephalida
 * Superfamily: Trichinelloidea
 * Genus: Trichinella


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Wuchereria bancrofti

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Nematoda
 * Class: Secernentea
 * Order: Spirurida
 * Suborder: Spinurina
 * Family: Onchoceridae
 * Genus: Wuchereria


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Loa loa

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Nematoda
 * Class: Chromadorea
 * Order: Spirurida
 * Superfamily: Filarioidea
 * Family: Onchocercidae
 * Genus: Loa


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Necator americanus

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Nematoda
 * Class: Secernentea
 * Order: Strongylida
 * Family: Ancylostomatidae
 * Genus: Necator


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Ascaris lumbricoides

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Nematoda
 * Class: Secernentea
 * Order: Ascaridida
 * Family: Ascarididae
 * Genus: Ascaris


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Enterobius vermicularis

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Nematoda
 * Class: Secernentea
 * Subclass: Spiruria
 * Order: Oxyurida
 * Family: Oxyuridae
 * Genus: Enterobius


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Dracunculus medinensis

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Nematoda
 * Class: Chromadorea
 * Order: Spirurida
 * Superfamily: Dracunculoidea
 * Family: Dracunculidae
 * Genus: Dracunculus


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Sacculina sp.

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Subphylum: Crustacea
 * Class: Maxillopoda
 * Order: Cirripedia
 * Family: Succulinidae
 * Genus: Sacculina


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Cymothoa exigua

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Subphylum: Crustacea
 * Class: Malacostraca
 * Order: Isopoda
 * Family: Cymothoidae
 * Genus: Cymothoa


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Pediculus humanus

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Clade: Euarthropoda
 * Class: Insecta
 * Order: Phthiraptera
 * Family: Pediculidae
 * Genus: Pediculus


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Pulex irritans

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Class: Insecta
 * Order: Siphonaptera
 * Family: Pulicidae
 * Subfamily: Pulicinae
 * Genus: Pulex


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Culex spp.

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Clade: Euarthropoda
 * Class: Insecta
 * Order: Diptera
 * Family: Culicidae
 * Subfamily: Culicinae
 * Tribe: Culicini
 * Genus: Culex


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Anopheles spp.

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Clade: Euarthropoda
 * Class: Insecta
 * Order: Diptera
 * Family: Culicidae
 * Genus: Anopheles


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Glossina spp. Fly

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Clade: Euarthropoda
 * Class: Insecta
 * Order: Diptera
 * Section: Schizophora
 * Subsection: Calyptratae
 * Superfamily: Hippoboscoidea
 * Family: Glossinidae
 * Genus: Glossina


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Cochliomyia hominivorax

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Class: Insecta
 * Order: Diptera
 * Family: Calliphoridae
 * Genus: Cochliomyia


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Dermatobia hominis

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Class: Insecta
 * Order: Diptera
 * Family: Oestridae
 * Subfamily: Cuterebrinae
 * Genus: Dermatobia


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Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Class: Insecta
 * Order: Hymenoptera
 * Family: Ichneumonidae
 * Genus: Hymenoepimecis


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Jewel Wasp (Ampulex compressa)

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Clade: Euarthropoda
 * Class: Insecta
 * Order: Hymenoptera
 * Family: Ampulicidae
 * Genus: Ampulex


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Ladybird Wasp Parasite (Dinocampus coccinellae)

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Class: Insecta
 * Order: Hymenoptera
 * Family: Braconidae
 * Subfamily: Euphorinae
 * Genus: Dinocampus


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Deer Ticks (Ixodes scapularis)

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Subphylum: Chelicerata
 * Class: Arachnida
 * Subclass: Acari
 * Order: Ixodida
 * Family: Ixodidae
 * Genus: Ixodes


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Glyptapanteles sp.

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Class: Insecta
 * Order: Hymenoptera
 * Family: Braconidae
 * Subfamily: Microgastrinae
 * Genus: Glyptapanteles


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Polysphincta gutfreundi

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Subphylum: Hexapoda
 * Class: Insecta
 * Order: Hymenoptera
 * Superfamily: Ichneumonoidea
 * Family: Ichneumonidae
 * Genus: Polysphincta


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Cordyceps Fungi species

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Fungi
 * Phylum: Ascomycota
 * Class: Sordariomycetes
 * Order: Hypocreales
 * Family: Cordycipitaceae
 * Genus: Cordyceps


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Trypanosoma cruzi

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Protozoa
 * Phylum: Euglenozoa
 * Class: Kinetoplastida
 * Order: Trypanosomatida
 * Genus: Trypanosoma


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Giardia duodenalis

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Protozoa
 * Phylum: Metamonada
 * Order: Diplomonadida
 * Family: Hexamitidae
 * Subfamily: Giardiinae
 * Genus: Giardia


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Naegleria fowleri

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Protozoa
 * Phylum: Percolozoa
 * Class: Heterlobosea
 * Order: Schizophyrenida
 * Family: Vahlkampfiidae
 * Genus: Naegleria


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Toxoplasma gondii

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Protozoa
 * Phylum: Apicomplexa
 * Class: Conoidasida
 * Order: Eucoccidiorida
 * Family: Sarcocystidae
 * Subfamily: Toxoplasmatinae
 * Genus: Toxoplasma


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Plasmodium falciparum

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Protozoa
 * Phylum: Apicomplexa
 * Class: Aconoidasida
 * Order: Haemosporida
 * Family: Plasmodiidae
 * Genus: Plasmodium


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Babesia microti

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Protozoa
 * Phylum: Apicomplexa
 * Class: Aconoidasida
 * Order: Piroplasmida
 * Family: Babesiidae
 * Genus: Babesia


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Myxobolus cerebralis

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Cnidaria
 * Class: Myxozoa
 * Order: Bivalvulida
 * Family: Myxobolidae
 * Genus: Myxobolus


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Borrelia burgdorferi

 * Taxonomy:
 * Kingdom: Eubacteria
 * Phylum: Spirochaetes
 * Order: Spirochaetales
 * Family: Spirochaetaceae
 * Genus: Borrelia


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