Question

1) What type of arthropods are considered true parasites?

2) Briefly discuss an example of a parasitic arthropod and the type of infection it causes.

3) What is the difference between arthropods that are biological vectors from those that are considered parasites? Respond with specific examples.

Answer 1

1. True parasitic arthropods are much smaller in size than the host, have a short life cycle and have the ability to reproduce within or on the host. They do not kill their host.
2. Lice (which infect both head and body) are considered to be parasites. These feed on the blood from human body and obtain nutrition from them. Their bite causes itching and inflammation of the skin. other examples include scabies mites, ticks, fleas and chiggers.
3. Ticks, filth flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches and adult fleas are the arthropods which only act as biological vectors that carry pathogens and transmit them to the host. They may cause vector borne diseases such as Lyme disease, yellow fever, plague, dengue fever and malaria.