Endoparasiit

Endoparasiit is a term used to describe parasites that live inside the body of a host and depend on it for nutrients and survival. They can inhabit the gastrointestinal tract, blood, tissues, or organs. Endoparasites include single-celled organisms (protozoa) and multicellular worms (helminths). They contrast with ectoparasites, which live on the surface of the host.

Protozoan endoparasites include organisms such as Plasmodium (malaria), Giardia lamblia (giardiasis), Entamoeba histolytica (amoebiasis), and Toxoplasma gondii. Helminth endoparasites cover nematodes (roundworms) like Ascaris and hookworms, cestodes (tapeworms) such as Taenia solium, and trematodes (flukes) such as Schistosoma.

Life cycles vary: some endoparasites have direct life cycles with a single host, while others require intermediate hosts or vectors (for example mosquitoes, snails). Transmission can occur through ingestion of contaminated water or food, skin penetration, or via vectors. The clinical impact ranges from asymptomatic carriage to severe disease, depending on the parasite, parasitic load, and host factors.

Diagnosis typically relies on laboratory methods, including microscopic examination of stool or tissue samples, serology, antigen detection, and molecular tests. Treatment is organism-specific and may involve drugs such as metronidazole or tinidazole for protozoa, albendazole or mebendazole for nematodes, and praziquantel for cestodes and trematodes.

Prevention emphasizes clean water and sanitation, safe food preparation, good hand hygiene, vector control, and, in endemic areas, preventive deworming programs. Endoparasites remain a major global health concern in areas with limited sanitation and access to healthcare.