värddel

Värddel is a term used in Swedish biology to denote the host component in a host–parasite relationship. The word is formed from värd, meaning host, and del, meaning part, and is generally used to refer to the part of a system that plays the role of the host in an interaction with a parasite, pathogen, or symbiont. The exact reference of the term can vary by discipline or context.

Etymology and scope. The term is a compound of common Swedish words and does not designate a single predefined entity. In practice, värddel can refer to the entire host organism or to a specific tissue or organ that the parasite or pathogen inhabits or exploits. Because usage is not fully standardized, some writers prefer more specific terms such as värdorganism for the host organism or värdvävnad and host tissue for tissues within the host.

Usage versus related terms. In parasitology, värddel emphasizes the host side of the interaction and may be used when discussing how a parasite interacts with particular host parts. In plant pathology and mycology, the concept can apply to the plant or tissue that supports infection, sometimes described with more precise terminology depending on the context. The term exists alongside more established Swedish terms like värdorganism or host tissue, which may be preferred in technical writing.

See also: Host (biology), Parasite, Pathogen, Symbiosis, Host tissue.