Bacteriology & Antibiotics

Parasitic Worms

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A worm classified as a parasite also known as “Helminths”. Parasitic flatworms feed on blood, tissue fluids, or pieces of cells inside the bodies of their hosts. They are often referred to as intestinal worms. The word helminth comes from Greek hélmins, a kind of worm. Helminths are worm-like organisms living in and feeding on living hosts, receiving nourishment and protection while disrupting their hosts' nutrient absorption, causing weakness and disease. Those that live inside the digestive tract are called intestinal parasites. They can live inside humans and other animals. In their adult form, helminths cannot multiply in humans. Helminths are able to survive in their mammalian hosts for many years due to their ability to manipulate the immune response by secreting immunomodulatory products. Helminth ova (or eggs) have a strong shell that protects the eggs against a range of environmental conditions.