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Platyhelminth

Platyhelminth parasites enter the host by animals grazing on grass that contains the parasites’ eggs. The eggs then develop into larvae, and gets into the animal. Humans get the parasite from raw or undercooked meats that have the larvae in it. The larvae lives on the digested food of the person. The parasite uses the person’s nutrients for themselves, thus harming them.

Annelid

Some annelid parasites suck on people for their blood. This loss of blood could greatly harm the person.

Nematoda

Nematoda parasites are able to get in humans during the larvae stage. This can happen when a person walks barefoot. The larva is so small it can go through the skin of the foot without the person even knowing. The larva goes into the blood vessels, lungs, and then into the digestive system. Here it grows and feeds on the person’s blood. This may result in the small intestine and/or other organs getting damaged.

Bibliography

  1. "leech," The New Groiler Multimedia Encyclopedia, 1993.
  2. Watkins, Patricia A. HOLT Life Science. Austin: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1994.

Parasites of Man © 1998 Jacob Eapen.