THIS BOOK HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FROM A SHORT LECTURE COURSE GIVEN to advanced undergraduate students as part of a general introduction to the subject of parasitology for zoologists. The book is written for the undergraduate who has no previous experience of parasitology and little background in either biochemistry or physiology. It is not a long book, and students will have to consult some of the more detailed textbooks in parasitology and physiology to gain a full understanding of the topics considered here. My objective in writing this book is to introduce the breadth of parasite physiology, leaving the reader to obtain a depth of knowledge by his own library research. Each chapter covers a single topic or related topics in physiological parasitology, and the variable length of the chapters reflects the amount of research interest that has been generated over the last few decades. It is to be hoped that by use of this book students will develop an interest in some of the more neglected areas and be stimulated to make good some of the more glaring deficiencies in our current knowledge. I should like to acknowledge with gratitude the assistance of my colleagues Dr 1. Barrett, Dr R. A. Klein, Dr A. W. Pike and Dr R. A.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- What is a parasite?.- Historical perspective.- Importance of parasitology to man.- 2. Feeding and Nutritional Physiology.- In vitro culture of parasites.- The alimentary canal of helminths.- Monogenea.- Digenea.- Nematoda.- The role of external surfaces of parasites in their nutrition.- The morphology of the parasite surface.- Transtegumentary absorption of nutrients.- Mechanisms of solute entry.- Transport of molecules into parasites.- Bidirectional fluxes of nutrients.- Surface enzymes in parasites.- Intrinsic surface enzymes.- Extrinsic surface enzymes.- Inhibition of host enzymes by parasites.- Summary.- 3. Carbohydrate Metabolism and Energy Production.- Stored carbohydrates.- Glycolysis.- End-products of carbohydrate catabolism.- Glycolytic enzymes of parasites.- Carbon dioxide fixation.- Regulation of carbohydrate catabolism.- Tricarboxylic acid cycle.- Role of oxygen in parasite energy metabolism.- Pasteur and Crabtree effects.- Electron transport and terminal oxidations.- Respiratory pigments in parasites.- Pentose phosphate pathway.- Glyoxylate pathway.- Summary.- 4. Proteins, Lipids and Nucleic Acids.- Proteins.- Protein composition.- Amino acid content.- Protein synthesis.- Protein and amino acid metabolism.- Respiratory proteins.- Lipids.- Lipid composition.- Lipid biosynthesis.- Lipid catabolism.- Nucleic acids.- Nucleic acid composition.- Nucleic acid synthesis.- Nucleic acid catabolism.- Extranuclear DNA of trypanosomes.- Summary.- 5. Excretory Systems, Nitrogen Excretion, Water And Ionic Regulation.- Contractile vacuoles in Protozoa.- Protonephridial systems in Platyhelminthes.- End-products of nitrogen metabolism.- Ionic regulation and water balance.- Free amino acids and osmoregulation.- Summary.- 6. Reproduction.- Asexual reproduction.- Sexual reproduction.- Protozoa.- Monogenea.- Digenea.- Cestoda.- Acanthocephala.- Nematoda.- Synchronization of parasite and host reproduction.- Summary.- 7. Parasite Transmission.- Mechanisms for locating the host.- Monogenea.- Digenea.- Cestoda.- Mechanisms for penetrating the host.- Digenea.- Nematoda.- Circadian rhythms and transmission.- Summary.- 8. Establishment and Growth of Parasites.- Hatching mechanisms.- Protozoa.- Digenea.- Cestoda.- Acanthocephala.- Nematoda.- Biochemical aspects of establishment.- Role of bile salts.- Metabolic changes.- Migration and site selection.- Patterns of migration.- Site selection and recognition.- Invasion of host tissues.- Factors inhibiting parasite growth and establishment.- Crowding effect.- Interspecific interactions.- Labile growth patterns.- Moulting in nematodes.- Summary.- 9. Nervous Systems, Sense Organs and Behavioural Coordination.- Morphology of the parasite nervous system.- Sense organs.- Monogenea.- Digenea.- Cestoda.- Acanthocephala.- Nematoda.- Nervous transmission, neuromuscular junctions and neurosecretion.- Behavioural coordination.- Summary.- 10. Host-Parasite Interactions.- General principles of cellular and immunological defence systems.- Immunity to Protozoa.- Blood-dwelling Protozoa.- Malaria.- Babesia.- Trypanosoma.- Tissue-dwelling Protozoa.- Leishmania.- Coccidia.- Amoebae.- Immunity to helminthes.- Digenea.- Cestoda.- Nematoda.- Immunisation against parasitic diseases.- Pathogenesis of parasitic infections.- Immunopathology.- General pathology.- Mechanical injury.- Toxic effects.- Effects on host cell growth.- Effects on host reproductive systems.- Metabolic effects.- Summary.- Further Reading.- Appendix An outline classification.