What is a Parasitic Infection?

Parasitic infections are widespread in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America, but are rare in other regions. Travelers from industrially developed to endemic areas can often reduce the risk of infection as long as they follow diet and swimming hygiene guidelines and take simple measures to reduce exposure. Tourists from endemic countries are sometimes less likely to spread parasitic diseases in developed countries, because industrialized countries usually do not have many of the environmental conditions required for parasitic disease transmission, namely vectors and intermediate hosts. However, the transmission of imported infections can still occur through fecal-oral routes, blood transfusions, organ transplants, or appropriate local media.

Parasitic infection

Parasite infection malaria model

Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium yoelii blood gametophytes are inoculated into the abdominal cavity of mice, or rhesus monkeys are infected with Plasmodium knobii. These models are often used for antimalarial drug screening.

Parasitic infection with schistosomiasis model in Japan

A variety of mammals can be used as end-stage hosts. The cercariae are first obtained by the delivery method, and then inoculated through the skin to rats, guinea pigs or rabbits, cats, dogs, etc.

Parasitic infection with filariasis model

China has now successfully replicated three animal models: Cyclops gerbil, Malaria hamster, Hamster, Domestic cat, Monkey and other interstitial filariasis, using mites to spread cotton rat worms in normal mice.