Other parasites of interest !
- Parasites
Seven parasites that exams ask about even though they are rare: from the harmless trypanosome that mimics Chagas to the Guinea worm.
Updated 2026-11-01
What they are
One protozoan and six helminths that complete the parasitology syllabus. Some matter in Colombia (Trypanosoma rangeli, Angiostrongylus costaricensis, Lagochilascaris minor, Dipylidium caninum); others are exam classics from other regions (Loa loa, Dracunculus) or from raw food (Gnathostoma, Anisakis).
What they share
- Nearly all are zoonoses in which humans are accidental hosts.
- Several cause marked eosinophilia as they migrate through tissue.
- The diagnostic clue is usually the exposure: raw food, unfiltered water, pets with fleas, bushmeat.
Microorganisms in this group
- Trypanosoma rangeliA trypanosome that infects people without making them ill. It shares vectors with the Chagas parasite in Colombia and can confuse diagnosis.For completeness
- Loa loaAn African filarial worm that travels under the skin and sometimes crosses the eye. Day-biting flies spread it.For completeness
- Dracunculus medinensisA worm caught by drinking water with water fleas. It comes out through a blister on the leg. It is on the verge of eradication.For completeness
- Angiostrongylus (A. costaricensis, A. cantonensis)Rat worms that reach humans through slugs and snails. One inflames the gut of children in the Americas; the other causes meningitis.For completeness
- Gnathostoma and AnisakisWorm larvae that come with raw fish such as ceviche. One wanders under the skin; the other bites the stomach within hours.For completeness
- Lagochilascaris minorA rare worm of the American rainforest that forms chronic abscesses in the neck, ear or throat after eating undercooked bushmeat.For completeness
- Dipylidium caninumA dog and cat tapeworm that passes to toddlers when they swallow a flea. Segments like rice grains show up in the nappy.For completeness
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Which parasite in this group is caught by swallowing copepods in drinking water?
Dracunculus medinensis, the Guinea worm.
Which two parasites in this group are linked to raw fish or ceviche?
Gnathostoma (freshwater fish) and Anisakis (marine fish and squid).
Which parasite in this group causes chronic neck and ear abscesses in rainforest areas of the Americas?
Lagochilascaris minor.
Educational content on microorganisms; not a treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
Sources: CDC - DPDx - Angiostrongyliasis (CDC, 2024); CDC - DPDx - Loiasis (CDC, 2024); Parasitosis humanas (Botero y Restrepo), 5.ª ed. (Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB), 2012).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.