Parasitology Practice Questions
19 free Parasitology practice questions for the General Science. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
What is parasitology primarily concerned with studying?
- A Animals that hunt and kill other animals for food
- B Organisms that live on or in a host and feed on it
- C Plants that produce toxic defensive chemicals
- D Bacteria that are used in industrial food fermentation
Correct answer: Organisms that live on or in a host and feed on it
Parasitology is the scientific study of parasites and their interactions with hosts. Parasites live on or inside another organism and derive nutrients at the host's expense.
What is the organism that harbors a parasite called?
- A Vector
- B Host
- C Carrier
- D Prey
Correct answer: Host
A host is an organism that provides nourishment and shelter for a parasite. Parasites depend on the host for survival during part or all of their life cycle.
Which type of parasite lives on the external surface of a host?
- A Endoparasite
- B Ectoparasite
- C Intracellular parasite
- D Temporary parasite
Correct answer: Ectoparasite
Ectoparasites live on the outer surface of the host's body. Examples include lice, ticks, and fleas that feed on the host externally.
Which type of parasite lives inside the body of the host?
- A Ectoparasite
- B Commensal organism
- C Saprophyte
- D Endoparasite
Correct answer: Endoparasite
Endoparasites live inside the host's body, often in organs or tissues. Examples include tapeworms and roundworms that inhabit the digestive system.
Which protozoan parasite causes malaria in humans?
- A Trypanosoma
- B Entamoeba
- C Giardia
- D Plasmodium
Correct answer: Plasmodium
Malaria is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. These parasites are transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
Which insect acts as the vector for malaria transmission?
- A Female Culex mosquito
- B Female Phlebotomus sandfly
- C Adult tsetse fly
- D Female Anopheles mosquito
Correct answer: Female Anopheles mosquito
The female Anopheles mosquito transmits Plasmodium parasites during blood feeding. It serves as the vector that carries the parasite from one host to another.
Which parasitic worm is commonly known as a tapeworm?
- A Loa loa
- B Fasciola hepatica
- C Ascaris lumbricoides
- D Taenia solium
Correct answer: Taenia solium
Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm, is a flatworm that lives in the intestines of humans. It anchors to the intestinal wall with its scolex and absorbs digested nutrients directly through its body surface.
Which parasite causes amoebic dysentery in humans?
- A Giardia lamblia
- B Plasmodium falciparum
- C Entamoeba histolytica
- D Trypanosoma brucei
Correct answer: Entamoeba histolytica
Entamoeba histolytica is a protozoan parasite responsible for amoebic dysentery. It infects the large intestine and causes severe diarrhea and tissue damage.
Which parasite is transmitted by the tsetse fly and causes sleeping sickness?
- A Plasmodium vivax
- B Leishmania donovani
- C Giardia intestinalis
- D Trypanosoma brucei
Correct answer: Trypanosoma brucei
Trypanosoma brucei is transmitted by the tsetse fly and causes African sleeping sickness. The parasite affects the nervous system and can be fatal if untreated.
What term describes a host in which a parasite undergoes sexual reproduction?
- A Intermediate host
- B Reservoir host
- C Definitive host
- D Temporary host
Correct answer: Definitive host
A definitive host is the organism in which the parasite reaches sexual maturity and reproduces sexually. This stage is essential for completing the parasite's life cycle.
What is an intermediate host in parasitology?
- A Host where parasite reproduces sexually
- B Host that is completely immune to infection
- C Host where parasite undergoes larval development
- D Host that destroys the parasite before it matures
Correct answer: Host where parasite undergoes larval development
An intermediate host harbors the parasite during a developmental or larval stage. The parasite usually requires both intermediate and definitive hosts to complete its life cycle.
Which parasitic disease is caused by a large soil-transmitted roundworm that lives in the human intestine?
- A Ascariasis
- B Filariasis
- C Schistosomiasis
- D Enterobiasis
Correct answer: Ascariasis
Ascariasis is caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, the largest roundworm found in the human intestine. Its eggs are swallowed with food, water, or soil contaminated by faeces, and heavy infections cause digestive problems and malnutrition.
Which protozoan parasite genus is transmitted by the bite of an infected sandfly?
- A Leishmania
- B Plasmodium
- C Entamoeba
- D Trypanosoma
Correct answer: Leishmania
Leishmania species are protozoan parasites spread by the bite of infected female sandflies. The disease they cause, leishmaniasis, can affect either the skin or internal organs such as the spleen and liver.
Which waterborne protozoan parasite infects the small intestine and causes greasy, foul-smelling diarrhea?
- A Giardia lamblia
- B Taenia solium
- C Plasmodium malariae
- D Trypanosoma cruzi
Correct answer: Giardia lamblia
Giardia lamblia is a flagellated protozoan that spreads through contaminated water or food. It attaches to the lining of the small intestine and causes giardiasis, marked by greasy, foul-smelling diarrhea and cramping.
Which parasite is responsible for elephantiasis?
- A Wuchereria bancrofti
- B Taenia saginata
- C Ascaris lumbricoides
- D Giardia lamblia
Correct answer: Wuchereria bancrofti
Wuchereria bancrofti is a filarial worm that causes lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis. It spreads through mosquito bites and affects the lymphatic system.
Which organism acts as the vector that spreads dengue fever?
- A Aedes mosquito
- B Anopheles mosquito
- C Tsetse fly
- D Sandfly
Correct answer: Aedes mosquito
Dengue fever is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, particularly Aedes aegypti. Although dengue is caused by a virus, the mosquito acts as the vector carrying the pathogen.
What is a vector in parasitology?
- A Organism that transmits parasites between hosts
- B Organism that produces parasites inside its body
- C Organism that kills parasites inside the host
- D Organism that is naturally immune to parasites
Correct answer: Organism that transmits parasites between hosts
A vector is an organism that carries and transmits parasites or pathogens from one host to another. Mosquitoes, flies, and ticks often serve as vectors.
Which parasitic worm is commonly known as the liver fluke?
- A Fasciola hepatica
- B Taenia solium
- C Ascaris lumbricoides
- D Ancylostoma duodenale
Correct answer: Fasciola hepatica
Fasciola hepatica is a parasitic flatworm that infects the liver of animals and humans. It is commonly known as the liver fluke and spreads through contaminated water plants.
Which term describes a relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed?
- A Mutualism
- B Commensalism
- C Parasitism
- D Symbiosis
Correct answer: Parasitism
Parasitism is a biological relationship in which one organism benefits while the host organism is harmed. Parasites rely on hosts for nutrients and survival.