Definition
A parasite is to be understood as a small animal that infests its so-called host, exploits it and thus harms it. The host can be either a plant or an animal. The parasite uses the part of the host it needs to feed on it or to reproduce in it. Parasites that remain on the surface of the host are called ectoparasites. Parasites that remain in their host, like intestinal parasites, are called endoparasites.
Which parasites can infect the intestines?
The parasites that infest the human intestine can be divided into helminths, which literally means worm, and protozoa, which means unicellular organism. Among the worms are, among others, the suction worms, such as intestinal fluke or Schistosoma, and the roundworms, which are called neomatodes. Tapeworms also belong to this parasite group.
There are also different species of tapeworms, which infest other animals besides humans and are often named after them. These include pig, cattle, dog and fox tapeworms. They can partially penetrate the intestinal wall and thus also reach other organs such as the liver or the brain.
There are also hookworms, which bite into the intestinal wall, roundworms, which can eat their way up to the lungs and are then coughed up, and pinworms, which settle especially around the sphincter. Among the show-offs that infest the human intestine are the flagellates (Gardia), rotifers (amoebae) and spore animals, such as toxoplasms. These unicellular organisms are all very small creatures that can usually only be seen under a microscope.
However, they should not be underestimated, since some, like some worms, can enter other organs through the intestinal wall. They can cause serious damage there and also in the intestine. With good treatment, however, intestinal parasites are usually not dangerous, so a doctor should be consulted at an early stage, especially if there are any abnormalities in the bowel movements.
How does the absorption of parasites occur?
Most parasites enter the intestines orally, i.e. by ingestion through the mouth, via the stomach. Some parasites are absorbed in the form of eggs, others as larvae and some as mature parasites. Since intestinal parasites often infest animals, they are often ingested by humans through raw meat or small remnants of the animals’ excrement, which can hang from forest berries, among other things.
Parasites can also be found in contaminated water. Furthermore, they can be transmitted from person to person. In intestinal parasites, this transmission can also occur during anal intercourse. In addition, Schistosoma, for example, can bore through the skin into the body and enter the intestine.
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