Dictionary > Paratenic host

Paratenic host

Definition
noun, plural: paratenic hosts
An intermediate host which is not needed for the development of the parasite, but nonetheless serves to maintain the life cycle of the parasite.
Supplement
The difference between a paratenic and reservoir host is that the reservoir host is a primary host, whereas paratenic host serves as “dumps” for non-mature stages of a parasite which they can accumulate in high numbers.
Compare: reservoir host


You will also like...

Ploidy
Polyploidy

Humans are diploid creatures. This means that for every chromosome in the body, there is another one to match it. Howeve..

Plant Water Regulation
Plant Water Regulation

Plants need to regulate water in order to stay upright and structurally stable. Find out the different evolutionary adap..

An artist's depiction of the origin of amphibians
Amphibians & Early Reptiles

Obtaining air outside an aquatic environment required species to acquire suitable adaptations, and this was the case of ..

Freshwater aquatic plankton
Freshwater Communities & Plankton

Planktons are microscopic organisms that live suspended in aquatic habitats. There are two groups: the phytoplanktons an..

Selective Breeding
Selective Breeding

Gregor Mendel's studies into Monohybrid and Dihybrid crossing and Charles Darwin's study of evolution and natural select..

Biological Energy
ATP & ADP – Biological Energy

ATP is the energy source that is typically used by an organism in its daily activities. The name is based on its structu..

Related Articles...

No related articles found

See all Related Topics