Paper II
2020 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) · 40 marks · 120 min

Question

Define definitive host. Give two examples

Q42 marksShort Notes

Answer

The definitive (final) host is the host in which a parasite undergoes its sexual (adult/mature) stage of reproduction.

Two examples:

  1. Female Anopheles mosquito — the definitive host for Plasmodium species (malaria), since the sexual cycle occurs within the mosquito gut.
  2. Domestic cat — the definitive host for Toxoplasma gondii, in which the sexual enteroepithelial cycle occurs.

(Other valid examples: dog — definitive host for Echinococcus granulosus; human — definitive host for Taenia solium/T. saginata.)

Other Years Asked


Revise MBBS
Preview