Question

Identify the facultative parasite from below
A) Enterobius vermicularis
B) Mycobacterium tuberculosis
C) Taenia solium
D) Trichomonas hominis

Answer 1

Hint: A facultative parasite is a parasite that does not rely completely on the host for completion of its life cycle.

Complete Answer:
A) Enterobius vermicularis is a parasitic worm and commonly known as pinworm. It is a nematode(roundworm) and is found in humans especially. It belongs to the Animalia kingdom. The entire life cycle from egg to adult,takes place in the human gastrointestinal tract from a single host from 2-4 weeks or about 4-8 weeks. The eggs hatch in duodenum.It grows rapidly to a size of 140-150 cm and moves towards colon. While migrating they shed twice and become adults.

B) Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a species of pathogenic bacteria. It belongs to the microbacteriaceae family. The presence of mycolic acid on its surface gives it waxy coating. Their cells are rod shaped or curved. They have the ability to manufacture their own needs including amino acids and vitamins although they cannot metabolise and depend on the host they seek an opportunity to process metabolically. They have a life span of roughly twelve to eighteen hours.

C) Taenia solium is also called pork tapeworm.It belongs to the Teniidae family. It is a tapeworm whose secondary host is human and primary host is pig. There are two forms of infection primary hosting which occurs due to ingestion of pork containing tapeworm cysts. The other is secondary hosting which occurs due to eating food,or drinking water,contaminated with faeces of someone infected from adult worms.

D) Trichomonas hominis is non-pathogenic and is associated with diarrhoea stools.It has no cystic stage. The trophozoite measures 5-15 micrometre in length and 7-10 micrometre in width. Its shape is pyriform with an undulating membrane.

Hence option B: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the correct answer.

Note: Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes a very serious disease Tuberculosis (TB). The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick.