An obligate parasite is an organism that is wholly dependent on a host organism to complete its life cycle, obtain nutrients, or reproduce. Unlike facultative parasites, which can live independently of a host or switch to a parasitic lifestyle under certain conditions, obligate parasites must have a host to survive.
Examples of obligate parasites include:
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Plasmodium spp.: The genus of protozoan parasites that cause malaria. These organisms depend on the human host and an Anopheles mosquito for their life cycle.
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Tapeworms (Cestoda): These flatworms reside in the intestines of their host, absorbing nutrients directly from the host's digestive system.
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Rickettsia: Bacteria that rely on arthropods (such as ticks or fleas) as vectors to infect and reproduce within their hosts.
Obligate parasites often have specialized adaptations that enable them to exploit their hosts effectively, but they cannot survive or reproduce outside of their host environments.
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