1. Introduction. - What is a parasite?. - Historical perspective. - Importance of parasitology to man. - 2. Feeding and Nutritional Physiology. - In vitro culture of parasites. - The alimentary canal of helminths. - The role of external surfaces of parasites in their nutrition. - Transtegumentary absorption of nutrients. - Surface enzymes in parasites. - Summary. - 3. Carbohydrate Metabolism and Energy Production. - Stored carbohydrates. - Glycolysis. - End-products of carbohydrate catabolism. - Glycolytic enzymes of parasites. - Carbon dioxide fixation. - Regulation of carbohydrate catabolism. - Tricarboxylic acid cycle. - Role of oxygen in parasite energy metabolism. - Pasteur and Crabtree effects. - Electron transport and terminal oxidations. - Respiratory pigments in parasites. - Pentose phosphate pathway. - Glyoxylate pathway. - Summary. - 4. Proteins Lipids and Nucleic Acids. - Proteins. - Lipids. - Nucleic acids. - Summary. - 5. Excretory Systems Nitrogen Excretion Water And Ionic Regulation. - Contractile vacuoles in Protozoa. - Protonephridial systems in Platyhelminthes. - End-products of nitrogen metabolism. - Ionic regulation and water balance. - Free amino acids and osmoregulation. - Summary. - 6. Reproduction. - Asexual reproduction. - Sexual reproduction. - Synchronization of parasite and host reproduction. - Summary. - 7. Parasite Transmission. - Mechanisms for locating the host. - Mechanisms for penetrating the host. - Circadian rhythms and transmission. - Summary. - 8. Establishment and Growth of Parasites. - Biochemical aspects of establishment. - Migration and site selection. - Factors inhibiting parasite growth and establishment. - Labile growth patterns. - Moulting in nematodes. - Summary. - 9. Nervous Systems Sense Organs and Behavioural Coordination. - Morphology of the parasite nervous system. - Sense organs. - Nervous transmission neuromuscular junctions and neurosecretion. - Behavioural coordination. - Summary. - 10. Host-Parasite Interactions. - General principles of cellular and immunological defence systems. - Immunity to Protozoa. - Immunity to helminthes. - Immunisation against parasitic diseases. - Pathogenesis of parasitic infections. - Summary. - Further Reading. - Appendix An outline classification. Language: English