any organism in which the parasite might live during the larval stage. the parasite may do no damage to the intermediate host while it carries parasite.
intermediate host
The organism in which the parasite might live during the larval stage is called an intermediate host. An intermediate host is any organism that harbors a parasite for a period of time during its life cycle. During this time, the parasite undergoes multiple developmental stages in the intermediate host before it reaches its final host, where it reproduces.
The intermediate host often plays an essential role in the life cycle of many parasites. It helps to transfer the parasite from one organism to another, and this is crucial to the survival of the parasite. However, in some cases, the parasite may do no damage to the intermediate host while it carries the parasite. This is because the parasite needs the intermediate host to continue its life cycle, and harming it would interfere with this vital process.
Examples of intermediate hosts include snails, mosquitoes, birds, and mammals. For instance, mosquitoes are the intermediate hosts for the parasite that causes malaria. During its larval stage, the malaria parasite lives in the mosquito and does not harm it. The mosquito serves as a carrier of the parasite, which it then transmits to humans when it bites them.
In summary, the intermediate host is an essential part of the life cycle of many parasites, and while the parasite may not do any damage to it, it plays a vital role in the transmission and survival of parasites.
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