Question

Many helminths have complex life cycles that involve more than one host. The host in which the adult form of a parasite is found is called the ____________________________ host, while the host in which the larval parasites are found is called the _________________________ host.

a) Definitive, intermediate.
b) Primary, secondary.
c) Adult, juvenile.
d) Primary, final.

Answer 1

The adult form of a parasite is found in the definitive host, whereas the larval stages are found in the intermediate host, both playing crucial roles in the complex life cycles of helminths like tapeworms and roundworms.

Step-by-step explanation:

The host in which the adult form of a parasite is found is called the definitive host, while the host in which the larval parasites are found is called the intermediate host. Many helminths, such as tapeworms and roundworms, have complex life cycles that involve more than one host. The definitive host is the one where the parasite reaches maturity and reproduces, whereas the intermediate host supports various larval or developmental stages of the parasite before it moves on to the definitive host. Examples of definitive hosts include human beings in the case of hookworms, and intermediate hosts could be invertebrates for flukes or various animals for different tapeworm species.