Annals Academy of Medicine Of Worms and Men—Soondal Koomar Surrun

During its early development the human embryo may be considered an obligatory parasite, drawing its food and oxygen from the blood of the mother and bypassing all the immunological and other defense mechanisms of the latter. While subsequently leading independent lives, human beings, in turn, become the hosts of many a parasite. Viruses use the nucleus of human cells to replicate, bacteria and fungi invade the whole system and the skin harbours different flora of microorganisms. The intestinal tract is the organ of predilection for some nematodes. The majority of nematodes are not pathogenic and cause little disturbance or discomfort to the host, for they themselves will die if they kill the host. A notable exception is Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis), which can and do invade the whole organisms in huge numbers if th