South Australian Museum - North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000

Pentastome 'worms' or tongue worms (Arthropoda: Pentastomida) from the lungs of a snake in South Australia

Parasitology is the study of parasites, organisms that have a metabolic dependence on another living organism, which we call the host. Parasites exist at the expense of the host by living on or in it and derive nourishment from it. Examples of parasites are tapeworms, flukes, roundworms, fleas, lice and ticks.

Parasitic creatures fascinate people, especially parasites that live inside domestic animals, our livestock, wildlife and, of course, us! Most people will have had a personal encounter with a parasite. For example pinworms and/or head lice in children, microscopic single-celled animals that may cause stomach upset and even malaria if you've travelled overseas in tropical countries. If you have a dog or a cat, you may have encountered roundworms, tapeworms and/or fleas at some time. Parasitic animals are broadly grouped into single-celled (Protists), worms (Helminths) and those with hard external skeletons (Arthropods).