Using specific examples, compare how inflammatory and hypersensitive Essay

Using specific examples, compare how inflammatory and hypersensitive reactions to parasites can be a defence of the hosts against the parasites and also a disease problem for the hosts - Essay Example 2007] The parasites discussed here mostly refer to helminths, protozoa and arthropods. Inflammation is ‘’a protective response of the animal host caused by cell injury and tissue damage, aiming to eliminate the cause of cell injury and to wall off and remove the injured tissue.’’ [Blood et al. 2007] Cardinal signs of inflammation include the triple response – heat, redness and swelling; and also pain and loss of function. Hypersensitivity is a modified and exaggerated immune reaction of the body to a foreign antigen and is the same as allergy. [Blood et al. 2007] There are different forms of hypersensitivity, namely Type I (immediate anaphylaxis), Type II (cytotoxicity), Type III (immune complex disease) and Type IV (cell-mediated delayed type hypersensitivity). Understanding the dynamics of host/parasite behaviour may be an important point to start any research of any medical or veterinary intervention to boost the animals’ ability to fight back parasitic invasion. The base line however is that it is possible to achieve 100% prevention against pathogenic effects of the parasites if a little and timely immune based intervention can be applied. An organism’s body has a natural way of responding to undesirable stimuli because of exposure to pathogenic organisms (usually parasites) in the environment. The response can be inflammatory or hypersensitive depending on the causative agent and the magnitude of the effect of the invasion. Inflammation is the quick response of the organism to harmful stimuli such as parasites, damaged cells and other agents that cause irritation to the body manifested through increase in body temperature, swelling, and function loss at the affected area. On the other hand, hypersensitivity refers to the immune reaction of the body against an invading parasite or other pathogenic material. It is undesirable unlike