How Do H. diminuta and H. nana Infect Hosts?

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sameeralord
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Hello everyone,

H_diminuta_LifeCycle.gif


This is the life cyle of H.diminuta. My question is the 4th point. It says ingestion of these arthropods/fleas by rats or humans. Do rats actually eat these fleas, or do the fleas live on rats's skin and suck their blood and via that infects rats, same for humans. Is it ingestion or do these fleas live on the skin of these individuals?

H_nana_LifeCycle.gif


This is H.nana. My question is about 1st point. Can humans get infected by eating infected eggs of rats, which are passed in their faeces?

Thanks :smile:
 
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sameeralord said:
This is the life cyle of H.diminuta. My question is the 4th point. It says ingestion of these arthropods/fleas by rats or humans. Do rats actually eat these fleas, or do the fleas live on rats's skin and suck their blood and via that infects rats, same for humans. Is it ingestion or do these fleas live on the skin of these individuals?

While brown rat diet largely consists of grain, they are omnivores and have been known to eat insects. Yes it is only ingestion through which the parasite enters the body. Humans usually accidentally ingest the insects via uncooked or contaminated food.

sameeralord said:
This is H.nana. My question is about 1st point. Can humans get infected by eating infected eggs of rats, which are passed in their faeces?

Yes they can, due to food contamination (similar to how cholera spreads); and I think you mean the parasite eggs.