Explain parasitism. Also define Ectoparasite and Endoparasite.

Explanation

Parasitism is an act of an organism called parasite in obtaining nourishment from another organism called host and spending a part or whole of its life on or inside the body of host. Parasites are host specific, small in size and high reproductive potential but poor means of dispersal.
Type-(i) Ectoparasites. They are parasites which live on the body of other organism permanently, (a) Human louse spreads diseases like typhus (b) Bedbug feeds on human blood spreading diseases, (c) Tick (d) Itch Mite (e) Rat-flea spreads plague (f) Mosquitoes and Ieech.
(ii) Endoparasites. They are parasites which reside inside body of host, (e.g., Plasmodium or malaria parasite), Trichinella, body fluid parasites (e.g., Trypanosoma) and gut parasites (e.g., Tapeworm, Roundworm).