PATHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Although the term ectoparasites can broadly include temporarily blood-sucking arthropods such as mosquitoes, this term is generally used more narrowly to refer to pathogens such as ticks, fleas, lice, parasitic flies and mites that attach or burrow into the skin and remain there for relatively long periods of time2.

Detailed explanation-2: -Parasites are usually smaller than their host. Parasites use both invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. Adult parasites may live on the host (e.g. lice), in the host (e.g. tapeworms) or feed on a host occasionally (e.g. mosquitoes).

Detailed explanation-3: -An ectoparasite is a parasite that lives externally on another animal, but does not kill it. Common examples of ectoparasites include fleas, head lice and bed bugs.

Detailed explanation-4: -In humans, ectoparasites are comprised of two major animal groups: parasitic arachnids and parasitic insects. Parasitic arachnids include ticks and mites.