GC: n

S: PARA-SITE – http://parasite.org.au/para-site/contents/arthropod-intoduction.html (last access: 11 May 2016); Tulane – http://www.tulane.edu/~bfleury/diversity/labguide/arthropod.html (last access: 11 May 2016).

N: 1. 1877, from Modern Latin Arthropoda, literally “those with jointed feet,” biological classification of the phylum of segmented, legged invertebrates; see Arthropoda.

2. Arthropod, any member of the phylum Arthropoda, the largest phylum in the animal kingdom, which includes such familiar forms as lobsters, crabs, spiders, mites, insects, centipedes, and millipedes. About 84 percent of all known species of animals are members of this phylum. Arthropods are represented in every habitat on Earth and show a great variety of adaptations. Several types live in aquatic environments, and others reside in terrestrial ones; some groups are even adapted for flight.

3. Numerous species of arthropods play a role in human disease. Most of these are as vectors of different pathogens and, in other sections of this text, we have dealt with such disease vectors. There are also a number of arthropods that cause harm due their venom but these are not parasites. Here, we shall deal with arthropods that are parasitic to and cause disease in man. For example, myiasis (burial of larvae in tissue) is an obligatory step in the life cycle of some flies and incidental for others. Species that cause myiasis in the Americas are Cochliomyia (Screw worm fly), Calliphora, Oestrus, Sarcophaga, Gastrophilus, etc. Myiasis may be cutaneous, arterial, intestinal or urinary in normal tissue or in pre-existing wounds, some of which may result from other infections. Larvae can burrow through necrotic or healthy tissue using their mandibular hooks aided by proteolytic enzymes. They can cause mechanical damage and the affected area may be the site of a secondary infection. Cutaneous myiasis may require surgical removal of burrowed larvae. Eggs and maggots may be washed from hair, skin and wounds with soap and water. Urinary myiasis usually clears itself. Purgation with anti-helminths may be necessary for gastrointestinal myiasis.

4. Cultural Interrelation: We can mention The Arthropod Story by the Understanding Evolution team.

S: 1. Etymonline – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=arthropod (last access: 11 May 2016). 2. EncBrit – http://global.britannica.com/animal/arthropod (last access: 11 May 2016). 3. Microbiol – http://www.microbiologybook.org/parasitology/arthropods.htm (last access: 11 May 2016). 4. UnderstEvol – https://evolution.berkeley.edu/the-arthropod-story/ (last access: 3 October 2024).

SYN:
S:

CR: arachnid, cicada, insect, parasite, phasmid, scampi, spiny lobster, virus.