Paratenic host?

[derek a. zelmer]

On Sat, 9 Nov 1996, Omar O. Barriga wrote:

> I define paratenic host as that host that permits the maintenance but not the
> development of a larval parasite. My classic example is Toxocara canis in mice.
> It differs from the intermediate host because it is not necessary for the 
> cycle of the parasite. 

The paratenic host may not be a necessary physiological step for the 
parasite (by definition no development of the parasite occurs in a 
paratenic host) but it is often necessary to complete the life cycle by 
"bridging an ecological gap".

Derek Zelmer