Are there any organisms which humans parasitise?

Are there any organisms which humans parasitise?

I’m sure we can all think of a few people who are metaphorical parasites, but humans aren’t parasites in the literal sense.


Asked by: Chris McMullon, Barnham

A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another organism, getting food from and causing damage to its host. Humans have many parasites, including hookworms, head lice and Plasmodium (single-celled organisms that cause malaria). But we aren’t parasites ourselves because we don’t live in, or on, any other species.

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