Are there any organisms which humans parasitise? © Getty

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.

Luis Villazon

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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Luis trained as a zoologist, but now works as a science and technology educator. In his spare time he builds 3D-printed robots, in the hope that he will be spared when the revolution inevitably comes.