Skip to main content

Difference between parasite and saprophyte

Some of the organisms depend on other living organisms for their nourishment while others depend on dead materials. Parasite and Saprophyte are two types of organisms that have two different modes of obtaining nutrition. Saprophytes are plants and parasites can be animals or plants. Some of the differences between Saprophyte and parasite are listed below to better understand this topic.
Difference between Parasite and Saprophyte

Definition:

Parasite: It is individuals of one species that live at the expense of individuals from another species called hosts.
Saprophyte: Saprophytes are the organisms that feed on decaying dead organic matter and break it down into simple molecules that can be used by the autotrophs.

Feeding: 

Parasite: The parasite feeds with vital products from the host or part of its body. 
Saprophyte: Saprophyte feeds with decaying dead organic matter.

Absorptions of Nutrients:

Parasites: Parasites absorb nutrients through haustoria.
Saprophytes: Saprophytes absorb nutrients through the cell wall.

Digestion:

Parasites: Parasites use intracellular digestion.
Saprophytes: Saprophytes use extracellular digestion.

Representative: 

Parasite: Parasites are eukaryotes. They can be unicellular or multicellular, plants, animals or fungi.
Saprophyte:  Prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Most of the saprophytes are bacteria and fungi, but there are also saprophytic plants and animals.

Specialization:

Parasite: parasite has special adaptations for this way of life. Most of the parasites are specific to certain host species.
Saprophyte: Saprophytes have special adaptations for this way of life. Most of the saprophytes are not specialized in a certain food source.

Impact:

Parasite: In the majority of the cases the parasites cause harm to the host. In some cases, the parasite can cause the death of the host.
Saprophyte: Saprophytes do not cause harm to living tissues. They are very important for the ecosystems and for the circle of substances in the biosphere.

Conclusions:

Parasites and saprophytes are both of heterotrophs with a different mode of nutrition. Parasites completely depend on a host organism in order to supply its nutrients. Therefore parasites cause diseases in both plants and animals. while the saprophytes depend on the dead or decaying organic matter. Saprophytes play an important role in ecosystems. Parasites are not beneficial since they often haram their host during the feeding processes. Parasites depend on a host for survival. Thus the main difference between parasites and saprophytes is the way they fulfill their nutritional requirements. 
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

What are the complicatios of piles?

Piles can be chronic and painful, but complications of piles are rare. Rarely, a thrombosed type of piles may rupture. If they do happen, they might include the following complications.  depending on their cause . Let us check out some complications of piles in this article.  The complications of piles include: Anemia:  They can deprive your red blood cells of oxygen if hemorrhoids bleed too much. This can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, and dizziness as your body's supply of blood carries less oxygen. Prolapse: When you sit or pass a bowel movement, prolapsed hemorrhoids may cause pain or discomfort. Blood clots:  Thrombosis is more likely to be an actual hemorrhoid problem. Blood clots can cause discomfort and scratch increasingly unbearable. Hygienes: Piles cause complications associated with hygiene, as the anal area become difficult to clean after the defection. Several infections:  Bacteria may become bleeding hemorrhoids and infect the
Read more

Difference between PLMD and RLS

PLMD is known as Periodic limb movement disorder and RLS is known as Restless Leg Syndrome are sleep disorders that both appear to be the same thing conditions are characterized by a sleeper not being able to keep still. However, these two sleep disorders are distinctly different. Diagnosing which condition a patient might be suffering from is important is to determine what the best course of treatment might be.  What is PLMD? PLMD is the condition in which the legs twitch every 20 to 40 seconds while a person in sleep is an involuntary action that the person is not aware of.  What is RLS? RLS is the condition in which the patient has an urge to move the legs or arms, which often happens when they are sitting or trying to get sleep. It is a nervous system disorder that is also known as Willis-Ekbom disease.  Let us have a deep insight into the difference between PLMD and RLS.  Difference between PLMD and RLS :  PLMD entails an involuntary contraction of the s
Read more

Can homeopathic cure piles permanently?

Yes, Homeopathic medicine for piles cures patients with piles. By comparison to traditional drugs, homeopathy has its medicines proven on humans where the medications are proven on lower animals. Homeopathic medicines, therefore, have proof of specific action on hemorrhoids / Piles disease that serves as justification or significant explanation for the effectiveness of homeopathic medicines in the care of piles patients. The homeopathic practitioner considers the structure of a patient that suffers from the piles and the medical examination of the chosen treatment on the plexus and rectum hemorrhoids sphere.   Specific homeopathic remedies are also prescribed for hemorrhoids such as Aesculus, Nux Vomica, etc, but this treatment should only be used under medical supervision. The treatment of piles is done without surgery and without hospitalization with homeopathic. The homeopathic doctor recommends a particular diet based on the pile's constitution of the patient. 
Read more