What is the difference between a pathogen and a parasite? Pathogens and parasites are both organisms that can cause harm to other living organisms, but there are some key differences between the two.
A pathogen is an infectious agent, such as a virus, bacterium, fungus, or parasite, that can cause disease in its host. Pathogens are often spread from one host to another through various means, including contact with bodily fluids, inhalation, or ingestion.
Also, Pathogens can cause a wide range of diseases, from mild infections to serious illnesses that can be life-threatening.
A parasite, on the other hand, is an organism that lives on or inside another organism (its host) and benefits at the host’s expense. Parasites can be either ectoparasites (living on the outside of the host’s body) or endoparasites (living inside the host’s body). Some parasites cause harm to their hosts, while others are relatively benign. Parasites can be found in many different species, including humans, animals, and plants.
The key difference between a pathogen and a parasite is that a pathogen is specifically an infectious agent that causes disease, while a parasite is an organism that lives on or inside another organism and benefits at the host’s expense. However, it is worth noting that many pathogens are also parasites, as they live inside their hosts and cause harm.
The key differences
| Pathogen | Parasite |
| Pathogens usually kill their host through diseases. | Most parasites do not kill their host but do cause some damage. |
| Pathogens typically do not require a host to complete its life cycle. | Parasites will have to depend on their host to complete their life cycle. |
| Pathogenicity is the ability of an organism to infect another organism (host). | Parasitism can be considered as a kind of interaction between two species, where one species is benefitted, and the other is harmed. |
