Differences between a parasite and a saprophyte

*A parasite is an organism which grows and feeds on living host tissue
– usually harmful to the host
– absorbs digested products
– they can either be intracellular or extracellular
– either obligate or facultative
– fungal parasites (e.g phythopluhora, pythium, etc), bacteria, viruses, protozoans, roundworms, flatworm, tapeworms.
*saprophytes grow and feed on nonliving/dead decaying organic matter/ host tissue
– usually not harmful to the host
– digest host’s tissue by extracellular enzymes
– absorbs digested nutrients
– fungal saprophytes (e.g rhizopus, mucor, mushrooms, etc)