Autoinfection
Autoinfection is reinfection by a parasite derived from within the same host, without exposure of the parasite to the outside environment. In other words, the parasite completes a reinfective step inside the host.
This can allow infections to persist for long periods and, in some cases, intensify over time. Autoinfection is especially important in parasites capable of internal cycling, where infective stages develop and reinvade tissues repeatedly.
Why it matters: Autoinfection can lead to high parasite burdens and severe disease, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
