What do the fungus that causes athlete's foot, the tick that spreads Lyme disease, and body lice all have in common?

a) They are all ectoparasites.

b) They are all hemiparasites.

c) They are all endoparasites.

d) They are all microparasites.

a) They are all ectoparasites

Explanation:

Ectoparasites are parasitic organisms that are found outside their host. Ectoparasites are found mainly on the superficial layer of the skin or on the surface of the skin of the invaded host. They live on the skin of their host but not inside the body of the host.

The fungus that causes athlete's foot, the tick that spreads Lyme disease, and body lice are all found living on the surface of the skin of their host. They are all classified as ectoparasites. That is what they all have in common.

A.

Explanation:

They all live on the surface of the host, where they feed on the metabolites from the outside environment. They caused damages to the host, while the host receive no benefit in return. Ectoparasites are therefore said to exhibit parasitism as a form of symbiotic association.

Their presence is therefore said to be an infestation, since they are outside the host and do not cause severe damaged to the host (and not an infection which is associated with parasites that live in the host-endoparasites.)

They can also serve as vecrtors of pathogens to the host