Which pathogen is NOT typically found in body fluids?

The correct answer is that parasites are not typically found in body fluids. While bacteria, viruses, and prions can exist in various body fluids, parasites generally have a more complex life cycle that often involves specific hosts or environments outside of body fluids.

Bacteria and viruses are commonly found in body fluids such as blood, saliva, and other secretions. They can cause infections and are often transmitted through these fluids. Prions, though unconventional infectious agents that lead to certain neurodegenerative diseases, can also be present in body fluids, particularly in specific conditions related to prion diseases.

Parasites, on the other hand, usually inhabit tissues or organs within the host or have distinct stages that occur in the external environment (like eggs or larvae in soil or water) rather than circulating in body fluids. Additionally, parasitic infections often require specific vectors or routes of transmission that are not characteristic of bacteria, viruses, or prions. Thus, while parasites can affect the body, they are less frequently associated with body fluids compared to the other pathogens listed.