The presence of parasites in an animal will usually result in

This question lacks options, the options are:

(1) an increase in meiotic activity within structures of the host

(2) the inability of the host to maintain homeostasis

(3) the death of the host organism within twenty-four hours

(4) an increase in genetic mutation rate in the host organism

The answer is (2)

Explanation:

Organisms need to maintain some degree of stability in their internal environment. This self-regulating process of an organism to ensure that its internal functioning is stable is called HOMEOSTASIS. This function in organisms can however be disturbed by parasitism.

Parasites are organisms that derive nutrients from other organisms, usually referred to as the host, harming them in the process. A parasite can live inside (endoparasite) or outside (ectoparasite) of the host. A parasite deprives its host of nutrients needed for metabolic processes. The parasite (endo) disrupts the normal occurences in the host's physiology (internal structures). This could lead to instability in the host's internal environment, hereby, disrupting homeostasis.