Name of parasite Laboratory Diagnosis Epidemiology Clinical Symptoms Treatment Prevention & Control
Enterobius
vermicularis
Common name:
Pinworm, seatworm
Ascaris lumbricoides
Common name:
Roundworm of man,
Large internal round
worm
Trichuris trichiura
Necator americanus
Ancylostoma duodenale
Strongyloides
stercoralis
Trichinella spiralis
Dracunculus
medinensis
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO POPULATION AT RISK OF
PARASITOLOGY CONTRACTING PARASITES
Parasitology o Individuals in underdeveloped
areas and countries.
- Study of parasites, organisms that
o Refugees
live on and obtain their nutrients
o Immigrants
from another organism.
o Visitors from foreign countries
Infestation o Individuals who are
immunocompromised
- Invasion on the body
o Individuals living in close quarters.
Disease o Children who attend daycare
centers
- Define as the process with
characteristic symptoms, emerged, MODE OF PARASITE TRANSMISSION
determining an effective means of
o Ingestion of contaminated food or
healing infected persons became a
drink
priority.
o Hand-to-mouth transfer
Vectors o Insect bite
o Entry via drilling through the skin
- Transport carriers were
o Unprotected sexual relations.
frequently responsible for
o Mouth-to-mouth contact
transmission.
o Droplet contamination
- Biologic vector – transmits the
o Eye contact with infected
parasite only after the latter has
swimming water
completed its development within
the host. FACTORS AFFECTING THE
- Mechanical Vector – only OCCURRENCE OF THE PARASITIC
transport the parasite. INFECTION
Epidemiology o Increase population density.
o Poor sanitation
- Study of patterns, distribution,
o Marginal water sources
and occurrence of the disease.
o Poor public health practices
Incidence o Environmental changes affecting
vector breeding areas for the
- Number of new cases of infection
prevalence of parasites.
appearing in a population in each
period Mode of Transmission
EPIDEMIOLOGIC MEASURES - Means whereby a parasite enters
an unsuspecting host.
Prevalence
EXPOSURE AND INFECTION
- Number or individuals in a
population estimated to be Carrier
infected with a particular parasite
- Harbors a particular pathogen
species at a given time.
without manifesting any signs and
symptoms.
Morbidity
Exposure
- Clinical consequences of infection
- process of inoculating an infective
or diseases that affect an
agent
individual’s well-being.
Infection beneficial to one at the other’s
expense.
- establishment of the infective
agent in the host; invasion in the COMMENSAL
body.
- relating to commensalism; the
The incubation period (Clinical association between two different
incubation period) organisms in which one benefits
and has a neutral effect on the
- period between infection and
other.
evidence of the symptoms
PATHOGENIC
Pre-patent period (Biologic incubation
period) - parasite that has demonstrated
the ability to cause disease.
- period between infection or
acquisition of the parasite and TYPE OF HOST
evidence or demonstration of
ACCIDENTAL OR INCIDENTAL HOST
infection
- Host other than the normal one
Autoinfection
that is harboring the parasite.
- results when an infected individual
DEFINITIVE HOST
becomes his own direct source of
infection. - Host in which the larval sexual
phase of parasite development
Superinfection (hyperinfection)
occurs.
- happens when the already infected
INTERMEDIATE HOST
individual is further infected with
the same species leading to - Host in which the larval asexual
massive infection with the phase of parasite development
parasite. occurs.
PARASITE-HOST RELATIONSHIP RESERVOIR HOST
TERMS
- Host harboring parasites that are
SYMBIOSIS parasitic for humans and from
which humans may be infected.
- living together; the association of
two living organisms, each of a TRANSPORT HOST
different species.
- Host responsible for transferring
COMMENSALISM a parasite from one location to
another.
- association of two different
species of organisms that are CARRIER
beneficial to one and neutral to
- Parasite-harboring host that is not
the other.
exhibiting any clinical symptoms
MUTUALISM but can infect others.
- association of two different TYPE OF PARASITES
species of organisms that are
OBLIGATORY PARASITE
beneficial to both.
- Parasites that cannot survive
PARASITISM
outside of a host.
- association of two different
species of organisms that is
(1) Gastrointestinal (GI) and
urogenital (UG) tracts
FACULTATIVE PARASITE
(2) Blood and tissue
- Parasite that is capable of existing (3) Liver, lungs, and other major
independently of a host. organs
(4) Miscellaneous locations such as
ENDOPARASITE
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), eye,
- Parasite that is established inside skin, and extremities.
of a host.
SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH
ECTOPARASITE PARASITIC DISEASE PROCESSES
- Parasite that is established in or o Diarrhea
on the exterior surface of a host. o Fever
o Chills
PERMANENT PARASITE
o Abdominal pain
- Remain on or in the body of the o Abdominal cramping
host for its entire life. o Elephantiasis – an enlargement of
areas such as the breast, leg, and
TEMPORARY PARASITE
scrotum caused by a parasite’s
- Live on the host for a short period presence.
of time. o Anemia
o Vitamin deficiency
SPURIOUS PARASITE
o Bowel obstruction
- Free-living organism that passes o Edema - swelling caused by too
through the digestive tract much fluid trapped in the body's
without infecting the host. tissues.
o Enlargement of major organs
SOURCES OF INFECTION o Skin lesions - areas of your skin
o Contaminated soil and water that are different from the skin
o Lack of sanitary toilets around them.
o Use of night soil o Blindness
o Food PARASITE TREATMENT OPTIONS
o Consumption of undercooked or
raw freshwater fish o Antiparasitic medications
o Arthropods o Change in diet.
o Vitamin supplements
PARASITIC LIFE CYCLES o Fluid replacement
3 COMMON COMPONENTS: o Blood transfusion
o Bed rest
(1) Mode of transmission
(2) Infective stage – a morphologic SPECIMEN PROCESSING AND
form that invades humans. LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS
(3) Diagnostic stage – one or more SPECIMEN TYPES
forms that can be detected via
laboratory retrieval methods. o Stool- it is the most submitted
sample for such studies.
DISEASE PROCESSES AND o Blood
SYMPTOMS
o Tissue
The major body areas associated with o Tissue biopsies
such processes include the ff: o CSF
o Sputum
o Urine
o Genital material
Cellophane Tape Preparation
- A methodology for recovery of
pinworm eggs
Enterotest (string test)
- For recovery of several parasites
are among the traditional tests.
O&P method/ technique
- “O” stands for ova and “P” stands
for parasite.
- A process to remove fecal debris,
which often resembles parasitic
forms, is performed on a portion
of sample after a preservative is
added to it.
Artifacts and/or confusers
- Suspicious forms that visually
resemble parasite in terms of size
and morphology are commonly
encountered.
Protozoa
- Single-celled parasites
Metazoan
- Multicellular worms (helminths)
Animalia
- Arthropods (insects and their
allies)
- Acceptable amount of stool
required for parasite study.
Urine should not be allowed to
CHAPTER 2: SPECIMEN COLLECTION contaminate the stool specimen
AND PROCESSING because it has been known to destroy
some parasites.
STOOL FOR OVA AND PARASITE
Stool should not retrieve from the
EXAMINATION
toilet bowl.
Ova & Parasite Toilet paper in the stool specimen may
mask the parasite or make the sample
- Where ova refer to the egg stage
examination difficult.
of select parasites and parasites
Specimen container should be labeled
encompass the other morphologic
with the patient’s name and
forms that may be present.
identification number, the physician’s
2 General Components Associated with name, and the date and time of a
this Routine Parasitology sample of the collection.
The specimen should be placed in a
(1) Microscopic Examination zip-lock plastic bag for transport to
(2) Macroscopic Examination the laboratory.
COLLECTION AND TRANSPORT When handling specimens, gloves,
mask, a protective coat should be
Because parasites often shed worn all the time.
intermittently, they may not appear in
a stool specimen daily; therefore, Trophozoite stage
multiple specimens are recommended - It is sensitive to environmental
for adequate detection. changes and, on release from the
The typical stool collection consists of body, disintegrates rapidly.
three specimens, one specimen Trophozoites are usually found in
collected every other day or a total of liquid specimens be examined within
3 collected in 10 days. 30 minutes of passage.
One exception is in the diagnosis ‘of Semi-formed specimens may yield a
amebiasis in which up to 6 specimens mixture of protozoan cysts and
in 14 days is acceptable. trophozoites and should be evaluated
Stool samples from patients whose within 1 hour of passage.
therapy includes: Formed stool specimens are not likely
o Barium to contain trophozoites; therefore,
o Bismuth they can be held for 24 hours
o Mineral oil following collection.
should be collected prior to therapy or Specimen can be preserved by placing
not until 5 to 7 days after the completion it directly into a fixative at the time
of therapy. it is collected or on receipt in the
laboratory.
Collection of specimens from patients
who have taken antibiotics or FIXATIVES FOR PRESERVATION
antimalarial medications should be Fixatives
delayed for 2 weeks following therapy.
Stool specimens should be collected in - These are the substances that
a clean, watertight container with a preserve morphology of protozoa
tight-fitting lid. and prevent further development
of certain helminth eggs and
2 to 5g (often referred to as the size larvae.
of a walnut)
3 parts fixative to 1 part of stool
- Ratio of fixative stool.
The specimen must be fixed in the
preservatives for at least 30 minutes
before processing begins.
Formalin
- It has been used for many years
as an all-purpose fixative for the
recovery of protozoa and
helminths.
- It may be used for direct
examinations and concentration
procedures, but not for permanent
smears.
2 Concentrations of Formalin:
(1) 5% concentration ideally preserves
protozoan cyst.
(2) 10% concentration preserves
helminth eggs and larvae.
Advantages
o Easy to prepare.
o Preserves specimen up to several
years.
o Has a long shelf life.
Disadvantages
o It does not preserve parasite
morphology adequately for
permanent smears.
