Informational Tables

- 1.1 Parasite Classification | - 1.2 Body Site, Specimens, Procedures, Parasites, Comments | - 1.3 STAT Testing in Parasitology | - 1.4 Test Issues and Reports: Computer Report Comments| - 1.5 Rapid Diagnostic Testing
- 2.1 Stool Testing Order Recommendations | - 2.2 Fecal specimens for parasites: options for collection and processinga² | - 2.3 Preservatives used for Stool Specimens
- 3.1 Body Sites and Specimen Collection | - 3.2 Body sites and the most common parasites recovered | - 3.3 Body Site, Specimens and Recommended Stain | - 3.4 Examination of tissues and body fluids | - 3.5 Parasitic Infections: Clinical Findings Healthy/Compromised Hosts | - 3.6 Microscope Calibration | - 3.7 Serologic, Antigen, and Probe Tests for Parasite Diagnosis
- 4.1 Protozoa: Intestinal Tract, Urogenital System: Key Characteristics | - 4.2 Tissue Protozoa: Characteristics | - 4.3 Tips on Performance of Fecal Immunoassays for Intestinal Protozoa
5.1 Helminths: Key Characteristics | 5.2 Helminth Parasites Associated with Eosinophilia
6.1 Reference Laboratory for Parasite Blood Testing | 6.2 Parasites Found in Blood: Characteristics
7.1 Malaria (5 Species) (2 P. ovale subspecies) | 7.2 Malaria (5 Species, Images) | 7.3 Rapid Malaria Testing (BinaxNOW Malaria Test) | 7.4 Malaria Parasitemia Method | 7.5 Malaria Parasitemia Interpretation
- USE OF A REFERENCE LABORATORY FOR PARASITE BLOOD DIAGNOSTIC TESTING (Including the Binax Rapid Test and Report Comments)
- HELMINTH PARASITES ASSOCIATED WITH EOSINOPHILIA | - Histology: Staining Characteristics - Table 1 | - Histological Identification of Parasites - Table 2 | - Microscope Calibration | - Figures for Histology Identification Table 2 |

Infectious diseases, particularly parasitic infections, play a major role in the overall world's health and economy. As travel increases, we anticipate seeing many more people who may be infected with parasites that may not be endemic to the specific area where they live. During the past few years, the United States has seen a number of outbreaks with Cyclospora cayetanensis, a coccidian parasite that has been linked to the importation of fresh produce (primarily raspberries, fresh basil, and baby lettuce mixtures) into the United States. Continued vector and disease control efforts will remain on the high priority list, especially when seen within the context of global health.

Also, we continue to see the compromised patient population increase, due to age, intentional immunosuppression (transplantation), underlying disease and chemotherapy. As this population grows, we anticipate the identification of additional etiologic agents of disease, some of which will most probably be human parasites.

Recently, two organisms have been linked to human disease and have been categorized as "emerging infections." These are Cyclospora cayetanensis, a coccidian similar to Cryptosporidium spp. and the Microsporidia. Currently, there are eight genera and 17 species of Microsporidia that have been identified as causing human disease.