Biology 545 and Biology 546
Supplemental Tutorial for Human Parasitology
Copyright© 1999-2005 (Steve J. Upton)

14 April 2005
Steve J. Upton
Comments: parasitology@ksu.edu
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This tutorial, currently composed of 145 different images, is designed as a supplement to Biology 545 (Human Parasitology) and Biology 546 (Human Parasitology Laboratory) taught each spring semester at Kansas State University. New questions are added continually as the weeks and years progress. This tutorial makes the assumption that you are a graduate of Kansas State University, and that you are now employed as a health care professional somewhere in the midwest. For instance, right here in Manhattan, Kansas; "The Little Apple." The majority of questions pose a hypothetical diagnostic scenario for you to solve. Most of the scenarios are fictitious, although a dozen or so of the cases actually occurred right here at K-State and some of the photos are of those parasites. Even more photographs of parasites, including many that infect humans, can be found at my Animal/Human Parasitology images website so feel free to explore there as well. Over 650 different photos of parasites are currently associated with these two sites, so hopefully you'll stay amused.

Although this tutorial is designed to supplement the Human Parasitology Laboratory course here at KSU, I have no doubt that others will view the pages. Feel free to browse and to capture any images you wish to use for educational purposes. I've kept the image files relatively large so that they may be down loaded and the resolution retained. I do have one request: if you run across a commercial source of any of the following prepared slides, then please let me know...

Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae, stained smear (NOT histological sections)
Nanophyetus salmincola, whole mounts
Gastrodiscoides hominis, whole mounts

I literally receive dozens of (often bizarre) e-mails each week and, unfortunately, I do not have time to answer many of the queries from people who think they, their family members, or their pets might be infected with parasites. I am not a helminthologist, arthropodologist, physician, veterinarian, or psychologist. My expertise is as a protozoologist, and especially as a coccidial biologist. The information presented here is designed solely for my students, and should not be used as a basis for a definitive diagnosis. That's what physicians and veterinarians do and why they receive the big bucks. Nonetheless, based on literally hundreds of questions that I've received over the years, the viewpoints I have on several common themes are provided as follows:

1. There is little or no controlled, peer-reviewed, scientific data to show herbal remedies, cleansing formulations, dietary supplements, colloidal silver treatments, energy bracelets, pyramid power, parasite zappers, or psychic healing are effective at eliminating parasites. The 1976 Proxmire Amendment to the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, synergistically inhibit the FDA from protecting consumers from misleading claims by individuals who advertise products of dubious benefit. If you opt to use these products, then its your business, your money, and I won't get involved in any discussions. Please keep in mind that these types of products are not endorsed by the American Society of Parasitologists.
2. I seriously doubt that the US government is involved in a nationwide conspiracy to infect the entire world population with parasites (at least they haven't notified me of it yet).
3. A belief in the constant crawling of parasites under your skin is, in most cases, either delusional parasitosis or a contact/environmental allergy (i.e. soaps, perfumes, carpet fibers, mites, cat hair, etc.). This includes beliefs of numerous little worms emerging from the skin, winged beasties flying out of the mouth, etc. I don't particularly like the term "delusional" since some individuals truly do have an undiscovered affliction that poses the problem. I will not get involved in these discussions.
4. There is no data in reputable, peer-reviewed, scientific journals to support the hythothesis that Fasciolopsis buski causes cancer. It doesn't even occur in North America.

I am occasionally told that the images and questions may not always print out as desired; i.e. many of the questions or images may be cut off on the right margin. The format is designed for viewing on a 19 inch (rather than 17 inch) monitor, plus Netscape and Internet Explorer are not 100% compatible. Not really a surprise. Although you are free to print what you like, the pages were never designed for hard copy production. Indeed, the quality of the printed hard copy will depend upon ones browser, how preferences are set, the font, and of course the printer. My suggestion is to simply download the images and develop your own presentations.

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