Laboratory Diagnosis of Faecal Parasites

Course overview

This intensive course has a high practical content and is designed for medical officers and biomedical scientists. The course concentrates on the identification in the laboratory of those parasites of medical importance (both indigenous and imported) likely to be seen in Western Europe.  It comprises a series of mini lectures by specialist staff, followed by extensive practical work.

Course Content

• Examination of wet preparations faeces for the diagnosis of protozoa and helminths
• Biology of Nematodes, Trematodes and Cestodes
• Uses of concentration techniques
• Diagnostic problems and other self assessment exercises
• Course evaluation

Each section includes short presentations by specialist staff followed by practical work at the bench to provide experience in the identification of parasites. Laboratory sessions also provide opportunities for discussion with staff on points of interest to individual course participants.

Timetable

Day 1

• Course registration
• Introduction and safety
• Pre-course test
• Intestinal protozoa and coccidia
• Identification of intestinal protozoa
• Examination of coccidian parasites / test samples
• Nematodes
• Identification of nematode ova practical and demonstration

Day 2

• Cestodes
• Identification of cestode ova practical and demonstration
• Trematodes
• Identification of trematode ova practical and demonstration
• Faecal/urine concentration and other methods
• Developments in molecular diagnostics for parasitic disease
• Spot test: faecal parasites / diagnostic parasitology
• World trip / post-course test

Academic requirements

It is assumed that all students on the course will be doing one of the following

• Working in an NHS laboratory
• Working in other laboratories
• Studying towards higher degree (ie. PhD)
• Have a biomedical science / medical background