Introduction to Parasitology: The Basics Are Just the Beginning



 

The parasites that infect humans are broad and diverse. Though many teaching and review content focuses on the common gastrointestinal parasites, this presentation will focus instead on the other body sites in the human that can be infected by parasites. Common diagnostic tests and recommended methods of detection are reviewed in addition to clinical syndromes associated with different stages of these diseases.

Originally published on December 4, 2023


Lecture Presenters

Marc R. Couturier, PhD

Marc R. Couturier, PhD

Professor of Pathology (Clinical)
University of Utah School of Medicine
Medical Director, Emerging Public Health Crises, Parasitology/Fecal Testing, and Infectious Disease Antigen Testing
ARUP Laboratories

Dr. Marc R. Couturier is a medical director of emerging public health crises and microbial immunology, parasitology and fecal testing at ARUP Laboratories and a professor of pathology at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Dr. Couturier graduated from the University of Alberta with a doctorate degree in bacteriology. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Alberta Provincial Laboratory for Public Health and a medical microbiology fellowship at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Dr. Couturier is certified by the American Board of Medical Microbiology. He has received the Outstanding Teaching Award in Clinical Pathology, the Bill Roberts Award for Excellence in Laboratory Medicine, and the Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Young Investigators Award. His research interests include helicobacter pylori diagnostics and developing improved diagnostics for emerging agents of infectious gastroenteritis.


Blaine A. Mathison, BS, M(ASCP)

Blaine A. Mathison, BS, M(ASCP)

Adjunct Instructor
University of Utah School of Medicine
Research and Development Scientist, Parasitology Specialist
ARUP Laboratories

Blaine Mathison is currently a scientist in the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology at ARUP Laboratories in Salt Lake City. Mr. Mathison has been studying parasitology for over 20 years, including working at the Institute of Parasitology at the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic, the Arizona State Health Department, and the CDC, where he managed the DPDx website for nine years. He has published extensively on parasitology and entomology—the latter is also a personal hobby.


Objectives

After this presentation, participants will be able to:

  • Describe parasite diversity/taxonomy
  • Recognize clinically relevant parasites found in humans and how to test for them
  • Discuss the impact and role of parasites in human health

Sponsored by:

University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, and ARUP Laboratories