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Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites
Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites cause intestinal pain, diarrhea / constipation (Montezuma's revenge), immune depression, and skin disorders. It may also cause liver, brain or other tissue pathology. It is transmitted through direct or indirect fecal-oral contamination.
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Charcot-Leyden crystals
Charcot-Leyden crystals are by-products of the breakdown of certain human white blood cells as a result of their destruction by certain parasites such as Entamoeba histolytica . Their recovery in fecal samples thus indicates the presence of certain parasites
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Giardia Lamblia
Giardia Lamblia cysts cause severe gastro-intestinal symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and malabsorption of food and medication alike. Drinking infected stream water usually causes infection.
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Cryptosporidium parvum
Cryptosporidium parvum is perhaps the most common new parasitic disease in the USA. Infection occurs from drinking water contaminated with calf fecal sources. The tap water of nearly 1/5 of all U.S. homes include infective stages of cryptosporidium as well as Giardia. Symptoms may be present in intestinal as well as extra-intestinal sites and may include fatigue and allergies.
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Balantidium coli
Balantidium coli is a common parasite in the intestine of swine where it is harmless. Human infection with the same species upon cross contamination will cause severe intestinal symptoms.
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Fasciola hepatica
Infection with the human liver fluke Fasciola hepatica occurs upon feeding on aquatic plants contaminated with juvenile stages but diagnosed in fecal samples in the egg stage (shown).
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Taenia solium
The recovery of eggs of the human/swine tapeworm Taenia solium indicates the presence of the ten-foot long adults in the intestine. When the immature cysts are present in other organ systems, they often invade the brain and sense organs causing neurocysticerocosis (damage to the central nervous system).
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Hymenolepis diminuta
Infection with adults of the human/rodent tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta is diagnosed by the recovery of the characteristic egg (shown). Infection occurs when cereals and grains contaminated with rodent fecal sources are ingested. Adult worms directly damage intestinal lining.
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Diphyllobothrium latum
Infection with the 30-foot long broad fish tapeworm Diphyllobothrium latum is diagnosed by the presence of the egg (shown) in human fecal samples. This worm can deplete vitamin B12 resources causing loss of memory and other neurological dysfunctions.
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Ascaris round worm
The diagnostic egg of the one foot long Ascaris round worm (shown) is detected in fecal samples. Infection can occur by eating unwashed fresh vegetables (lettuce) contaminated with soil fertilized with infected human waste. Heavy infection can cause blockage of the intestinal tract, penetration of the gut wall, and peritonitis. Larval worm migration damage lymphatic, respiratory, and hepatic tissue.
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Hookworm egg
Hook worm egg infection occurs by walking bare-foot on ground that is soiled with infective larvae. Anemia is a common symptom of hookworm infections. Tissues penetrated by the migrating larvae will also be compromised.
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Whipworm
The diagnostic egg of human whipworms is very characteristic. Adults will feed on nerve ganglia in the rectum causing it to prolapse out of the body.
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Candida
Candida infection in the lung. Systemic candidiasis is hard to treat. Intestinal Candidiasis is common in about half of the U.S. population. In many cases Candida symptoms are readily observed and treated. Treatment will have to include diet and lifestyle changes.
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Common yeast
Heavy fungal infection with the common yeast (shown) displaces good bacteria. Such heavy infections can cause dysbiosis and other intestinal disbalances. Dividing (multiplying) yeast indicates that damage is being caused to the intestinal lining. The same phenomenon is also observed in dividing Candida.
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Mucus
This very heavy presence of mucus balls (shown) was caused by a serious infection with Blastocystis causing the intestinal lining to be compromised.
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Blastocystis hominis
Blastocystis hominis is the most commonly identified parasite at PCI. It can cause abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fatigue, and/or skin disorders. It is transmitted via contaminated food or drink.
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