MLAB 1331: Parasitology/Mycology

Parasitology/Mycology is an eight-week course designed to give students the skills necessary to perform parasitological examinations in the clinical laboratory. Beginning with terms and procedures, the course is a fast-paced excursion through the world of protozoan, helminth, and arthropod parasites of humans. While epidemiology, pathogenesis, and life cycles are studied, emphasis is placed upon morphological features that separate one organism from others. An overview of Mycology is included in the final weeks of the course.

The course is organized into sixteen lecture and fifteen laboratory sessions. Major examinations follow completion of each block of lectures. Laboratory sessions are generally self-paced and heavily oriented toward microscopic examination of prepared specimens. Students are expected to study the morphology of parasites on known, labeled preparations; and then report the results of examinations of unknown preparations. Laboratory Practicums, consisting of microscope stations demonstrating various parasites, are given following completion of each block of organisms.

A comprehensive final examination is given during the last week of class.