Found throughout the world in even the most remote and pristine mountain streams and lakes, these parasites may infect swimming pools, hot tubs, and occasionally community water supplies. The most common parasites in Australia are the single-cell parasites (protozoa) such as Giardia, Dientamoeba and Cryptosporidium. These can be dangerous conditions, particulary in children, the elderly and those with weak immune systems.
If diarrhoea lasts more than a few days, it may lead to weight-loss, dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Some people may also have headaches and fever others may have few or no noticeable symptoms. These symptoms typically arise days to weeks after exposure and persist. The most common symptoms of a parasitic infection are prolonged diarrhoea, bloody diarrhoea, mucus in stool, abdominal pain, and nausea. Some parasites such as Strongyloides can cause disease years after they were first acquired. Parasites are different in different parts of the world so it is important to let your doctor know your travel history- even many years in the past. In these populations, a parasitic infection can result in serious symptoms and complications. Parasitic infections are especially a concern for certain groups such as infants, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems such as those with HIV/AIDS. People who ingest contaminated food or water can become infected and, without careful attention to hygiene (handwashing and care with food preparation), the infection may be passed on to others. This contamination cannot be seen the food and water will look, smell, and taste completely normal. Ova and parasites from infected people or animals are released in the stool and can then contaminate any water, food, or surfaces that come into contact with them. The majority of people who are infected by gastrointestinal parasites become infected by drinking water or eating food that has been contaminated with the parasite eggs. Some parasites are hardy and can remain infectious for some time in the environment without living in a host. Some also have a larval phase, which is between the egg and the mature form. Many have a mature form and a cyst and/or egg (ova) form.
Most parasites have more than one form through which they develop. There are parasites that consist of a single cell while others are worms (helminths). Some parasites spend part of their life in a different animal, such as a sheep, cow, or snail, before infecting humans. Each type of parasite has a specific life cycle and maturation process. There are a wide variety of parasites that can infect humans. Different ova and parasites have distinct shapes, sizes, and internal structures that are characteristic of their species. When thin smears of fresh or preserved stool are put onto glass slides and stained, the parasites (including their eggs ( ova) or cysts), may be detected and identified under the microscope. The parasites are shed from the lower digestive tract into the stool. An ova and parasite (O&P) exam is a microscopic evaluation that is used to look for parasites that have infected the lower digestive tract.
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