Besides being classified as parasitic, commensal, and opportunistic, protozoa can also be classified according to whether they live in the lumen of the intestines or the intestinal tissue, as well as classified by their scientific groups. Additionally, we can group them epidemiologically by where they are found in the environment or geographically.
In this course, we will take a traditional approach and classify them by their scientific groups. We will provide information on each organism's location within the intestines, epidemiology, how the patient gets infected, and susceptible populations. Much of this information can be conveyed through examining their life cycles. Methods of diagnosis will follow the presentation of each parasite.
We will begin with a synopsis of diagnostic techniques.