The Case for Parasitological Stool Microscopy

Since the first description of human intestinal parasites in the seventeenth century, microscopy has remained the backbone of parasitology diagnostics. Indications to screen for enteric parasites include diarrheal illness and suspected helminth infection associated with other clinical syndromes. The plausible etiologic spectrum for each of these is strongly influenced by the immune status of the host. The fact that parasitological stool microscopy is the original multiplex test and is less dependent on prespecified diagnostic suspicion makes it endure in a landscape of newer laboratory tools.