ABSTRACT
Foodborne illnesses have described since antiquity, often caused by bacteria. Now we know that other microorganisms, such as viruses and parasites, can also cause foodborne illnesses in humans. Of the parasites, helminths and protozoa can cause gastrointestinal illness and, in some cases, more complex diseases affecting other organs. Detection of helminths is done by ova and parasite examination and by the morphological characteristics of the several life stages of the adult and larval stages. In the case of the protozoa, there are distinct groups, each with different life cycles and morphologies.
This chapter focuses on four coccidian parasites that affect humans. Cryptosporidium spp and Cyclospora cayetanensis cause gastrointestinal illnesses, Sarcocystis can also infect muscular tissues, and Toxoplasma gondii can even infect the brain and cross the placental barrier. The chapter discusses the advances in the morphological and molecular detection methods used to differentiate and characterize these parasites affecting humans, farm animals, and wildlife.
