Parasitic infections: overlooked, under-diagnosed and under-researched

Abstract

Professor George Nelson (1924–2009) once stated that, ‘Parasitology is the preserve of the diagnostically destitute’. Little has changed to this day, with potentially relevant parasitic causes of illnesses often not being considered early in the differential diagnoses of clinical presentations. Parasitic infections are sometimes overlooked as causes of morbidity and (in some cases) mortality in both the medical and veterinary fields. In Australia there remain significant problems associated with giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, strongyloidiasis and other parasitic diseases, particularly in remote, underserved and tropical regions of the country and also in the immuno-compromised individuals (HIV, immunosuppressive drugs etc.). The burden of many parasitic diseases is greater in tropical and sub-tropical areas of non-industrialised countries. With increasingly adventurous travel and dining, increasing numbers of Australians returning from travel overseas with added souvenirs of common or exotic parasitoses every year and refugees and migrants arriving in Australia, these infections are becoming increasingly important.