The Serologic Diagnosis of Parasitic Infections in Medical Practice

Serologic tests are now available which assist the physician in the diagnosis of several parasitic diseases. Combined with the clinical picture and other laboratory studies these tests have proved especially useful in the diagnosis of invasive amebiasis, toxoplasmosis, trichinosis, echinococcosis, and Chagas' disease. Evaluation of serology depends on the stage of infection, organs involved, antigen preparation, and serologic methods used. The recommendations given are derived from personal experience and a selective review of the literature. Serodiagnosis in some of the other areas of parasitology must await more refined methods of antigen preparation or new test systems.