MLT 265IN - Parasitology and Immunology/Serology

3 Credits, 5 Contact Hours
2 lecture periods 3 lab periods

Introduction to the basics of mycology and parasitology host relationships and their effects. Includes fungi, medical parasitology, specimen collection, techniques for examination, special techniques, other specimens, detection and diagnosis of parasitic infections, clinically important parasites, and immunology and serological testing.

Prerequisite(s): With a grade of B or better: BIO 205IN  and MAT 151  or assessment into MAT 189 .
Information: Students must be admitted to the Medical Laboratory Technician program or obtain consent of instructor before enrolling in this course. IN is the integrated version of the course with the lecture and lab taught simultaneously.
    

2.  Compare and contrast adaptive and innate immunity; immunogenicity; and the immune response in regard  to antibodies, antigens, complements, major histocompatibility complex (MHC), and disease states, including autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, hypersensitivity, various viral and bacterial infections, and  transplant and tumor immunology.

3.  Describe and interpret serologic tests including dilutions, titers, agglutination, precipitation, labeled and unlabeled immunoassays, molecular assays, and flow cytometry.

4.  Identify and differentiate common pathogenic; opportunistic; and contaminating fungal elements, including growth requirements, key biochemical tests, and associated disease states.

5.  Discuss the life cycle, hosts, infective and diagnostic states, morphology, pathology, and epidemiology of common parasitic agents.

6.  Discuss specimen types, collection methods, specimen preservation and preparation, staining, and interfering substances when identifying fungal and parasitic organisms.

7.  Perform (when available) and interpret serologic tests, including dilutions, titers, agglutination, precipitation, labeled and unlabeled immunoassays, molecular assays, and flow cytometry.

8.  Apply concepts of adaptive and innate immunity; immunogenicity; and the immune response in regard to antibodies, antigens, complements, major histocompatibility complex (MHC), and disease states, including       autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, hypersensitivity, various viral and bacterial infections, and transplant and tumor immunology to test methods and results.

9.  Perform lactophenol cotton blue scotch tape and/or tease prep of several fungal isolates.

10.  Identify parasites from multiple fixed slide specimens.

11.  Improve critical thinking and organizational skills by attending class, completing assignments, and participating in problem solving discussions.

1. Fungi Identification
   1. Yeast
      1. Candida
      2. Cryptococcus
      3. Geotrichum
   2. Dimorphic fungi
      1. Blastomyces
      2. Coccidiodes
      3. Histoplasma
      4. Sporothrix
   3. Dermatophytes
      1. Epidermophyton
      2. Microsporum
      3. Trichophyton
   4. Zygomycetes
      1. Absidia
      2. Mucor
      3. Rhizopus
   5. Opportunistic molds/septate hyaline molds
      1. Aspergillus
      2. Penicillium
   6. Specimen collection
   7. Morphology and staining
2. Introduction to Medical Parasitology
   1. Parasites, parasitism, and host relations
   2. Pathogenesis of parasitic infections
3. Specimen Collection
4. Techniques for Stool Examination
5. Special Techniques
6. Use of Other Specimens
   1. Cellophane type swabs
   2. Genital specimens
   3. Urine
   4. Sputum
   5. Aspirates and biopsies
   6. Sigmoidoscopy
   7. Abscess material
   8. Muscle biopsy
7. Detection and Diagnosis of Parasitic Infections
8. Clinically Important Parasites
   1. Protozoa
      1. Amoeba
      2. Flagellates
      3. Sporozoa
      4. Ciliophora
   2. Helminths
      1. Intestinal nematodes
      2. Tissue and blood nematodes
      3. Trematodes
      4. Cestodes
9. Introduction to Immunology and Serological Testing
   1. Immunology
   2. Pre-analytical test principles
   3. Specimen collection
   4. Statistic and evaluation of test methods
10. Serological Testing
    1. Autoimmunity
       1. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
       2. Thyroid antibodies
    2. Infectious diseases
       1. Viral
          1. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) / infectious mononucleosis
          2. Hepatitis
       2. c. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) / human t-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) / cytomegalovirus           (CMV)
          1. Rubella/measles
          2. Other viruses
       3. Microbial
          1. Cold agglutinins
          2. Syphilis
          3. Other microorganisms
    3. Nucleic acid testing
       1. Western, southern blot testing
       2. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
       3. Other tests
11. Techniques for Stool Examination
12. Detection and Diagnosis of Parasitic Infections
    1. Special Techniques
    2. Slide Review of Clinically Important Parasites
       1. Protozoa
          1. Amoeba
          2. Flagellates
          3. Sporozoa
          4. Ciliophora
       2. Helminths
          1. Intestinal nematodes
          2. Tissue and blood nematodes
          3. Trematodes
          4. Cestodes
13. Test Methods for Diagnosis
    1. Immunology
    2. Pre-analytical test principles
    3. Specimen collection
    4. Statistic and evaluation of test methods
14. Serological Testing – as available
    1. Labeled and unlabeled immunoassays
    2. Heterogeneous and homogeneous sandwich methods
       1. Cartridge testing
       2. Kit testing
    3. Rapid plasma reagin (RPR)
    4. Rheumatoid factor (RF)
    5. Mono
15. Serologic Dilutions