title: Update on pathology of ocular parasitic disease.
abstract: Parasites are a group of eukaryotic organisms that may be free-living or form a symbiotic or parasitic relationship with the hosts. Consisting of over 800,000 recognized species, parasites may be unicellular (Protozoa) or multicellular (helminths and arthropods). The association of parasites with human population started long before the emergence of civilization. Parasitic zoonotic diseases are prevalent worldwide including India. Appropriate epidemiological data are lacking on existing zoonotic parasitic diseases, and newer diseases are emerging in our scenario. Systemic diseases such as cysticercosis, paragonimiasis, hydatidosis, and toxoplasmosis are fairly common. Acquired Toxoplasma infections are rising in immune-deficient individuals. Amongst the ocular parasitic diseases, various protozoas such as Cystoidea, trematodes, tissue flagellates, sporozoas etc. affect humans in general and eyes in particular, in different parts of the world. These zoonoses seem to be a real health related problem globally. Recent intensification of research throughout the world has led to specialization in biological fields, creating a conducive situation for researchers interested in this subject. The basics of parasitology lie in morphology, pathology, and with recent updates in molecular parasitology, the scope has extended further. The current review is to address the recent update in ophthalmic parasites with special reference to pathology and give a glimpse of further research in this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ocular Pathology, Uveitis and Neuro-Ophthalmology Services, Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Dipankar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Pathology Service, Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Varsha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramachandra
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Agricultural University, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Saidul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Pathology Service, Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Harsha
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bhattacharjee
authors.affiliation: Department of L and T, Ocular Pathology and Uveitis Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Jyotirmay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Pathology Service, Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Akanksha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koul
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Pathology Service, Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Panna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deka
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Pathology Service, Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Apurba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005123:Eye / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*; D015822:Eye Infections, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D010271:Parasites / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence