Parasites of the Gastrointestinal Tract

The parasites that involve the human gastrointestinal tract encompass a diverse array of protozoa, helminths, and rarely, arthropod ectoparasites. While some are harmless commensals, others cause significant, and occasionally life-threatening, disease. This chapter provides an overview of human parasites that infect all regions of the gastrointestinal tract, including the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, liver and biliary tree, and anus. The most important human parasites are discussed individually, with an emphasis on biology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment.