الفهرس 
Liver Protozoan parasitesOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 173 |  |  |
| | | from | 173 | | |
Abstract
The liver is the largest parenchymatous organ in the body and considered as one of important members of reticulo-endothelial system that guard against infection. Because of its anatomical posision, the liver may be involved in many protozoal infections such as: * Entamoeba histolytica. * Giardia lamblia. * Exo-erythrocytic stages of plasmodium parasites. * Leishmania donovani. * Trypanosoma cruzi. * Toxoplasma gondii. Protozoal infection is a dangerous and life-threatening disease. The liver cells, in spite of having a remarkable capacity of regeneration when a part of it is damaged by a disease; this ability is greatly diminished. Therefore, the key to improve this condition is by an early diagnosis, which will contribute to a safer management of the problem. From the clinical stand point it is important to stress certain aspects. Pain and tenderness in the right hypochondrium with hepatomegally are main presentations in protozoal infection. Many investigations could be done for confirming clinical diagnosis including direct methods which depend on the microscopic detection of the diagnostic stage of the parasite in stool, urine, blood, or tissue aspirate. Also immunodiagnosis is used to assist in the clinical diagnosis of protozoal infection. The recent molecular biology tests are used now for accurate diagnosis of protozoa affecting liver including DNA probe and PCR. Also histopathological techniques play an important role in the diagnosis in which Liver biopsy could be used for confirming diagnosis. Recently hepato-biliary scanning and endoscope can detect space-occupying lesions in the liver and demonstrate obstruction of bile ducts or blood vessels.Finally, study of different and recent diagnostic methods of protozoal parasitic infection of the liver gives us proper idea about therapeutic measures with better prevention and control strategy against them for the benefit of human health.