Parasitic infection of the mucosal surfaces

The mucosal surfaces of the body serve as the entry point for a wide variety of protozoan and helminthic parasites. Parasitic protozoa and helminths are eukaryotic organisms that survive intracellularly or in close contact with the mammalian host. Most parasitic infections of the mucosal surfaces are acquired orally through contact with contaminated food and water. However, some helminth parasites invade through the skin, migrating via the lung to the intestine. A wide variety of nonimmune and immune mechanisms have been described that mediate the recognition and control of parasites of mucosal tissues. In this chapter, we examine the distinct immunological pathways that are activated in response to a prototypic protozoan or helminthic parasite infection at mucosal surfaces.