Nuclear techniques in the study of pathology of parasitic infections

Nuclear technology has contributed enormously to our strategy of combating parasitic diseases in man and animals and establishing measures for their control. Highly sensitive techniques, developed and applied in biochemical, physiological and immunological studies have enriched our knowledge of the metabolic pathways of parasites in vitro, as well as in the intermediate and definitive hosts. They have also helped us to better understand the host-parasite relationship and the acquired resistance of hosts to infection on molecular and cellular levels. In addition, many of these techniques have been successfully introduced for improved diagnosis of parasitic infections and in studies of pathogenetic mechanisms leading to clinical manifestations and pathological lesions. (author)