2. Trent K. Freeman
MA MLS (ASCP) CMP CT
Adjunct Assistant Professor
• 22 years in laboratory science
3. Experience
• U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan
• Medical Education & Training Campus, TX
• NATO Training Mission, Afghanistan
• U.S. Naval Hospital Naples, Italy
• Naval Medical Center San Diego, CA
• Wilmington Pathology, NC
• New Hanover Regional Medical Center, NC
• Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, NC
• Maryview Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA
• Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, VA
• Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, CA
6. Objectives
1. Discuss the following characteristics of the parasites and fungi that are presented in class:
• Pathogenicity (the ability to cause disease)
• Types of infections produced - areas of the body invaded.
• Epidemiological and immune factors relating to disease (geography, age, race, presence of other diseases or immune-
deficiencies, etc.)
• Type of specimen that should be submitted to the laboratory to diagnose a specific disease.
• The use of preservatives to insure specimen suitability.
• Macroscopic and microscopic methods to visualize the organism in clinical material
• Cultivation methods
• Safety protocols
7. Objectives
2. Discuss the following microscopic techniques:
• Wet preparations (unstained and stained with iodine)
• Permanent stains (trichrome, iron hematoxylin, Wright)
3. Analyze wet preparations and stained specimens to identify
parasites.
8. Objectives
4. Illustrate the steps necessary to appropriately identify fungi,
including the following:
• Macroscopic morphology
• Microscopic morphology
• Culture characteristics
• Biochemical reactions
5. Evaluate images to identify all parasites (including stages) and fungi
(including structures).
9. Objectives
6. Compare and contrast molds from yeasts.
7. Differentiate anti-parasitic and anti-fungal agents used in therapy
for parasite and fungal infections.
Hello, my name is Trent Freeman and I am an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the George Washington University. I am your primary instructor for the Parasitology and Mycology course for this semester.
I have been working in the medical laboratory science field since 1993, while serving in the United States Navy for over twenty two years.
My experience Parasitology and Mycology includes work in multiple hospitals and medical centers. I have served in overseas hospitals and once served as a laboratory mentor with the Afghan Army.
To succeed in Parasitology, you need to be able to match the organisms with the diseases they cause, including specific symptoms and you need to know what the diagnostic stage is for each parasite and how to recognize it if you are shown a picture.
For example, if you are shown a picture of a pinworm egg, you should know the genus and species by looking at the picture.
Instead of memorizing biochemical reactions as is common in bacteriology, parasitology requires keen visual senses by memorizing the morphological details of each organism.
Like Parasitology, Mycology requires you to identify organisms by differentiating various structures. Hence, take time to carefully study the structures for each organism covered.
For the duration of our course of study we will achieve seven objectives.
We will discuss the characteristics of parasites and fungi to include:
Pathogenicity (the ability to cause disease)
Types of infections produced - areas of the body invaded.
Epidemiological and immune factors relating to disease (geography, age, race, presence of other diseases or immune-deficiencies, etc.)
Type of specimen that should be submitted to the laboratory to diagnose a specific disease.
The use of preservatives to insure specimen suitability.
Macroscopic and microscopic methods to visualize the organism in clinical material
Cultivation methods
Safety protocols
