• Therefore, the August version of 'This Month in Blastocystis Research' is more like a list of papers + short descriptions/comments, rather than one or two actual paper reviews. (blastocystis.net)
  • My own experience on Blastocystis morphology mainly stems from looking at cultures, and since we practically only get isolates from patients with gastrointestinal disease, I don't know what Blastocystis cultures from asymptomatic individuals look like. (blastocystis.net)
  • Serologic response to Blastocystis hominis design of primers for fast differentiation from Entamoeba an infection in asymptomatic individuals. (delvv.com)
  • The following reports have linked Blastocystis infection to inflammatory bowel disease: A study using riboprinting identified specific types of Blastocystis as associated with inflammation. (wikipedia.org)
  • Previous studies have demonstrated that B. hominis infection is strongly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other intestinal diseases, which threatens the health and quality of life among patients with B. hominis infection and is considered as an important public health problem. (bvsalud.org)
  • An Italian researcher reported differences in the protein profiles of isolates associated with chronic and acute infection. (wikipedia.org)
  • A research team from Malaysia reported that isolates from symptomatic patients produced large amoeboid forms that were not present in isolates from asymptomatic patients. (wikipedia.org)
  • In my previous post I referred to a new study from Colombia which includes subtyping of Blastocystis isolates from humans, and a variety of animals, including birds. (blastocystis.net)
  • Regarding virulence, the authors mention the possibility that differences in virulence may be due to differences in subtypes, but that subtyping alone does not predict pathogenicity which in part may be due to varying levels of intra-subtype genetic variation. (blastocystis.net)
  • Based on the sequence of the small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene, 28 subtypes of B. hominis (ST1 to ST17, ST21 and ST23 to ST32) have been characterized. (bvsalud.org)
  • one is on "taxonomy, biology and virulence", the next is on genetic diversity and molecular methods for diagnosis and epidemiology, and the last one is on treatment controversies. (blastocystis.net)
  • The target audience comprises clinical microbiologists and those involved in Blastocystis epidemiology and genetic diversity research. (blastocystis.net)
  • I hope that the open access feature of this paper will prompt even more researcher into Blastocystis epidemiology! (blastocystis.net)
  • Epidemiology and pathogenicity of Blastocystis tinal protozoa may be seen in Table 2. (delvv.com)
  • The authors also briefly mention some of the morphological and phenotypical observations that have been associated with 'pathogenic Blastocystis ', such as the amoeboid stage, large cells, rough surface, slow growth rate, and increased binding to lectins. (blastocystis.net)
  • citation needed] The studies that followed generally found that no specific "pathogenic" or nonpathogenic species of Blastocystis exists. (wikipedia.org)
  • forty two control blood financial institution serum when a symptomatic B. A strong antibody therapy, the advance most likely represents elimina response is consistent with the ability of this organism to tion of some other undetected pathogenic organism (E. Although for numerous years the two years or more with persistent infections earlier than a serologic true position of this organism when it comes to colonization or dis response is detected (23). (delvv.com)
  • The open access journal 'Tropical Parasitology' (published by the Indian Academy of Tropical Parasitology) has included a symposium on Blastocystis in their January-June (Vol. 3) issue (available here ). (blastocystis.net)
  • The Tropical Parasitology theme issue on Blastocystis has now gone live. (blastocystis.net)
  • Lancet 361:1025� of parasitic infections: immunologic and molecular methods, 1034. (delvv.com)
  • BACKGROUND: Blastocystis hominis (Bh) is zoonotic parasitic pathogen with a high prevalent globally, causing opportunistic infections and diarrhea disease. (bvsalud.org)
  • Three research groups have reported experimental infection of mice with Blastocystis produces intestinal inflammation. (wikipedia.org)
  • Blastocystis is a common unicellular intestinal protozoa in humans and animals, and the most common clinical manifestations of infections include abdominal pain and diarrhea. (bvsalud.org)
  • Blastocystis parasites are common intestinal parasites found in various hosts, including humans. (bvsalud.org)
  • Blastocystis is a genus of anaerobic protozoan parasites that infect humans and a vast range of animal species. (cdc.gov)
  • I've never observed the cluster formation in cultures, but then again, we have no idea of whether the stages seen in in vitro cultures (microaerophilic environment) are identical to the in vivo stages (strictly anaerobic), and exactly how Blastocystis lives and multiplies in the colon. (blastocystis.net)
  • Only Blastocystis parasites were detected in stools, appendix, peritoneal liquid, and recto-uterine pouch. (cdc.gov)
  • Blastocystis is a protozoal, single-celled parasite that inhabits the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and other animals. (wikipedia.org)
  • Researchers have published conflicting reports concerning whether Blastocystis causes symptoms in humans, with one of the earliest reports in 1916. (wikipedia.org)
  • Some researchers believe the debate has been resolved by finding of multiple species of Blastocystis that can infect humans, with some causing symptoms and others being harmless (see Genetics and Symptoms). (wikipedia.org)
  • Humans contract Blastocystis infection by drinking water or eating food contaminated with feces from an infected human or animal. (wikipedia.org)
  • Blastocystis infection can be spread from animals to humans, from humans to other humans, from humans to animals, and from animals to animals. (wikipedia.org)
  • Blastocystis in humans and animals: lytica: identification of a distinct 2-integrin-like molecule new insights utilizing fashionable methodologies. (delvv.com)
  • A dear colleague of mine - Marianne Lebbad, a brilliant Swedish parasitologist with many years in business - sent me the picture below (light microscopy of a faecal concentrate) and speculates that Blastocystis might be able to form groups/clusters of cells, maybe even with the ability to form a mono-layer on the surface of the gut mucosa? (blastocystis.net)
  • Using microscopy (fixed faecal smears) and PCR, they found an almost 40% prevalence of Blastocystis in returning travelers with symptoms, and a prevalence of 18% in patients referred for other reasons. (blastocystis.net)
  • There is a paper out by Santos and Rivera from the Philippines comparing microscopy of direct faecal smear with culture and PCR for detection of Blastocystis . (blastocystis.net)
  • have published data on experimental infection of ST1 in Sprague-Dawley rats. (blastocystis.net)
  • A study of IBS patients in the Middle East showed a "significantly increased" immune reaction in IBS patients to Blastocystis, even when the organism could not be identified in stool samples. (wikipedia.org)
  • Despite increasing reports that Blastocystis infection is associated with digestive symptoms, its pathogenicity remains controversial. (cdc.gov)
  • Classic clinical features of infection include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, anorexia, flatulence, and acute or chronic diarrhea. (cdc.gov)
  • A follow-up study found a significant correlation between infection and symptoms, and identified the most likely cause as contaminated water. (wikipedia.org)
  • One topic that keeps popping up in the literature - and also in two of the papers here in this symposium - is the possibility of 'amoebic forms' of Blastocystis being associated with symptomatic infection. (blastocystis.net)
  • citation needed] A number of researchers have investigated the possibility that some species of Blastocystis are more virulent than others. (wikipedia.org)
  • The development of a classification system for Blastocystis in 2007 produced a series of studies investigating this possibility. (wikipedia.org)
  • However, the precise association between Bh infection risk and HIV-related biological markers and treatment processes remains poorly understood. (bvsalud.org)
  • The Blastocystis real-time PCR developed by me and my colleagues targets a sequence stretch of ~120 bp, securing optimum test sensitivity. (blastocystis.net)
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection disrupts the immune system by depleting CD4+ T lymphocyte (CD4+ T) cell counts, thereby increasing Bh infection risk among persons living with HIV (PLWH). (bvsalud.org)
  • A lively debate ensued in the early 1990s, with some physicians objecting to publication of reports that Blastocystis caused disease. (wikipedia.org)
  • A 1986 study in the United States found that all individuals symptomatically infected with Blastocystis reported recent travel history to less developed countries. (wikipedia.org)
  • In the same study, all hospital employees working in New York who were screened for Blastocystis were found to have asymptomatic infections. (wikipedia.org)
  • A 1990 study published in Military Medicine from Lackland AFB in Texas concluded symptomatic infection was more common in foreign nationals, children, and immunocompromised individuals. (wikipedia.org)
  • A 2002 study published in Military Medicine of army personnel in Thailand identified a 44% infection rate. (wikipedia.org)
  • Hence, the purpose of the study was to explore the association between Bh infection risk and CD4+ T cell counts, HIV viral load (VL), and duration of interruption in antiviral therapy among PLWH. (bvsalud.org)
  • CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that VL was a better predictor of Bh infection than CD4+ T cell counts. (bvsalud.org)
  • Moreover, the study included 70 Blastocystis positive samples from asymptomatic carriers, 40 positive samples from patients with diarrhoea, and 15 positive samples form patients with IBS. (blastocystis.net)
  • One of the foci of this group is to study Blastocystis in animals, for instance in households where animals are kept as pets. (blastocystis.net)
  • 3.0 mg/L). Traveler's gastroenteritis was diagnosed, and symptomatic treatment with acetaminophen, phloroglucinol glucoside, and acetorphan was prescribed. (cdc.gov)
  • An early account described infection of British troops in Egypt in 1916 who recovered following treatment with emetine. (wikipedia.org)
  • This review summarizes the progress of researches on B. hominis infection among IBD and IBS patients during the past 20 years, so as to provide insights into management of blastocystosis in China. (bvsalud.org)
  • The age group did not show a significant difference (P≥0.05) in patients with diarrhea infected with the Blastocystis hominis parasite compared to the control group. (bvsalud.org)
  • Here, we report the case of a pediatric patient infected with Blastocystis that was manifested by gastroenteritis associated with suppurative appendicitis and peritonitis. (cdc.gov)
  • Recent studies recommend the existence of numer of Blastocystis hominis in diverse patient cohorts. (delvv.com)
  • The authors found evidence of Blastocystis invasion into the lamina propria in one of the animals, and signs of inflammation in all animals challenged. (blastocystis.net)
  • Military service: Several studies have identified high rates of infection in military personnel. (wikipedia.org)
  • Reports about invasive infection or disseminated diseases are rare ( 3 ). (cdc.gov)
  • The integrated approach can offer more comprehensive and accurate understanding in the aspects of Bh infection and other opportunistic infections, the efficacy of therapeutic drugs, and the assessment of preventive and control strategies. (bvsalud.org)
  • The is transmitted via the fecal-oral route by way of contami pathogenicity of Entamoeba histolytica is expounded to the nated food or water. (delvv.com)
  • Blastocystis colonisation is positively associated with IBS and is a possible risk factor for developing IBS. (wikipedia.org)
  • Risk factors for infection have been reported as following: International travel: Travel to less developed countries has been cited in development of symptomatic Blastocystis infection. (wikipedia.org)
  • Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was applied to assess the non-linear association between Bh infection risk and CD4+ T cell counts, HIV VL, and duration of interruption in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HARRT). (bvsalud.org)
  • Significant nonlinear associations were observed between the Bh infection risk and CD4+ T cell counts (Pfor nonlinearity (bvsalud.org)
  • Furthermore, males had a higher infection rate (58.00%) compared to females (42.00%), and this rate was statistically significant (P≤0.05). (bvsalud.org)