Aim The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis and its relation with demographic data and symptoms in humans referred to medical centers in Ahvaz 2014-2015. Background Infections with intestinal parasites are one of the most important threats to human health worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Blastocystis sp. is ...

Blastocystis presents a great challenge to parasitologists and clinicians to determine whether it is truly an enteropathogen or not and treatment is required if it is observed in symptomatic patients, because even without any treatment patient recovery and improvement has been noted. Blastocystis hominis is the most common protozoan parasite found in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and ...

Sir, The first paper clearly defining the genus Blastocystis as a distinct organism was presented by Alexeieff (1) in 1911, who proposed the name Blastocystis enterocola. The name Blastocystis hominis was proposed by Brumpt (2), and this is the name utilized in the current literature. B. hominis is now regarded as an intestinal protozoan that seems not merely to be a commensal organism, but sho...

Blastocystis hominisis a common parasite implicated in a variety of intestinal problems. Oral-faecal route of transmission has been postulated but the cystic phase which is presumably the infective stage of the parasite, has only recently been described using electron microscope. However, little information is available on the light microscopic morphology of the cyst. There are two possible rea...

Blastocystis is a widely prevalent intestinal protozoan of man and other animals. It is associated with gastro intestinal disorders and symptoms. Emerging literature suggests that several subtypes of this parasite exist and are responsible for virulence, pathogenicity and symptoms. A variety of new diagnostic methods have been developed which help to recognize genotypic variations, subtype rela...

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) represent a spectrum of impaired immunity with effects on cellular immunity, soluble immune factors, and inflammation. As a result, infections due to impaired immune system responses are responsible for significant morbidity in patients with kidney disease. Because of immune dysfunction in CKD, these patients have reduced probabili...

AIM To investigate the putative role of protozoan parasites in the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). METHODS The study included 109 IBS consecutive adult patients fulfilling the Rome III criteria and 100 healthy control subjects. All study subjects filled a structured questionnaire, which covered demographic information and clinical data. Fresh stool samples were collected from p...