title: Elucidation of the life cycle of the intestinal protozoan Blastocystis hominis.
abstract: This paper elucidates the status of the different morphological forms of Blastocystis and reports the existence of thin- and thick-walled cysts in B. hominis on the basis of current experimental evidence. It is suggested that the thin-walled cysts are autoinfectious, leading to multiplication of the organism in the intestinal tract. The thick-walled cysts are responsible for external transmission via the faecal-oral route. A life cycle for B. hominis is postulated on the basis of these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suresh
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Yap
mesh_terms: D000165:Acridine Orange; D000818:Animals; D016845:Blastocystis hominis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D000165:Acridine Orange