title: A placebo-controlled treatment trial of Blastocystis hominis infection with metronidazole.
abstract: Blastocystis hominis, previously considered a harmless yeast, is now classified as a protozoan inhabiting the human intestinal tract. The pathogenicity of B. hominis remains controversial and is currently the subject of extensive debate.1- 5 As a result of the uncertainty surrounding the pathogenic role of B. hominis, large-scale treatment trials of B. hominis infection have so far been lacking. In spite of this, several drugs have been reported to be active against the parasite.6-8 The present study was carried out in order to evaluate the efficacy of metronidazole treatment in inducing clinical remission and parasitologic eradication in immunocompetent individuals with B. hominis as the only evident cause of diarrhea.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Catania, c/o Ascoli-Tomaselli Hospital, via Passo Gravina 185, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nigro
authors.forename: Licia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Larocca
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Massarelli
authors.forename: Ildebrando
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Patamia
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minniti
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palermo
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cacopardo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016776:Blastocystis Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology; D016845:Blastocystis hominis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D008795:Metronidazole