title: [Blastocystosis: controversy and indefinedness].
abstract: Blastocystosis is the infection caused by Blastocystis hominis. It is associated with frequent and unquestionably very important controversy and lack of definition, above all due to its implications for general assistance and medical care. In that connection, there is considerable disagreement on the subject of the pathogenicity of this protozoan, which should be categorically defined. Other aspects besides the above, require clarification through results from well conducted studies aiming at attributing Blastocystis hominis a proper role within the context of public health. Another matter worthy of attention is the diagnostic value of the parasitological stool examination, with the proviso that it is adequate, as are fecal smears suspended in saline solution or permanent mounts stained with iron hematoxylin or thionine. The use of inadequate techniques tends to produce false negative results, thereby impeding investigation into the real importance of this microorganism.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. amatonet@usp.br
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Amato Neto
authors.forename: Ruth Semira
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Alarcón
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gakiya
authors.forename: Rita Cristina
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.forename: Cláudio Santos
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Lúcia Maria Almeida
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Braz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016776:Blastocystis Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D006416:Hematoxylin; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D006416:Hematoxylin