title: Pathogenicity of Blastocystis hominis, a clinical reevaluation.
abstract: Blastocystis (B.) hominis was considered to be a member of normal intestinal flora in the past, but in recent years it has been accepted as a very controversial pathogenic protozoan. In this study, 52 individuals whose stool examination revealed B. hominis were evaluated for clinical symptoms. Metronidazole was administered for 2 weeks to the patients infected with B. hominis. After 2 weeks of treatment they were called for a follow-up stool examination. No other bacteriological and parasitological agents were found during stool examination of these patients. The frequency rate of intestinal symptoms was 88.4% in the B. hominis cases. Abdominal pain was the most frequent symptom (76.9%). Diarrhea and distention followed at a rate of 50.0% and 32.6%. Intestinal symptoms may be seen frequently together with the presence of B. hominis and this protozoan may be regarded as an intestinal pathogen, especially when other agents are eliminated.
authors.affiliation: Süleyman Demirel Universitesi Tip Fakültesi, Mikrobiyoloji Anabilim Dali, Isparta, Turkey. selcuk@med.sdu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Selçuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Emel Sesli
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Cetin
authors.forename: Buket Cicioğlu
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Aridoğan
authors.forename: Salih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arikan
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demirci
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016776:Blastocystis Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016845:Blastocystis hominis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea; D005243:Feces / Q000166:cytology / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D008795:Metronidazole