title: Irritable bowel syndrome: is it associated with genotypes of Blastocystis hominis.
abstract: Blastocystis hominis is the most common intestinal parasite in humans. An extensive genetic variability has been described recently in B. hominis isolates. The aim of this study was to analyze genotypes of B. hominis isolates obtained from the healthy individuals and patients with irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea (IBS-D). The patients with IBS-D were enrolled from gastroenterology outpatient department at the Aga Khan University Hospital. History and physical examination was done. Stool microscopy, culture, and polymerase chain reaction for B. hominis genotyping were carried out. The study included 158 patients with IBS-D, mean age 41 +/- 15, age range 16-83 years, and male/female ratio of 109:49. One hundred fifty-seven (49.8%) were taken as healthy control. The dominant B. hominis genotypes were genotype 1 in 87 (65%) and type 3 in 49 (37%). In IBS-D, genotype 1 was present in 75 (86%; P < 0.001) compared to 12 (14%) in controls while type 3 was present in 23 (47%) compared to 26 (53%) in controls (P < 0.001), respectively. Infection with single genotype of B. hominis was present in 70 (73%) with IBS-D and in 26 (27%) in control group while with multiple genotypes in 25 (64%) in IBS-D and 14 (36%) in control group (P = 0.30), respectively. Majority of our patients had typeable B. hominis infection. The genotype of B. hominis in IBS-D was type 1 while in control genotype 3 was predominant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. yakoobjaved@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yakoob
authors.forename: Wasim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jafri
authors.forename: Mohammad Asim
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Beg
authors.forename: Zaigham
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: Shagufta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naz
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Rustam
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D016776:Blastocystis Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000469:parasitology*; D016845:Blastocystis hominis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan