title: [Blastocystis spp.: Advances, controversies and future challenges].
abstract: Blastocystis spp. is the most common protozoan detected in human stool samples. In developing countries, infection rates are higher than 20%. The presence of this parasite in the feces of several host species suggests its zoonotic potential. The clinical relevance and the pathogenic role of Blastocystis spp. in the intestinal tract remain unclear. There are several clinical reports that recognize it as the etiologic agent of several intestinal disorders such as diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis, although the pathogenicity of this parasite has not been proved yet. This wide range of clinical manifestations could be related to the genetic diversity exhibited by this parasite.
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitario de Estudios Microbiológicos y Parasitológicos, Sede Cátedra de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CABA, Argentina. Electronic address: valeriadelcoco@med.unlp.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Valeria F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Del Coco
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitario de Estudios Microbiológicos y Parasitológicos, Sede Cátedra de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Nora B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitario de Estudios Microbiológicos y Parasitológicos, Sede Cátedra de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Basualdo
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitario de Estudios Microbiológicos y Parasitológicos, Sede Cátedra de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina; Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: María A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Córdoba
mesh_terms: D016844:Blastocystis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016776:Blastocystis Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D003967:Diarrhea; D005243:Feces; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans
keywords: Blastocystis spp.; Diversidad genética; Epidemiology; Epidemiología; Genetic diversity; Intestinal parasites; Parásitos intestinales; Pathogenesis; Patogénesis