Blastocystis Infections

Infections with organisms of the genus BLASTOCYSTIS. The species B. hominis is responsible for most infections. Parasitologic surveys have generally found small numbers of this species in human stools, but higher positivity rates and organism numbers in AIDS patients and other immunosuppressed patients (IMMUNOCOMPROMISED HOST). Symptoms include ABDOMINAL PAIN; DIARRHEA; CONSTIPATION; VOMITING; and FATIGUE.

Also Known As:

Blastocystis hominis Infections; Infections, Blastocystis; Blastocystis Infection; Blastocystis hominis Infection; Infection, Blastocystis; Infection, Blastocystis hominis; Infections, Blastocystis hominis

Networked: 54 relevant articles (2 outcomes, 5 trials/studies)

Relationship Network

Disease Context: Research Results

Related Diseases

1.	Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Syndrome, Irritable Bowel)
2.	Sepsis (Septicemia)
3.	Abdominal Pain (Pain, Abdominal)
4.	Pneumonia (Pneumonitis)
5.	Peritonitis

Experts

1.	Leelayoova, Saovanee: 3 articles (10/2021 - 10/2008)
2.	Ge, Yaming: 2 articles (02/2022 - 01/2021)
3.	Liu, Xuehan: 2 articles (02/2022 - 01/2021)
4.	Mungthin, Mathirut: 2 articles (10/2021 - 02/2014)
5.	Naaglor, Tawee: 2 articles (10/2021 - 02/2014)
6.	Dogruman-Al, Funda: 2 articles (02/2015 - 10/2011)
7.	Turk, Songul: 2 articles (02/2015 - 10/2011)
8.	Wu, Ling-Yuan: 2 articles (02/2013 - 12/2012)
9.	Stensvold, C R: 2 articles (11/2012 - 06/2007)
10.	Traub, R J: 2 articles (11/2012 - 06/2007)

Drugs and Biologics

Drugs and Important Biological Agents (IBA) related to Blastocystis Infections:

1.	Metronidazole (Metric)FDA LinkGeneric 08/01/2015 - "Metronidazole is considered a first-line treatment for Blastocystis infection; however, there has been increasing evidence for the lack of efficacy of this treatment. " 01/01/2013 - "Based on the studies carried out in vitro and clinical responses obtained in patients, metronidazole appears to be the most effective drug for Blastocystis infection. " 03/01/2003 - "A placebo-controlled treatment trial of Blastocystis hominis infection with metronidazole." 01/01/2023 - "Different medicinal plants can combat Blastocystis infection and could be a good substitute for metronidazole and other synthetic treatments." 01/01/2023 - "Metronidazole is the drug of choice for the treatment of Blastocystis infection. "
2.	Hydrochloric Acid (Hydrogen Chloride)FDA Link 02/01/2013 - "497 fecal specimens were collected from 5 randomly selected villages of Bama County in December 2011, and tested for Blastocystis hominis infection using improved centrifugal sedimentation with hydrochloric acid-ether. "
3.	Ether (Diethyl Ether)IBA 02/01/2013 - "497 fecal specimens were collected from 5 randomly selected villages of Bama County in December 2011, and tested for Blastocystis hominis infection using improved centrifugal sedimentation with hydrochloric acid-ether. "
4.	CytokinesIBA 01/01/2022 - "The objectives of the present study were to investigate the prevalence of Blastocystis spp. and to determine the levels of some pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and without Blastocystis infection in comparison with non-IBS control individuals. " 07/01/2012 - "Since inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms might have a role in the pathophysiology of IBS, we assessed the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-10, in previously collected DNA samples from IBS patients and controls, with or without Blastocystis infection. "
5.	IronIBA 01/01/2014 - "Of these cases, subjects with complete laboratory investigation (complete blood count - CBC, ferritin, total iron binding capacity - TIBC, and serum) and blastocystis hominis infection were included in this study as the case group. "
6.	Ferritins (Ferritin)IBA 01/01/2014 - "Of these cases, subjects with complete laboratory investigation (complete blood count - CBC, ferritin, total iron binding capacity - TIBC, and serum) and blastocystis hominis infection were included in this study as the case group. "
7.	RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)IBA 12/23/2022 - "The prevalence of Blastocystis infection was amplified and sequenced in the 600 bp barcode region of the small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA). " 10/31/2022 - "The Blastocystis infection, its gene subtypes, and its zoonotic potential based on small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) were analyzed. " 01/01/2021 - "sinensis on six farms located in four cities (Wugang, Chenzhou, Huaihua and Jishou) in Hunan Province, south-central China, and were examined for Blastocystis infection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. " 01/01/2021 - "In total, 143 fecal specimens collected from a peafowl breeding farm in Henan Province were tested for Blastocystis infection by PCR assay targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene, and a total of 50 specimens (35.0%) were positive. " 11/29/2020 - "Blastocystis infection was identified via a nested polymerase chain reaction and subtyped via sequencing of the partial small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. "
8.	DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)IBA 10/01/2012 - "[DNA diagnosis of blastocystis infection by PCR]." 10/01/2011 - "Recently, PCR-based diagnostic methods of Blastocystis infection using direct DNA extraction from fresh fecal samples with commercially available kits are reported. " 08/01/2008 - "Diagnosis of Blastocystis infections using this sensitive method, including DNA extraction and real-time PCR, only requires 3 h. " 03/21/2019 - "Blastocystis infections were identified by direct smear, formalin ethyl-acetate concentration technique (FECT), Boeck and Drbohlav's Locke-Egg-Serum (LES) medium culture, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of small-subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA). " 07/01/2012 - "Since inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms might have a role in the pathophysiology of IBS, we assessed the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-10, in previously collected DNA samples from IBS patients and controls, with or without Blastocystis infection. "
9.	Drinking WaterIBA 07/01/2012 - "Drinking water is a significant predictor of Blastocystis infection among rural Malaysian primary schoolchildren." 03/01/2015 - "D fragilis infection was associated with having children 5 to 18 years old in the household and Blastocystis infection was associated with high income (≥600,000 Danish Kroner/y, approximately $100,000 US dollars/y), no animals in the household, and drinking bottled water. " 01/01/2020 - "There is a high prevalence of Blastocystis infections among general populations in Yunnan province, southwestern China, and toilet type, anemia and type of daily drinking water are risk factors of Blastocystis infections. " 01/01/2020 - "Toilet type (OR = 3.248, 95% CI: 1.245-8.473), anemia (OR = 2.601, 95% CI: 1.245-8.473) and type of daily drinking water (OR = 3.11, 95% CI: 1.557-6.213) were identified as risk factors of Blastocystis infections; however, Blastocystis infections showed no associations with clinical symptoms. "
10.	Formaldehyde (Formol)FDA Link 02/01/2015 - "The new ELISA test was able to detect fewer than 10(3) cells, recognized subtypes 1, 2, 3, and 5 (comprising >95 % of human Blastocystis infections), and exhibited similar reactivity when comparing formalin-preserved samples to fresh/frozen samples. " 03/21/2019 - "Blastocystis infections were identified by direct smear, formalin ethyl-acetate concentration technique (FECT), Boeck and Drbohlav's Locke-Egg-Serum (LES) medium culture, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of small-subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA). "

Therapies and Procedures

1.	Critical Care (Surgical Intensive Care) 03/01/2022 - "More studies are required to understand the source of Blastocystis infection to poultry under intensive care and the role of poultry animals in the transmission of Blastocystis to humans."
2.	Therapeutics 11/01/2012 - "Conventional therapy is ineffective for symptomatic Blastocystis infection. " 02/01/2011 - "Although metronidazole (Mz) is standard therapy for Blastocystis infections, there have been accumulating reports of treatment failure, suggesting the existence of drug-resistant isolates. "
3.	Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) 10/17/2019 - "Risk factors for Blastocystis infection in HIV/AIDS patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy in Southwest China."
4.	Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation 01/01/2014 - "Blastocystis hominis infection in a post-cardiotomy patient on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support: A case report and literature review." 01/01/2014 - "Here we describe a patient who sustained Blastocystis hominis infection resulting in severe sepsis while on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support, and the course of treatment taken to treat him. "
5.	Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) 03/01/1996 - "Case-report of protozoal infection (Blastocystis bominis) during Pseudomonas peritonitis in male patient with intestinal diverticulosis on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) treatment for chronic renal failure (CRF). "