Abstract

FONTE GALINDO, Luis; FONG GONZALEZ, Annia; MENDEZ SUTIL, Yuliet  and  MOREIRA PERDOMO, Yoanka. Pathogenicity of Blastocystis sp. Evidence and mechanisms. Rev Cubana Med Trop [online]. 2014, vol.66, n.3, pp. 312-321. ISSN 0375-0760.

Introduction: during the last two decades, evidence supporting the pathogenic character of Blastocystis sp. accumulated. Nevertheless, those arguments are still unknown by the great majority of professionals related with diagnosis, treatment and control of the intestinal infectious in general, and of the blastocystosis in particular. Objectives: to review published materials about pieces of evidence that support the acceptance of the pathogenicity of Blastocystis sp., and to what extent the information accumulated allows revealing the mechanisms by which this parasite causes damage to the human host. Methods: through different search engines, papers about pathogenicity of Blastocystis sp. published during 1994-2014 period were reviewed. Additionally, some monograph and papers dated previously to the mentioned interval were also consulted. Results: updated information about the selected topics, with academic and practical approach, were presented and analyzed. Conclusions: clinical, phenotypic and genetic pieces of evidence accumulated during the last fifteen years support the pathogenic character of Blastocystis sp. Once they are adequately integrated into the practice of the corresponding professionals the diagnosis, treatment and control of blastocystosis could be improved.

Keywords : blastocystosis; Blastocystis; prevalence; pathogenicity; subtypes.

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