Abstract:

Currently, the detection of human infection with Blastocystis hominis is usually based on the examination under a light microscope of faecal samples, either directly, as 'simple smears', or after some form of concentration. Whether short-term, in-vitro cultivation would increase the sensitivity of such detection remains a matter of controversy. Over 900 fresh stool specimens, from soldiers in the Royal Thai Army, were each checked for the parasite using three methods: simple smears; formalin-ethyl-acetate concentration; and cultivation in Jones' medium. Although 334 of the samples were found to be culture-positive, the parasites were only detected in 142 of the simple smears, and faecal concentration led to an even lower sensitivity (64 positive samples). In-vitro cultivation does seem worthwhile in the detection of B. hominis carriage in field studies.

Document Type: Original article

DOI: 10.1179/000349802125002275

Affiliations: 1: Department of Parasitology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, 315 Ratchawithi Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand 2: Department of Military and Community Medicine, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, 315 Ratchawithi Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand 3: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand