Ribodemes of Blastocystis hominis isolated in Japan

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2001 Oct;65(4):393-6. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2001.65.393.

Abstract

To determine if genetic diversity of Blastocystis hominis exists in Japan, we monitored 64 B. hominis-infected people: 39 asymptomatic people whose infections were detected during routine medical check-ups (32 Japanese and 7 non-Japanese) and 25 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms who visited the outpatient clinics of St. Luke's International Hospital (19 Japanese and 6 non-Japanese). We detected 6 known and 2 new riboprint patterns in isolates from the infected people. There were no differences in the distribution of ribodemes between isolates from Japanese and non-Japanese people, similar to that in other countries. However, we noted a possible relationship between ribodeme type and pathogenicity. The results suggest that ribodemes I, III, and VI may be responsible for gastrointestinal symptoms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blastocystis Infections / parasitology*
  • Blastocystis Infections / pathology
  • Blastocystis hominis / classification
  • Blastocystis hominis / genetics*
  • Blastocystis hominis / pathogenicity
  • Carrier State
  • DNA, Ribosomal / analysis*
  • Gene Amplification
  • Genetic Variation
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Japan
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Ribotyping

Substances

  • DNA, Ribosomal