Molecular epidemiology of Blastocystis in Lebanon and correlation between subtype 1 and gastrointestinal symptoms

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 Jun;88(6):1203-6. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0777. Epub 2013 Mar 4.

Abstract

Blastocystis is the most common eukaryotic parasite in the intestinal tract of humans. Because of its potential impact in public health, we acquired the first data concerning the prevalence of this parasite and the frequency of the Blastocystis subtypes (STs) in the Lebanese population. In this study, fecal samples from 220 Lebanese symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were collected and a total of 42 patients (19%) were identified as positive for this parasite by direct-light microscopy of smears. Among these, 36 Blastocystis isolates were genotyped using partial small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. The ST distribution in the present Lebanese population was as follows: ST3 (33.3%), ST2 (33.3%), ST1 (30.6%), and ST4 (2.8%). These data were compared with those available in other Middle Eastern and neighboring countries. Finally, ST1 was significantly more prevalent among symptomatic patients of this Lebanese population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Blastocystis / classification
  • Blastocystis / genetics*
  • Blastocystis / isolation & purification*
  • Blastocystis Infections / epidemiology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • DNA, Protozoan / genetics
  • DNA, Protozoan / isolation & purification*
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / parasitology*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lebanon / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Ribosome Subunits, Small / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Specimen Handling
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • DNA, Protozoan