Prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in Morocco: Comparative assessment of three diagnostic methods and characterization of parasite forms in Jones' culture medium

Blastocystosis is an infection caused by Blastocystis sp., which colonizes the digestive tract of various hosts, including humans, although its pathogenicity is debated. It is crucial to detect and distinguish the different forms of Blastocystis to understand better its impact on human health and it...

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Published in:Parasite (Paris) 2023, Vol.30, p.64
Main Authors: Boutahar, Mounia, Belaouni, Mourad, Ibrahimi, Azeddine, Eljaoudi, Rachid, Aanniz, Tarik, Er-Rami, Mohammed
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Blastocystis - genetics
Blastocystis Infections - diagnosis
Blastocystis Infections - epidemiology
blastocystis sp
Humans
jones’ medium
morocco
Morocco - epidemiology
Parasites
pcr
Prevalence
sensitivity
specificity
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Summary:Blastocystosis is an infection caused by Blastocystis sp., which colonizes the digestive tract of various hosts, including humans, although its pathogenicity is debated. It is crucial to detect and distinguish the different forms of Blastocystis to understand better its impact on human health and its epidemiological evolution. This study evaluated three diagnostic methods on 105 stool samples: direct examination, culture in Jones' medium, and conventional PCR. PCR is considered the gold standard and revealed a high prevalence of Blastocystis (67.62%) compared to direct examination (20.95%) and culture in Jones' medium (51.43%). Although the sensitivity of direct examination and culture was 31% and 76.1%, respectively, their specificity was 100%. No significant risk factors were identified. A statistically significant association was observed between Blastocystis infection and abdominal pain. Microscopic analysis revealed various morphological forms. Molecular diagnosis is an essential tool to determine the true prevalence of Blastocystis, and studying the different forms of this microorganism will contribute to a better understanding of its biological cycle and, therefore, the impact of this emerging infection on human health.
ISSN:1776-1042
1252-607X
1776-1042
DOI:10.1051/parasite/2023065