TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 344. Blastocystis Hominis A1 - Patterson, Maria Jevitz A2 - Rudolph, Colin D. A2 - Rudolph, Abraham M. A2 - Lister, George E. A2 - First, Lewis R. A2 - Gershon, Anne A. Y1 - 2011 N1 - T2 - Rudolph's Pediatrics, 22e AB - Continued controversy exists about Blastocystis hominis. Long considered a protozoan of worldwide distribution, most likely an amoeba, this strict anaerobe has been classified by small subunit rRNA gene analysis into the heterogeneous group of protists, the Stramenopiles,1 which also includes diatoms and brown algae (kelp). Whether there are single or multiple species is unresolved. No definite life cycle has been delineated. Transmission is presumed to occur by the fecal-oral route from contaminated food or water. The organism’s pathogenicity remains controversial,2-4 and asymptomatic infection is common. Some B hominis cause disease rather than colonization when present in large numbers in the absence of other stool pathogens. Others consider B hominis an enteric commensal and ascribe response to treatment as elimination of other undetected stool pathogens or resolution of noninfectious etiology. Others suggest it is an opportunistic pathogen. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/10/08 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=7031549 ER -