Abstract
An investigation of a Blastocystis species obtained from several species of monkeys and fowls was conducted to clarify the morphology of the organism, using light microscopical techniques including Giemsa, Heidenhain iron hematoxylin, Trichrome stains, iodine mount and phase-contrast microscopy. A comparison was made with Blastocystis hominis from humans. Blastocystis spp. were found in 15 out of 26 monkeys and in all of 12 fowls (10 chickens and 2 ostriches) examined. The behaviour of the parasites in the bowels was also examined, using paraffin-embedded sections. Microscope examination of the lumen contents at death revealed the organism in the caecum of monkeys and fowls. The organisms from faeces, cultures and the lumen contents of the caecum of humans, monkeys and fowls were similar, except for variations in the size and contents of the central vacuoles, which occupied the centre of the organisms.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Burden DJ, Anger HS, Hammet NC (1978/1979) Blastocystis sp. infections in pigs. Vet Microbiol 3:227–234
Hahn P, Fleischer NKF (1985) Blastocystis hominis — is it of clinical importance? Abstracts, DTG meeting supplement 2. Trop Med Parasitol 36:7–8
Markell EK, Udkow MP (1986) Blastocystis hominis: pathogen or fellow traveller? Am J Trop Med Hyg 35:1023–1026
Matsumoto Y, Yamada M, Yoshida Y (1987) Light-microscopical appearance and ultrastructure of Blastocystis hominis, an intestinal parasite of man. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg [A] (in press)
McClure HM, Strobert EA, Healy GR (1980) Blastocystis hominis in a pig-tailed macaque: a potential enteric pathogen for nonhuman primates. Lab Anim Sci 30:890–894
Phillips BP, Zierdt CH (1976) Blastocystis hominis: pathogenic potential in human patients and in gnotobiotes. Exp Parasitol 39:358–364
Tan HK, Zierdt CH (1973) Ultrastructure of Blastocystis hominis. Z Parasitenkd 42:315–324
Taylor DN, Echeverria P, Blaser MJ, Pitarangsi C, Blacklow N, Cross J, Weniger BG (1985) Polymicrobial aethiology of travellers' diarrhea. Lancet 16:381–383
Vannatta JB, Adamson D, Mulican K (1985) Blastocystis hominis infection presenting as recurrent diarrhea. Ann Intern Med 102:495–496
Zierdt CH (1973) Studies of Blastocystis hominis. J Protozool 20:114–121
Zierdt CH (1978) Blastocystis hominis, an intestinal protozoan parasite of man. Public Health Lab 36:147–161
Zierdt CH, Tan HK (1976) Ultrastructure and light microscope appearance of Blastocystis hominis in a patient with enteric disease. Z Parasitenkd 50:277–283
Zierdt CH, Rude WS, Bull BS (1967) Protozoan characteristics of Blastocystis hominis. Am J Clin Pathol 48:495–501
Zierdt CH, Swan JC, Hosseini J (1983) In vitro response of Blastocystis hominis to antiprotozoan drugs. J Protozool 30:332–334
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Contribution no. 580 from the Dept. of Medical Zoology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yamada, M., Yoshikawa, H., Tegoshi, T. et al. Light microscopical study of Blastocystis spp. in monkeys and fowls. Parasitol Res 73, 527–531 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00535328
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00535328