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Morphology and reproductive mode of Blastocystis hominis in diarrhea and in vitro

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Abstract

The in vitro culture of Blastocystis hominis in Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) 1640 medium containing 20% calf serum is described. The morphological and reproductive mode studies of B. hominis in symptomatic patients’ faeces and in further RPMI 1640 medium-cultured samples were undertaken by light microscopy using iodine staining and hematoxylin staining. Three distinct morphological forms, vacuolar, granular and amoeboid, were distinguished in faeces and in vitro cultures. The cystic form was detected in long-term cultures. Five modes of reproduction, namely, binary fission, endodyogeny, plasmotomy, budding and schizogeny were observed.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by a generous research funding (No.98-1-231) from the Ministry of Health, P.R.China.

Declaration

This experiment complies with the current laws of P.R.China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, Medical School of Xi’an Jiaotong University, P.O. Box 64, 205 Scarlet Bird Avenue, Xi’an, 710061, People’s Republic of China

    X. Zhang, J. Y. Qiao & F. R. Yao

  2. The First Hospital, Medical School of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China

    X. J. Zhou

  3. Clinical Laboratory, Medical School of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China

    Z. C. Wei

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  1. X. Zhang
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  2. J. Y. Qiao
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  3. X. J. Zhou
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  4. F. R. Yao
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  5. Z. C. Wei
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Correspondence to J. Y. Qiao.

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Zhang, X., Qiao, J.Y., Zhou, X.J. et al. Morphology and reproductive mode of Blastocystis hominis in diarrhea and in vitro. Parasitol Res 101, 43–51 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-006-0439-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-006-0439-x

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