Infección por Blastocystis

Blastocystis sp. es un microorganismo unicelular anaerobio, perteneciente al reino Cromista, frecuentemente encontrado en el tracto intestinal de humanos y animales, cuyo rol patogenico para el hombre sigue siendo controversial. Su tipificacion genetica,mostrando nueve subtipos, algunos de los cuales parecen tener un papel en casos de sintomatologia gastrointestinal, abre un nuevo campo para la investigacion. En el presente articulo se hace una extensa revision que incluye el desarrollo historico del parasito, su taxonomia, epidemiologia, morfologia, ciclo vital, asi como aspectos bioquimicos, citoquimicos y geneticos, el rol patogenico contrastado con diferentes variables que incluyen los subtipos, cantidad, respuesta al tratamiento y asociacion con otros patogenos. Finalmente se revisan los aspectos clinicos y terapeuticos. Blastocystis sp. is an anaerobic unicellular micro-organism belonging to the kingdom Chromista, frequently found in the digestive tracts of humans and animals, the pathogenic role of which continues being controversial for human beings. Its genetic classification, which shows nine sub-types, some of which seem to have a role in cases with gastrointestinal symptomathology, opens a new field for research.In this article, an extensive revision is carried out which includes the historic development of the parasite, its taxonomy, epidemiology, morphology, vital cycle, as well as biochemical,cytochemical and genetic aspects, the pathogenic role in contrast with different variables which include the sub-types, quantity, response to the treatment and association withother pathogens. Finally, the clinical and therapeutic aspects are also reviewed.