Article
Blastocystis sp. in splenic cysts: causative agent or accidental association? A unique case report
Registro en:
SANTOS, Helena Lúcia Carneiro et al. Parasites & Vectors, v.7, n. 207, 2014
10.1186/1756-3305-7-207
Autor
Santos, Helena Lúcia Carneiro
Sodré, Fernando Campos
Macedo, Heloisa Werneck de
Resumen
This work was financed by PAPES-VI/FIOCRUZ. The funders had no participation in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Background: Blastocystis sp. is one of the most prevalent parasites found in human stool and has been recently
considered an opportunistic emerging pathogen in immunocompromised individuals. However, cases of invasive
intestinal infections and skin rashes have been attributed to infection by Blastocystis sp in immunocompetent
individuals, suggesting that it is an emerging parasite with pathogenic potential.
Findings: We present a case of a 22 year old female patient who complained of pain in the left hypochondrium.
Ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomography scans showed two splenic cysts. The cyst fluid analysis
demonstrated numerous Blastocystis sp.; PCR and DNA sequencing analyses confirmed the presence of Blastocystis subtype 3.
Conclusions: This is, to our knowledge, the first case report of the presence of Blastocystis subtype 3 in extra-intestinal
organs and is strong evidence that Blastocystis sp. is potentially pathogenic and invasive. However, further studies are
required to determine the pathogenicity of the parasite.