Investigation of Blastocystis in stool samples using by microscopic, culture and moleculer methods

SUMMARYINVESTIGATION OF BLASTOCYSTIS IN STOOL SAMPLES USING BY MICROSCOPIC, CULTURE AND MOLECULER METHODSB lastocystis have a very large host population like mammals, birds, reptiles and arthropods. Blastocystis species, cause gastrointestinal symptoms diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, is known as blastocystosis, causes this clinical picture. The genome of the parasite whose pathogenicity is not fully elucidated due to the various polymorphism, that is why 13 subspecies have been identified today.In this study, stool specimens of 350 patients are taken in Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Numune Training and Research Hospital Microbiology Laboratory. The Blastocystis protozoon in these specimens are researched by microscopic and culture method and aimed to determine the assay of subspecies by PCR method.In this study, native-lugol, trichrome and Direct Fluorescent Antibody method are evaluated in microscopic methods. The culture method, made in Ringer solution, is considered as the gold standard. In PCR method, the assay of subspecies is done by using STS primers.Out of 350 samples 19% of Blastocystis is obtained in the culture method in the study. When the assay of subspecies is considered, as in the studies in our country and abroad, most common subspecies found is 3. This was followed by subspecies 1, 4, 2, 6 and the mixed infection ratio is to be 29%. The subspecies 6 have been identified in our study for the first time in our country. Among the microscopic methods, DFA method is found to be compatible with the culture method and because it is a practical and rapid method it is concluded that it can be used in routine diagnosis.Key Words: Blastocystis, Polymerase Chain Reaction, culture