The stages of Blastocystis have been known for 101 years. However, many facts are still disputed, e.g. even the question whether it is a true pathogen or a commensal present in sometimes life-threatening diarrheas.
The present book evaluates in chapters contributed by renowned researchers the latest findings on:
Landmarks in the discovery of Blastocystis
Epidemiology, transmission and zoonotic potential
Morphology of human and animal Blastocystis isolates
Clinical aspects of Blastocystis infections
Behavioral decision analysis: what makes us sick?
Blastocystis-host interactions
Molecular approaches on the systematical position
Genetic polymorphism
Blastocystis from a statistical point of view
Diarrheas due to different agents of disease
Zoonotic diseases in comparison
As such, this book provides a broad range of information for people working in this field, for physicians and veterinarians who are confronted with clinical cases, teachers, students and technical staff members in the fields of microbiology, parasitology and diagnostic methods.
Prof. Dr. Heinz Mehlhorn, Düsseldorf, Germany. He has investigated the transmission pathways of human and animal parasites for over 40 years and his university spin-off company Alpha-Biocare has developed various antiparasitic medical products based on more than 20 patents. He has published 25 books, more than 250 original papers, and has served as Managing Editor of the journal Parasitology Research since 1981.
Prof. Dr. Kevin SW Tan, Singapore, former fellow at the Rockefeller University. He is a specialist for molecular parasitology research in the fields ofBlastocystis hominis andPlasmodium falciparum, and has received various national and international awards as well as considerable research grants for his work to date. More recently, he has funneled the research output of his many publications into the foundation of the company Biolynx Technology.
Prof. Dr. Hisao Yoshikawa, Nara, Japan. He has been an active researcher in many fields of medical and zoological parasitology for over 30 years. Over the course of this time, he has intensively studied the ultrastructure, cell biology and molecular phylogeny of many isolates ofBlastocystis.
