Publisher's Synopsis
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.
