BookHeinz Mehlhorn, Kevin S.W. Tan, Hisao Yoshikawa, editors.
Summary: 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 -- P. [4] of cover.
Contents:
1. Landmarks in the discovery of blastocystis stages / Heinz Mehlhorn, Minoru Yamada, Hisao Yoshikawa, Kevin S.W. Tan, Haris Mirza, and Kenneth Boorom
2. Morphology of human and animal blastocystis isolates with special reference to reproductive modes / Minoru Yamada and Hisao Yoshikawa
3. Epidemiology, transmission, and zoonotic potential of blastocystis in human and animals / Hisao Yoshikawa
4. Blastocystis - host interactions: insights from in vitro model systems / Kevin S.W. Tan and Haris Mirza
5. Clinical aspects of blastocystis infections: advancements amidst controversies / Haris Mirza and Kevin S.W. Tan
6. Molecular approaches on systematic position, genetic polymorphism, and classification of blastocystis isolates from humans and animals / Hisao Yoshikawa
7. What do we know about blastocystis analyzing research studies with statistical methods / Kenneth Boorom
8. Behavioral decision analysis and pathogenicity: how do we decide what makes us sick? / Kenneth Boorom
9. Diarrheas in humans due to agents of disease / Heinz Mehlhorn --10. What are zoonotic diseases? / Heinz Mehlhorn --11. Conclusions / Heinz Mehlhorn, Minoru Yamada, Hisao Yoshikawa, Kevin S.W. Tan, Haris Mirza, and Kenneth Boorom.