There have been few reports on extra-enteric infections by Blastocystis STs and none have been molecularly identified in samples from human reproductive organs. We report for the first time the identification of 3 different subtypes of Blastocystis (ST1-3) in vaginal and sperm samples, from patients infected with Trichomonas vaginalis. Blastocystis STs were identified by PCR-sequencing and by phylogenetic inferences using 28 vaginal swab samples and 7 sperm samples from patients trichomoniasis. Blastocystis STs were identified in 6 of 28 vaginal swabs (21.4%) and in 3 of 7 sperm samples (42.8%). In both biological samples, STs 1-3 were found; one vaginal sample showed subtype co-infection with ST1 and ST3. High genetic variation was observed in the sequences obtained and no specific clustering in the phylogenetic trees was detected. Most of the haplotypes identified were placed far from the main dispersal centers. Our finding suggested that incorrect cleaning of the genital area or a contamination by combination of anal and vaginal intercourse.
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Molecular Identification of Blastocystis Subtypes in the Cervix: A Study on Polish Patients Barbara Suchońska, Adam Kaczmarek, Maria Wesołowska, Daniel Młocicki, Rusłan Sałamatin Journal of Clinical Medicine.2025; 14(11): 3928. CrossRef
Genetic Variability of the Internal Transcribed Spacer and Pyruvate:Ferredoxin Oxidoreductase Partial Gene of Trichomonas vaginalis from Female Patients Fernando Martinez-Hernandez, Fabiola Sanchez-Aguillon, Joel Martinez-Ocaña, Nelly Raquel Gonzalez-Arenas, Mirza Romero-Valdovinos, Eduardo Lopez-Escamilla, Pablo Maravilla, Guiehdani Villalobos Microorganisms.2023; 11(9): 2240. CrossRef
Yolanda Escutia-Guzman, Williams Arony Martinez-Flores, Joel Martinez-Oca?a, Ramon Martinez-Pimentel, Marisol Benitez-Ramirez, Fernando Martinez-Hernandez, Sara Arroyo-Escalante, Mirza Romero-Valdovinos, Guadalupe Erendira Orozco-Mosqueda, Pablo Maravilla
Korean J Parasitol 2020;58(5):571-576. Published online October 22, 2020
Extra-enteric infections by Blastocystis spp. have rarely been documented. Here, we report a case of extra-enteric blastocystosis in a patient with minimal cervicitis symptoms. A 47-year-old Hispanic female patient was attended in a primary health centre in Michoacan state, Mexico, for her routine gynaecological medical examination. As only symptom, she referred to a slight vaginal itching. The presence of several vacuolar-stages of Blastocystis spp. were identified by Papanicolaou staining; molecular identification was attempted by culture-PCR sequencing of a region of 18S gene from cervical and faecal samples obtained 2 months after cytological examination, even when patient declared that she tried self-medicating with vaginal ovules. Blastocystis ST1 was identified only in the faecal sample. The presence of Blastocystis spp. in the cervix of a patient with scarce symptomatology, demonstrates the extraordinary flexibility of this microorganism to adapt to new environments and niches.
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Citations to this article as recorded by
Molecular Identification of Blastocystis Subtypes in the Cervix: A Study on Polish Patients Barbara Suchońska, Adam Kaczmarek, Maria Wesołowska, Daniel Młocicki, Rusłan Sałamatin Journal of Clinical Medicine.2025; 14(11): 3928. CrossRef
Unexpected Presence of Blastocystis Subtype 1-3 DNA in Human Vaginal and Sperm Samples Coinfected with Trichomonas vaginalis Guiehdani Villalobos, Fabiola Sanchez-Aguillon, Marcia Veronica Carmona-Maldonado, Nelly Raquel Gonzalez-Arenas, Eduardo Lopez-Escamilla, Rigoberto Hernandez-Castro, Mirza Romero-Valdovinos, Williams Arony Martinez-Flores, Juan Pablo Ramirez-Hinojosa, Pab The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2022; 60(3): 195. CrossRef
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