DNA polymorphism revealed by arbitrary primers polymerase chain reaction among Blastocystis strains isolated from humans, a chicken, and a reptile

J Eukaryot Microbiol. 1996 Mar-Apr;43(2):127-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1996.tb04492.x.

Abstract

DNA polymorphisms of different strains of Blastocystis isolated from humans, a chicken, and a reptile were examined by an arbitrary primer PCR method. Two strains of Blastocystis hominis isolated from humans in the USA and Japan yielded nearly identical PCR products. However, one strain of B. hominis (isolated from a human in Singapore) yielded quite different PCR products. Blastocystis sp. isolated from a chicken yielded PCR products similar to those of the former two strains, while Blastocystis lapemi, isolated from a reptile, shared no bands with any of the other isolates. These results indicate the possibility that our isolate from the chicken is a zoonotic strain, and that there is intraspecific variation of Blastocystis hominis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Blastocystis / genetics*
  • Blastocystis / isolation & purification
  • Blastocystis Infections / parasitology
  • Blastocystis hominis / genetics*
  • Blastocystis hominis / isolation & purification
  • Chickens / parasitology
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Protozoan / genetics*
  • DNA, Protozoan / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Reptiles / parasitology

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Protozoan