Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-jr42d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T21:36:32.949Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The ambiguous life of Dientamoeba fragilis: the need to investigate current hypotheses on transmission

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 February 2011

JOEL L. N. BARRATT*
Affiliation:
Division of Microbiology, SydPath, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, Australia University of Technology Sydney, i3 Institute, Broadway, Australia University of Technology Sydney, Department of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, Broadway, Australia
JOHN HARKNESS
Affiliation:
Division of Microbiology, SydPath, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, Australia University of Technology Sydney, Department of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, Broadway, Australia
DEBORAH MARRIOTT
Affiliation:
Division of Microbiology, SydPath, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, Australia University of Technology Sydney, Department of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, Broadway, Australia
JOHN T. ELLIS
Affiliation:
University of Technology Sydney, i3 Institute, Broadway, Australia University of Technology Sydney, Department of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, Broadway, Australia
DAMIEN STARK*
Affiliation:
Division of Microbiology, SydPath, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, Australia University of Technology Sydney, i3 Institute, Broadway, Australia
*
*Corresponding author: Department of Microbiology, St Vincent's Hospital, Victoria Street, Darlinghurst 2010, NSW, Australia. Tel: +61 2 8382 9196. Fax: +61 2 8382 2989. E-mail: dstark@stvincents.com.au

Summary

Dientamoeba fragilis is an inhabitant of the human bowel and is associated with gastrointestinal illness. Despite its discovery over a century ago, the details of Dientamoeba's life cycle are unclear and its mode of transmission is unknown. Several theories exist which attempt to explain how Dientamoeba may be transmitted. One theory suggests that animals are responsible for the transmission of Dientamoeba. However, reports of Dientamoeba in animals are sporadic and most are not supported by molecular evidence. Another theory suggests that Dientamoeba may be transmitted via the ova of a helminth. Given that the closest relative of Dientamoeba is transmitted via the ova of a helminth, this theory seems plausible. It has also been suggested that Dientamoeba could be transmitted directly between humans. This theory also seems plausible given that other relatives of Dientamoeba are transmitted in this way. Despite numerous investigations, Dientamoeba's mode of transmission remains unknown. This review discusses the strengths and weaknesses of theories relating to Dientamoeba's mode of transmission and, by doing so, indicates where gaps in current knowledge exist. Where information is lacking, suggestions are made as to how future research could improve our knowledge on the life cycle of Dientamoeba.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Agnew, D. W., Munson, L., Cobo, E. R., Olesen, D., Corbeil, L. B. and Bondurant, R. H. (2008). Comparative histopathology and antibody responses of non-Tritrichomonas foetus trichomonad and Tritrichomonas foetus genital infections in virgin heifers. Veterinary Parasitology 151, 170180.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Al-Adhami, B. H., Nichols, R. A., Kusel, J. R., O'grady, J. and Smith, H. V. (2007). Detection of UV-induced thymine dimers in individual Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis oocysts by immunofluorescence microscopy. Applied Environmental Microbiology 73, 947955.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ayadi, A. and Bahri, I. (1999). [Dientamoeba fragilis: pathogenic flagellate?]. Bulletin de la Société de Pathologie Exotique 92, 299301.Google ScholarPubMed
Barratt, J. L., Banik, G. R., Harkness, J., Marriott, D., Ellis, J. T. and Stark, D. (2010). Newly defined conditions for the in vitro cultivation and cryopreservation of Dientamoeba fragilis: new techniques set to fast track molecular studies on this organism. Parasitology 137, 18671878.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bleyen, N., De Gussem, K., Pham, A. D., Ons, E., Van Gerven, N. and Goddeeris, B. M. (2009). Non-curative, but prophylactic effects of paromomycin in Histomonas meleagridis-infected turkeys and its effect on performance in non-infected turkeys. Veterinary Parasitology 165, 248255.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Boggild, A. K., Sundermann, C. A. and Estridge, B. H. (2002). Localization of post-translationally modified alpha-tubulin and pseudocyst formation in tritrichomonads. Parasitology Research 88, 468474.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bondurant, R. H., Gajadhar, A., Campero, C. M., Johnson, E., Lun, Z.-R., Nordhausen, R. W., Hoosear, K. A. V., Villanueva, M. R. and Walker, R. L. (1999). Preliminary characterization of a Tritrichomonas foetus-like protozoan isolated from preputial smegma of virgin bulls. Bovine Practitioner 33, 124127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Borges, F. P., Gottardi, B., Stuepp, C., Larré, A. B., Vieira, P. D. B., Tasca, T. and Carli, G. A. D. (2007). Morphological aspects of Monocercomonas sp. and investigation on probable pseudocysts occurrence. Parasitology Research 101, 15031509.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Borges, F. P., Wiltuschnig, R. C., Tasca, T. and De Carli, G. A. (2004). Scanning electron microscopy study of Tritrichomonas augusta. Parasitology Research 94, 158161.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brug, S. L. (1938). Observations on Dientamoeba fragilis. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 30, 441452.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brugerolle, G. (1973). Sur l'existence de vrais kystes ches les Trichomonadines intestinalis. Ultrastructure des kystes de Trichomitus batrachorum Perty 1852, Trichomitus sanguisugae Alexeieff 1911, et Monocercomonas tipulae Mackinnon 1910. Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l'Académie des sciences. Série D: Sciences naturelles 277, 21932196.Google Scholar
Bruijnesteijn Van Coppenraet, L. E., Wallinga, J. A., Ruijs, G. J., Bruins, M. J. and Verweij, J. J. (2009). Parasitological diagnosis combining an internally controlled real-time PCR assay for the detection of four protozoa in stool samples with a testing algorithm for microscopy. Clinical Microbiology and Infection 15, 869874.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burrows, R. B. and Swerdlow, M. A. (1956). Enterobius vermicularis as a probable vector of Dientamoeba fragilis. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 5, 258265.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Butler, W. P. (1996). Dientamoeba fragilis. An unusual intestinal pathogen. Digestive Diseases and Sciences 41, 18111813.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Camp, R. R., Mattern, C. F. and Honigberg, B. M. (1974). Study of Dientamoeba fragilis Jepps & Dobell. I. Electronmicroscopic observations of the binucleate stages. II. Taxonomic position and revision of the genus. The Journal of Protozoology 21, 6982.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Campero, C. M., Rodriguez Dubra, C., Bolondi, A., Cacciato, C., Cobo, E., Perez, S., Odeon, A., Cipolla, A. and Bondurant, R. H. (2003). Two-step (culture and PCR) diagnostic approach for differentiation of non-T. foetus trichomonads from genitalia of virgin beef bulls in Argentina. Veterinary Parasitology 112, 167175.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cobo, E. R., Campero, C. M., Mariante, R. M. and Benchimol, M. (2003). Ultrastructural study of a tetratrichomonad species isolated from prepucial smegma of virgin bulls. Veterinary Parasitology 117, 195211.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cobo, E. R., Cano, D. and Campero, C. M. (2001). Experimental infection with Tritrichomonas suis in heifers. Veterinary Parasitology 99, 7378.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cobo, E. R., Canton, G., Morrell, E., Cano, D. and Campero, C. M. (2004). Failure to establish infection with Tetratrichomonas sp. in the reproductive tracts of heifers and bulls. Veterinary Parasitology 120, 145150.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cobo, E. R., Corbeil, L. B., Agnew, D. W., Vanhoosear, K., Friend, A., Olesen, D. R. and Bondurant, R. H. (2007). Tetratrichomonas spp. and Pentatrichomonas hominis are not persistently detectable after intravaginal inoculation of estrous heifers. Veterinary Parasitology 150, 1826.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Corbeil, L. B., Campero, C. M., Van Hoosear, K. and Bondurant, R. H. (2008). Detection of trichomonad species in the reproductive tracts of breeding and virgin bulls. Veterinary Parasitology 154, 226232.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crotti, D. and D'annibale, M. L. (2007). [Role of Dientamoeba fragilis in human bowel infections]. Le Infezioni in Medicina 15, 3039.Google ScholarPubMed
Crotti, D., Sensi, M., Crotti, S., Grelloni, V. and Manuali, E. (2007). Dientamoeba fragilis in swine population: a preliminary investigation. Veterinary Parasitology 145, 349351.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cuffari, C., Oligny, L. and Seidman, E. G. (1998). Dientamoeba fragilis masquerading as allergic colitis. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 26, 1620.Google ScholarPubMed
Culberson, D. E., Pindak, F. F., Gardner, W. A. and Honigberg, B. M. (1986). Tritrichomonas mobilensis n. sp. (Zoomastigophorea: Trichomonadida) from the Bolivian squirrel monkey Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis. The Journal of Protozoology 33, 301304.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dobell, C. (1940). Researches on intestinal protozoa in monkeys and man. X. The life history of Dientamoeba fragilis: Observations, experiments and speculations. Parasitology 32, 417461.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dufernez, F., Walker, R. L., Noel, C., Caby, S., Mantini, C., Delgado-Viscogliosi, P., Ohkuma, M., Kudo, T., Capron, M., Pierce, R. J., Villanueva, M. R. and Viscogliosi, E. (2007). Morphological and molecular identification of non-Tritrichomonas foetus trichomonad protozoa from the bovine preputial cavity. The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 54, 161168.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Felleisen, R. S. (1997). Comparative sequence analysis of 5.8S rRNA genes and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of trichomonadid protozoa. Parasitology 115, 111119.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Felleisen, R. S., Lambelet, N., Bachmann, P., Nicolet, J., Muller, N. and Gottstein, B. (1998). Detection of Tritrichomonas foetus by PCR and DNA enzyme immunoassay based on rRNA gene unit sequences. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 36, 513519.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Friedhoff, K. T., Kuhnigk, C. and Muller, I. (1991). Experimental infections in chickens with Chilomastix gallinarum, Tetratrichomonas gallinarum, and Tritrichomonas eberthi. Parasitology Research 77, 329334.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gerbod, D., Edgcomb, V. P., Noel, C., Zenner, L., Wintjens, R., Delgado-Viscogliosi, P., Holder, M. E., Sogin, M. L. and Viscogliosi, E. (2001). Phylogenetic position of the trichomonad parasite of turkeys, Histomonas meleagridis (Smith) Tyzzer, inferred from small subunit rRNA sequence. The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 48, 498504.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gerbod, D., Noel, C., Dolan, M. F., Edgcomb, V. P., Kitade, O., Noda, S., Dufernez, F., Ohkuma, M., Kudo, T., Capron, M., Sogin, M. L. and Viscogliosi, E. (2002). Molecular phylogeny of parabasalids inferred from small subunit rRNA sequences, with emphasis on the Devescovinidae and Calonymphidae (Trichomonadea). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 25, 545556.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gibbs, B. J. (1962). The occurrence of the protozoan parasite Histomonas meleagridis in the adults and eggs of the cecal worm Heterakis gallinae. The Journal of Protozoology 9, 288293.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Girginkardesler, N., Coskun, S., Cuneyt Balcioglu, I., Ertan, P. and Ok, U. Z. (2003). Dientamoeba fragilis, a neglected cause of diarrhea, successfully treated with secnidazole. Clinical Microbiology and Infection 9, 110113.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Girginkardesler, N., Kurt, O., Kilimcioglu, A. A. and Ok, U. Z. (2008). Transmission of Dientamoeba fragilis: evaluation of the role of Enterobius vermicularis. Parasitology International 57, 7275.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gookin, J. L., Birkenheuer, A. J., St John, V., Spector, M. and Levy, M. G. (2005). Molecular characterization of trichomonads from feces of dogs with diarrhea. The Journal of Parasitology 91, 939943.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gookin, J. L., Breitschwerdt, E. B., Levy, M. G., Gager, R. B. and Benrud, J. G. (1999). Diarrhea associated with trichomonosis in cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 215, 14501454.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Granger, B. L., Warwood, S. J., Benchimol, M. and De Souza, W. (2000). Transient invagination of flagella by Tritrichomonas foetus. Parasitology Research 86, 699709.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greenway, D. (1928). Dientamoeba fragilis en la Argentina. Archivos Argentinos de Enfermedades del Aparato Digestivo 3, 897.Google Scholar
Hale, S., Norris, J. M. and Slapeta, J. (2009). Prolonged resilience of Tritrichomonas foetus in cat faeces at ambient temperature. Veterinary Parasitology 166, 6065.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hayes, D. C., Anderson, R. R. and Walker, R. L. (2003). Identification of trichomonadid protozoa from the bovine preputial cavity by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism typing. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 15, 390394.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hegner, R. and Chu, H. J. (1930). A comparative study of the intestinal protozoa of wild monkeys and man. American Journal of Epidemiology 12, 62108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holliday, M., Deni, D. and Gunn-Moore, D. A. (2009). Tritrichomonas foetus infection in cats with diarrhoea in a rescue colony in Italy. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 11, 131134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hu, J. and McDougald, L. R. (2003). Direct lateral transmission of Histomonas meleagridis in turkeys. Avian Diseases 47, 489492.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Huber, K., Reynaud, M. C., Callait, M. P. and Zenner, L. (2006). Histomonas meleagridis in turkeys: dissemination kinetics in host tissues after cloacal infection. Poultry Science 85, 10081014.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Huby-Chilton, F., Scandrett, B. W., Chilton, N. B. and Gajadhar, A. A. (2009). Detection and identification of Tetratrichomonas in a preputial wash from a bull by PCR and SSCP. Veterinary Parasitology 23, 34.Google Scholar
Hussein, E. M. and Atwa, M. M. (2008). Infectivity of Trichomonas vaginalis pseudocysts inoculated intra-vaginally in mice. Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology 38, 749762.Google ScholarPubMed
Inpankaew, T., Traub, R., Thompson, R. C. and Sukthana, Y. (2007). Canine parasitic zoonoses in Bangkok temples. The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 38, 247255.Google ScholarPubMed
Jepps, M. W. and Dobell, C. (1918). Dientamoeba fragilis n.g., n. sp.: a new intestinal amoeba from man. Parasitology 10, 352367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, E. H., Windsor, J. J. and Clark, C. G. (2004). Emerging from obscurity: biological, clinical, and diagnostic aspects of Dientamoeba fragilis. Clinical Microbiology Reviews 17, 553570.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kean, B. H. and Malloch, C. L. (1966). The neglected ameba: Dientamoeba fragilis. A report of 100 “pure” infections. The American Journal of Digestive Diseases 11, 735746.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kemp, R. L. and Franson, J. C. (1975). Transmission of Histomonas meleagridis to domestic fowl by means of earthworms recovered from pheasant yard soil. Avian Diseases 19, 741744.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kendall, S. B. (1959). The occurrence of Histomonas meleagridis in Heterakis gallinae. Parasitology 49, 169172.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kleina, P., Bettim-Bandinelli, J., Bonatto, S. L., Benchimol, M. and Bogo, M. R. (2004). Molecular phylogeny of Trichomonadidae family inferred from ITS-1, 5.8S rRNA and ITS-2 sequences. International Journal for Parasitology 34, 963970.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Knoll, E. W. and Howell, K. M. (1945). Studies on Dientamoeba fragilis: its incidence and possible pathogenicity. American Journal of Clincal Pathology 15, 178183.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knowles, R. and DasGupta, B. M. (1936). Some observations on the intestinal protozoa of Macaques. Indian Journal of Medical Research 24, 547556.Google Scholar
Kofoid, C. A. (1923). Amoeba and Man, University of California Press, Berkeley, CA, USA.Google Scholar
Lagace-Wiens, P. R., Vancaeseele, P. G. and Koschik, C. (2006). Dientamoeba fragilis: an emerging role in intestinal disease. Canadian Medical Association Journal 175, 468469.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lankester, F., Kiyang, J. A., Bailey, W. and Unwin, S. (2010). Dientamoeba fragilis: initial evidence of pathogenicity in the Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 41, 350352.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leberl, M., Hess, M. and Bilic, I. (2009). Histomonas meleagridis possesses three alpha-actinins immunogenic to its hosts. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 169, 101107.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lee, D. L. (1969 a). Histomonas in the bird and in the nematode Heterakis. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene 63, 427428.Google ScholarPubMed
Lee, D. L. (1969 b). The structure and development of Histomonas meleagridis (Mastigamoebidae: Protozoa) in the female reproductive tract of its intermediate host, Heterakis gallinarum (Nematoda). Parasitology 59, 877884.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lee, D. L. (1971). The structure and development of the protozoon Histomonas meleagridis in the male reproductive tract of its intermediate host, Heterakis gallinarum (Nematoda). Parasitology 63, 439445.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Levine, N. D. (1985). Veterinary Protozoology. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IO, USA.Google Scholar
Levy, M. G., Gookin, J. L., Poore, M., Birkenheuer, A. J., Dykstra, M. J. and Litaker, R. W. (2003). Tritrichomonas foetus and not Pentatrichomonas hominis is the etiologic agent of feline trichomonal diarrhea. The Journal of Parasitology 89, 99104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liebhart, D. and Hess, M. (2009). Oral infection of turkeys with in vitro-cultured Histomonas meleagridis results in high mortality. Avian Pathology 38, 223227.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lipman, N. S., Lampen, N. and Nguyen, H. T. (1999). Identification of pseudocysts of Tritrichomonas muris in Armenian hamsters and their transmission to mice. Laboratory Animal Science 49, 313315.Google ScholarPubMed
Lun, Z. R., Chen, X. G., Zhu, X. Q., Li, X. R. and Xie, M. Q. (2005). Are Tritrichomonas foetus and Tritrichomonas suis synonyms? Trends in Parasitology 21, 122125.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lund, E. E. (1963). Histomonas wenrichi N. Sp. (Mastigophora: Mastigamoebidae), a nonpathogenic parasite of gallinaceous Birds. The Journal of Protozoology 10, 401404.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lund, E. E. (1968). Acquisition and liberation of Histomonas wenrichi by Heterakis gallinarum. Experimental Parasitology 22, 6267.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lund, E. E. (1971). Histomonas meleagridis and H. wenrichi: time of acquisition by Heterakis gallinarum. Experimental Parasitology 29, 5965.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lund, E. E. and Burtner, R. H. Jr. (1957). Infectivity of Heterakis gallinae eggs with Histomonas meleagridis. Experimental Parasitology 6, 189193.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lund, E. E. and Chute, A. M. (1973). Means of acquisition of Histomonas meleagridis by eggs of Heterakis gallinarum. Parasitology 66, 335342.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lund, E. E., Wehr, E. E. and Elli, D. J. (1966). Earthworm transmission of Heterakis and Histomonas to turkeys and chickens. The Journal of Parasitology 52, 899902.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mantini, C., Dalia-Cornette, J., Noda, S., Van Der Heijden, H. M., Capron, M., Dei-Cas, E., Landman, W. J., Ohkuma, M. and Viscogliosi, E. (2009). Molecular identification and phylogenetic relationships of trichomonad isolates of galliform birds inferred from nuclear small subunit rRNA gene sequences. Parasitology Research 106, 163170.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mardones, F. O., Perez, A. M., Martinez, A. and Carpenter, T. E. (2008). Risk factors associated with Tritrichomonas foetus infection in beef herds in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Veterinary Parasitology 153, 231237.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mariante, R. M., Lopes, L. C. and Benchimol, M. (2004). Tritrichomonas foetus pseudocysts adhere to vaginal epithelial cells in a contact-dependent manner. Parasitology Research 92, 303312.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McDougald, L. R. (2005). Blackhead disease (histomoniasis) in poultry: a critical review. Avian Diseases 49, 462476.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McDougald, L. R. and Fuller, L. (2005). Blackhead disease in turkeys: direct transmission of Histomonas meleagridis from bird to bird in a laboratory model. Avian Diseases 49, 328331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Menghi, C. I., Makiya, R. and Gatta, C. L. (2005). Dientamoeba fragilis molecular biology techniques for the elucidation of its mode of transmission. Parasitología Latinoamericana, 60, 2531.Google Scholar
Mielewczik, M., Mehlhorn, H., Al-Quraishy, S., Grabensteiner, E. and Hess, M. (2008). Transmission electron microscopic studies of stages of Histomonas meleagridis from clonal cultures. Parasitology Research 103, 745750.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Millet, V., Spencer, M. J., Chapin, M., Stewart, M., Yatabe, J. A., Brewer, T. and Garcia, L. S. (1983 a). Dientamoeba fragilis, a protozoan parasite in adult members of a semicommunal group. Digestive Diseases and Sciences 28, 335339.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Millet, V. E., Spencer, M. J., Chapin, M. R., Garcia, L. S., Yatabe, J. H. and Stewart, M. E. (1983 b). Intestinal protozoan infection in a semicommunal group. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 32, 5460.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mollari, M. and Anzulovic, J. V. (1938). Cultivation and pathogenicity of D. fragilis with a case report. Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 41, 246247.Google Scholar
Munsch, M., Lotfi, A., Hafez, H. M., Al-Quraishy, S. and Mehlhorn, H. (2009 a). Light and transmission electron microscopic studies on trophozoites and cyst-like stages of Histomonas meleagridis from cultures. Parasitology Research 104, 683689.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Munsch, M., Mehlhorn, H., Al-Quraishy, S., Lotfi, A. R. and Hafez, H. M. (2009 b). Molecular biological features of strains of Histomonas meleagridis. Parasitology Research 104, 11371140.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Myers, B. J. and Kuntz, R. E. (1968). Intestinal protozoa of the baboon Papio doguera Pucheran, 1856. The Journal of Protozoology 15, 363365.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Noble, G. A. and Noble, E. R. (1952). Entamoeba in farm animals. The Journal of Parasitology 38, 571595.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Noel, C., Gerbod, D., Delgado-Viscogliosi, P., Fast, N. M., Younes, A. B., Chose, O., Roseto, A., Capron, M. and Viscogliosi, E. (2003). Morphogenesis during division and griseofulvin-induced changes of the microtubular cytoskeleton in the parasitic protist, Trichomonas vaginalis. Parasitology Research 89, 487494.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ockert, G. (1972 a). [Epidemiology of Dientamoeba fragilis Jepps and Dobell 1918. 1. Spread of the species in child collectives]. Journal of Hygiene, Epidemiology, Microbiology, and Immunology 16, 213221.Google ScholarPubMed
Ockert, G. (1972 b). [Epidemiology of Dientamoeba fragilis Jepps and Dobell, 1918. 2. Attempt at species transfer with Enterobius eggs]. Journal of Hygiene, Epidemiology, Microbiology, and Immunology 16, 213221.Google ScholarPubMed
Ockert, G. (1975). [Epidemiology of Dientamoeba fragilis Jepps and Dobell, 1918. 3. Further studies on Enterobius transmission through eggs]. Journal of Hygiene, Epidemiology, Microbiology, and Immunology 19, 1721.Google ScholarPubMed
Ockert, G. and Schmidt, T. (1976). [On the epidemiology of Dientamoeba fragilis Jepps and Dobell 1918. 4th communication: evidence of Dientamoeba fragilis in Enterobius eggs using isoelectric point determination]. Journal of Hygiene, Epidemiology, Microbiology, and Immunology 20, 7681.Google ScholarPubMed
Ohkuma, M., Iida, T., Ohtoko, K., Yuzawa, H., Noda, S., Viscogliosi, E. and Kudo, T. (2005). Molecular phylogeny of parabasalids inferred from small subunit rRNA sequences, with emphasis on the Hypermastigea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 35, 646655.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Oxner, R. B., Paltridge, G. P., Chapman, B. A., Cook, H. B. and Sheppard, P. F. (1987). Dientamoeba fragilis: a bowel pathogen? The New Zealand Medical Journal 100, 6465.Google ScholarPubMed
Ozcakir, O., Gureser, S., Erguven, S., Yilmaz, Y. A., Topaloglu, R. and Hascelik, G. (2007). Characteristics of Blastocystis hominis infection in a Turkish university hospital. Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi 31, 277282.Google Scholar
Pereira-Neves, A. and Benchimol, M. (2009). Tritrichomonas foetus: budding from multinucleated pseudocysts. Protist 160, 536551.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pereira-Neves, A., Ribeiro, K. C. and Benchimol, M. (2003). Pseudocysts in trichomonads–new insights. Protist 154, 313329.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Piekarski, G. (1948). Zur Frage der Cystenbildung bei Dientamoeba fragilis. Zeitschrift für Hygiene und Infektionskrankheiten 127, 496500.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Powell, F. L., Rothwell, L., Clarkson, M. J. and Kaiser, P. (2009). The turkey, compared to the chicken, fails to mount an effective early immune response to Histomonas meleagridis in the gut. Parasite Immunology 31, 312327.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pozio, E. (2008). Epidemiology and control prospects of foodborne parasitic zoonoses in the European Union. Parassitologia 50, 1724.Google ScholarPubMed
Rae, D. O. and Crews, J. E. (2006). Tritrichomonas foetus. The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Food Animal Practice 22, 595611.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ribeiro, K. C., Pereira-Neves, A. and Benchimol, M. (2002). The mitotic spindle and associated membranes in the closed mitosis of trichomonads. Biology of the Cell 94, 157172.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Robertson, L. J. (2009). Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections in sheep and goats: a review of the potential for transmission to humans via environmental contamination. Epidemiology and Infection 137, 913921.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Romatowski, J. (2000). Pentatrichomonas hominis infection in four kittens. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 216, 12701272.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ruff, M. D., McDougald, L. R. and Hansen, M. F. (1970). Isolation of Histomonas meleagridis from embryonated eggs of Heterakis gallinarum. The Journal of Protozoology 17, 1011.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schlundt, J., Toyofuku, H., Jansen, J. and Herbst, S. A. (2004). Emerging food-borne zoonoses. Revue Scientifique et Technique 23, 513533.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schuster, H. and Jackson, R. S. (2009). Prevalence of Dientamoeba fragilis among patients consulting complementary medicine practitioners in the British Isles. Journal of Clinical Pathology 62, 182184.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Silard, R., Burghelea, B., Panaitescu, D. and Burcos, V. (1984). Ultrastructure of Dientamoeba fragilis: a study of the mononucleated stage. Archives Roumaines de Pathologie Experimentales et de Microbiologie 43, 87101.Google ScholarPubMed
Silard, R., Colea, A., Panaitescu, D., Florescu, P. and Roman, N. (1979). Studies on Dientamoeba fragilis in Romania. I. Dientamoeba fragilis isolated from clinical cases. Problems of diagnosis, incidence, clinical aspects. Archives Roumaines de Pathologie Experimentale et de Microbiologie 38, 359372.Google Scholar
Smith, H. V., Caccio, S. M., Cook, N., Nichols, R. A. and Tait, A. (2007). Cryptosporidium and Giardia as foodborne zoonoses. Veterinary Parasitology 149, 2940.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stark, D., Barratt, J., Ellis, J., Harkness, J. and Marriott, D. (2009 a). Repeated Dientamoeba fragilis infections: A case report of two families from Sydney, Australia. Infectious Disease Reports 1, 79.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stark, D., Barratt, J., Roberts, T., Marriott, D., Harkness, J. and Ellis, J. (2010 a). Comparison of microscopy, two xenic culture techniques, conventional and real-time PCR for the detection of Dientamoeba fragilis in clinical stool samples. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases 29, 411416.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stark, D., Barratt, J., Roberts, T., Marriott, D., Harkness, J. and Ellis, J. (2010 b). A review of the clinical presentation of dientamoebiasis. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 82, 614619.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stark, D., Barratt, J. L., Van Hal, S., Marriott, D., Harkness, J. and Ellis, J. T. (2009 b). Clinical significance of enteric protozoa in the immunosuppressed human population. Clinical Microbiology Reviews 22, 634650.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stark, D., Beebe, N., Marriott, D., Ellis, J. and Harkness, J. (2005). Prospective study of the prevalence, genotyping, and clinical relevance of Dientamoeba fragilis infections in an Australian population. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 43, 27182723.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stark, D., Phillips, O., Peckett, D., Munro, U., Marriott, D., Harkness, J. and Ellis, J. (2008). Gorillas are a host for Dientamoeba fragilis: an update on the life cycle and host distribution. Veterinary Parasitology 151, 2126.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stark, D. J., Beebe, N., Marriott, D., Ellis, J. T. and Harkness, J. (2006). Dientamoebiasis: clinical importance and recent advances. Trends in Parasitology 22, 9296.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stensvold, C. R., Arendrup, M. C., Molbak, K. and Nielsen, H. V. (2007). The prevalence of Dientamoeba fragilis in patients with suspected enteroparasitic disease in a metropolitan area in Denmark. Clinical Microbiology and Infection 13, 839842.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stensvold, C. R., Lewis, H. C., Hammerum, A. M., Porsbo, L. J., Nielsen, S. S., Olsen, K. E., Arendrup, M. C., Nielsen, H. V. and Molbak, K. (2009). Blastocystis: unravelling potential risk factors and clinical significance of a common but neglected parasite. Epidemiology and Infection 137, 16551663.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stenzel, D. J. and Boreham, P. F. (1991). A cyst-like stage of Blastocystis hominis. International Journal for Parasitology 21, 613615.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stockdale, H., Rodning, S., Givens, M., Carpenter, D., Lenz, S., Spencer, J., Dykstra, C., Lindsay, D. and Blagburn, B. (2007). Experimental infection of cattle with a feline isolate of Tritrichomonas foetus. The Journal of Parasitology 93, 14291434.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stockdale, H. D., Dillon, A. R., Newton, J. C., Bird, R. C., Bondurant, R. H., Deinnocentes, P., Barney, S., Bulter, J., Land, T., Spencer, J. A., Lindsay, D. S. and Blagburn, B. L. (2008). Experimental infection of cats (Felis catus) with Tritrichomonas foetus isolated from cattle. Veterinary Parasitology 154, 156161.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stockdale, H. D., Givens, M. D., Dykstra, C. C. and Blagburn, B. L. (2009). Tritrichomonas foetus infections in surveyed pet cats. Veterinary Parasitology 160, 1317.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sukanahaketu, S. (1977). The presence of Dientamoeba fragilis in the Ascaris lumbricoides ova: the first report from Thailand. Journal of The Medical Association of Thailand 60, 256258.Google ScholarPubMed
Tachezy, J., Tachezy, R., Hampl, V., Sedinova, M., Vanacova, S., Vrlik, M., Van Ranst, M., Flegr, J. and Kuldaa, J. (2002). Cattle pathogen Tritrichomonas foetus (Riedmuller, 1928) and pig commensal Tritrichomonas suis (Gruby & Delafond, 1843) belong to the same species. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 49, 154163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taniwaki, N. N., Da Silva, C. V., Da Silva, S. and Mortara, R. A. (2007). Distribution of Trypanosoma cruzi stage-specific epitopes in cardiac muscle of Calomys callosus, BALB/c mice, and cultured cells infected with different infective forms. Acta Tropica 103, 1425.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tolbert, M. K. and Gookin, J. (2009). Tritrichomonas foetus: a new agent of feline diarrhea. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian 31, 374381.Google ScholarPubMed
Traub, R. J., Inpankaew, T., Reid, S. A., Sutthikornchai, C., Sukthana, Y., Robertson, I. D. and Thompson, R. C. (2009). Transmission cycles of Giardia duodenalis in dogs and humans in Temple communities in Bangkok–a critical evaluation of its prevalence using three diagnostic tests in the field in the absence of a gold standard. Acta Tropica 111, 125132.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van Gool, T. and Dankert, J. (1996). [3 emerging protozoal infections in The Netherlands: Cyclospora, Dientamoeba, and Microspora infections]. Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde 140, 155160.Google ScholarPubMed
Vandenberg, O., Peek, R., Souayah, H., Dediste, A., Buset, M., Scheen, R., Retore, P., Zissis, G. and Van Gool, T. (2006). Clinical and microbiological features of dientamoebiasis in patients suspected of suffering from a parasitic gastrointestinal illness: a comparison of Dientamoeba fragilis and Giardia lamblia infections. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 10, 255261.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Walker, J. C., Bahr, G. and Ehl, A. S. (1985). Gastrointestinal parasites in Sydney. The Medical Journal of Australia 143, 480.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wenrich, D. H. (1936). Studies on Dientamoeba fragilis (protozoa). I. Observations with special reference to nuclear structure. The Journal of Parasitology 22, 7683.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wenrich, D. H. (1944). Studies on Dientamoeba fragilis (Protozoa). IV. Further observations, with an outline of present days knowledge of this species. The Journal of Parasitology 30, 322338.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yang, J. and Scholten, T. (1977). Dientamoeba fragilis: a review with notes on its epidemiology, pathogenicity, mode of transmission, and diagnosis. American Journal of Tropical Medicine Hygiene 26, 1622.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yoshikawa, H., Wu, Z., Nagano, I. and Takahashi, Y. (2003). Molecular comparative studies among Blastocystis isolates obtained from humans and animals. The Journal of Parasitology 89, 585594.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zaragatzki, E., Hess, M., Grabensteiner, E., Abdel-Ghaffar, F., Al-Rasheid, K. A. and Mehlhorn, H. (2010). Light and transmission electron microscopic studies on the encystation of Histomonas meleagridis. Parasitology Research 106, 977983.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed