Blastocystis hominis as a potential causa of diarrhea in AIDS patients: a report of six cases in Bahia, Brazil

The role of Blastocystis hominis as a human pathogens is controversial, although there is some evidence suggesting that it is agent implicated in causing diarrhea in immunocompromised patients. We report 6 cases of AIDS patients presenting with diarrhea with no agents identified in their stools except B. hominis. In all cases, treatment was followed by complete recovery from symptoms and clareance of B. hominis from the patients' stools. In 2 cases, relapse of diarrhea was followed by a positive stool examination for B. hominis oocysts, which again disappeared after treatment. These findings provide additional evidence for considering B. hominis a potential intestinal pathogen in AIDS patients.