[Blastocystis spp. culturing as a method for diagnosing the parasite]

The technique for isolating blastocysts in the culture was assessed, by examining the fresh specimens from 196 patients with gastrointestinal tract (GIT) disorders and from 56 persons with an uncertain protozoological diagnosis. A set of techniques, such as triple examination of native smears, parallel inoculation of the Pavlova medium, and microscopy of obtained permanent specimens as may be required, contributes to the timely identification of protozoa, including blastocysts, in persons with GIT disorder. The efficiency of the technique for isolating blastocysts on Pavlova's medium and the native smear test averaged 34.8% and 49.4%, respectively. Among those known to be infected, the rate of parasite development in vitro was not greater than 52.9%. The culture showed amoeboids generally with the clinical manifestation of infection. The culture-based diagnostic method cannot be changed for routine microscopy techniques in detecting blastocysts, although it is essential to investigate the morphofunctional and phylogenetic properties of the parasite. The pleomorphism of cultured blastocysts with variability of growth properties was shown as a manifestation of phenotypic characteristics when isolating the parasite.