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Acute blastocystis-associated appendicular peritonitis in a child, Casablanca, Morocco

Emilie Fréalle, Dima El Safadi, Amandine Cian

    Emerging Infectious Diseases
    |December 23, 2014
    PubMed

    Insights

    Blastocystis parasites, often considered harmless, were linked to appendicular peritonitis in a child. This case suggests Blastocystis may cause severe infections, supported by a family gastroenteritis outbreak.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Clinical Medicine
    • Parasitology

    Background:

    • Blastocystis is a common intestinal protozoan parasite.
    • Its role in human disease, particularly digestive symptoms, is debated.
    • Pathogenicity studies are crucial for understanding Blastocystis-associated conditions.

    Observation:

    • A 9-year-old girl presented with appendicular peritonitis after returning from Morocco.
    • Blastocystis parasites were identified in stool, appendix, peritoneal fluid, and recto-uterine pouch samples.
    • Gastroenteritis affected 26 family members concurrently, indicating a potential outbreak.

    Findings:

    • This case highlights Blastocystis as a potential causative agent of appendicular peritonitis.
    • The presence of parasites in multiple anatomical sites supports a systemic or severe localized infection.
    • The family outbreak suggests Blastocystis can cause acute gastroenteritis.

    Implications:

    • This study challenges the view of Blastocystis as a non-pathogenic commensal.
    • It underscores the need for considering Blastocystis in differential diagnoses for abdominal inflammatory conditions.
    • Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms of Blastocystis pathogenicity.

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