REVIEW ARTICLE AND COMMENTS ON DIENTAMOEBA FRAGILIS: A NEGLECTED CAUSE OF BOWEL DISORDERS
Refaat M.A. Khalifa and Abeer E. Mahmoud
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University
Dientamoeba fragilis, originally considered as non-pathogenic or commensal amoeba inhabiting the large intestine of humans, is now classified as non-flagellated amoeboflagellate (Trichomonad). Little is known about its pathogenicity, laboratory diagnosis, route of transmission, epidemiology and genetics. We noticed that it is under-estimated or neglected in our Egyptian literature in spite of its possible role in many unexplained bowel disturbances as well as irritable bowel syndrome which is not uncommon among Egyptians. The present review article aimed to fill the great gaps in our present state of knowledge about this parasite and to convince our clinicians and parasitologists that neglecting to include Dientamoeba fragilis on the list of potential culprits in gastrointestinal disorders can no longer be justified. The article includes both historical and update review of the parasite. Phrases in bold illustrate our comments.
June 2011