Definition: A species of parasitic protozoa found in the intestines of humans and other primates. It was classified as a yeast in 1912. Over the years, questions arose about this designation. In 1967, many physiological and morphological B. hominis characteristics were reported that fit a protozoan classification. Since that time, other papers have corroborated this work and the organism is now recognized as a protozoan parasite of humans causing intestinal disease with potentially disabling symptoms.
infection: coordinate IM with BLASTOCYSTIS INFECTIONS (IM); coordinate with specific protozoan terms (ANTIGENS, PROTOZOAN, etc) if pertinent
Other names hominis, Blastocystis; homini, Blastocystis; Blastocystis homini
