Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38980911›Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2024

Blastocystis colonization and associations with population parameters in Thai adults.

Vasana Jinatham, Amara Yowang, Christen Rune Stensvold, Eleni Michalopoulou, Thanakrit Vichasilp, Picha Suwannahitatorn, Siam Popluechai, Anastasios D Tsaousis, Eleni Gentekaki

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Commensal, pathogen, or passenger? Rethinking the role ofOne health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 2025
    Review
  5. Targeted-Amplicon NGS forVeterinary sciences · 2025
    Article
  6. The Role ofPathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Review
  7. Relationship betweenOpen research Europe · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Vasana JinathamSchool of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Amara YowangRegional Medical Sciences Center 1/1 Chiang Rai, Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Christen Rune StensvoldDepartment of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi; Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Eleni MichalopoulouDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nicosia School of Veterinary Medicine, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Thanakrit VichasilpPhramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand.
Picha SuwannahitatornPhramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand.
Siam PopluechaiSchool of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0002-4431-2810
Anastasios D TsaousisLaboratory of Molecular and Evolutionary Parasitology, RAPID group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom.
Eleni GentekakiSchool of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.ORCID 0000-0002-3306-6714

Funding

Postdoctoral Fellowship from Mae Fah Luang University 06/2023Thailand Research Fund RSA6080048Thailand Science Research and Innovation 652A01021
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBlastocystis is a unicellular eukaryote commonly found in the intestinal tract of humans and other animals. The prevalence of Blastocystis has been investigated in both developed and developing countries, yet its occurrence and distribution in rural locations has been less studied. Herein, we aimed to examine the distribution of Blastocystis colonization in Thai adults representing background populations along a rural/peri-urban gradient, as well as associations between colonization and personal characteristics. METHODOLOGY: A total of 238 participants were recruited from rural and peri-urban areas situated in three provinces. The presence of Blastocystis in feces was evaluated using PCR and qPCR. Information on gender, age, region (province), rural/peri-urban location, and body mass index (BMI) was collected. PRINCIPAL

findingsThe overall rate of Blastocystis carriage was 67.2%. Univariate analysis revealed significant associations between Blastocystis carriage and region (p<0.05), location (p<0.001) and age group (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that rural/peri-urban location and BMI were significantly associated with Blastocystis carriage. Nine subtypes (ST1-ST7, ST10 and ST23) were identified with ST3, ST7 and ST1 as the most abundant ones, in this order. The greatest diversity of subtypes, in terms of numbers, was found in the middle aged group (nine subtypes), while the least diversity was found in the young adult and obese (three subtypes each) groups.

conclusionsThis study increases the understanding of the epidemiology of Blastocystis colonization and its association with population parameters and characteristics in middle-income countries.

Indexed as

BlastocystisBlastocystis InfectionsFecesRural PopulationAdolescentAdultAgedBody Mass IndexCarrier StateCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceSoutheast Asian People

Identifiers

PMID38980911
PMCPMC11259296

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.