Blastocystis under One Health
A COST Action
The main aim and objective of this Action is to shape and direct a state-of-the-art and dynamic Blastocystis Network, linking academia, health sectors and industry in order to enhance, spread and apply knowledge and expertise on this gut microbe and its role in health and disease.
To achieve this, a One Health approach is required to study Blastocystis by integrating new advances in medical, veterinary, public, and environmental health research.
Introduction to the Action
Blastocystis is the most prevalent intestinal protist colonizing the gut of at least one billion people. Emerging data indicates a higher prevalence in animals, both endotherms and ectotherms. A high proportion of carriers are asymptomatic.
Despite a century of study, pathogenicity of Blastocystis remains controversial. Currently, at least 32 genetic subtypes (STs) exist. Of these, ST1-ST9, ST10, ST12, ST16 and ST23 have been found in humans, while the rest have been isolated only from non-human hosts.
Information on prevalence, geographic distribution and host specificity of STs is incomplete. Significant gaps also exist on environmental presence of Blastocystis. Collectively, this paucity of data blurs the Blastocystis landscape considerably.
Action aims
Support advancement of Blastocystis research by bringing together professionals from various disciplines and countries.
Foster information sharing on current methodologies, especially in the areas of subtyping.
Promote capacity building via a transdisciplinary network of international collaboration.
Open avenues of communication with veterinarians, physicians and general public.
Working Groups
Leadership – Action Chairs, Vice Chairs and Group Leaders
Mapping Blastocystis epidemiology and diagnostics
Blastocystis collection and database
News & Activities
- Towards minimizing second-generation mis-identification of Blastocystis
- Blastocystis and the Gut Microbiome – a bioinformatics training school“The Training school was a great experience and the people involved had very interesting research topics,…
Events
Latest Posts
- “Blastocystis Identification: From Microscopy to Phylogeny” – Training School in Canterbury, UK“This Training School was an amazing experience, both professionally and personally. It provided me with essential tools that will help develop more applied research in my home country (Portugal) to detect and study risk factors associated…