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Blastocystis: Pathogen or Passenger? pp 95–131Cite as

What Do We Know About Blastocystis Analyzing Research Studies with Statistical Methods

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Part of the book series: Parasitology Research Monographs ((Parasitology Res. Monogr.,volume 4))

Abstract

Blastocystis is the most commonly identified parasitic infection in stool samples from healthcare-seeking patients in many regions of the world. A collection of close to 1,000 studies exists on Blastocystis, with substantial contributions from researchers in the Middle East, Asia/Pacific Rim, Europe, and North America. In many cases, disagreements about Blastocystis appear to originate from difficulties in determining how decisions should be made from the existing database of studies. Although more studies will certainly be available in the future, it is possible to apply objective screening techniques to studies which can be expected to identify conclusions that are unlikely to be reversed. However, the conclusions identified with this technique are not necessarily the same conclusions described as certain by medical professionals. A better understanding of the meaning of statistical data obtained from populations would help reduce contradictory studies, and examples are provided of situations under which a pathogen like Giardia intestinalis will appear more often in healthy individuals. The role of Blastocystis in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is examined, and formulas presented to help understand the costs of blastocystosis, given research studies identifying the cost of IBS.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In 2010, BRF submitted an early version of our metastudy on Blastocystis research to a journal, and that paper consisted mostly of a list of studies finding Blastocystis pathogenic or nonpathogenic. A reviewer rejected the paper on the basis that scientific findings are largely the result of researchers repeating studies until they obtain the result they want, and as such surveying papers or tabulating study results was of no value. While this is an interesting idea, it creates a kind of philosophical crisis, in that we would then be unable to use any scientific study result, if such results are fabrications of researchers.

  2. 2.

    We contacted the Cochrane Reviews group about this possibility, but they indicated that such a study would likely be a low priority, because Blastocystis infection was not viewed as germane to global world health goals.

  3. 3.

    This finding was in contrast to Markell’s 1986 paper, which indicated that Blastocystis patients could be diagnosed with IBS (Markell and Udkow 1986).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Blastocystis Research Foundation, 5060 SW Philomath Blvd, #202, Corvallis, OR, 97333, USA

    Kenneth Boorom

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  1. Kenneth Boorom
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Correspondence to Kenneth Boorom .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoomorphology, Cell Biology and Parasitology,, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstr. 1, Düsseldorf, 40225, Germany

    Heinz Mehlhorn

  2. National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Kevin S. W. Tan

  3. , Department of Biological Sciences, Nara Women's University, Kitauoya-Nishimachi, Kitauoya-Nishimachi, 630-8506, Nara, Japan

    Hisao Yoshikawa

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Boorom, K. (2012). What Do We Know About Blastocystis Analyzing Research Studies with Statistical Methods. In: Mehlhorn, H., Tan, K., Yoshikawa, H. (eds) Blastocystis: Pathogen or Passenger?. Parasitology Research Monographs, vol 4. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32738-4_7

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