Dientamoeba fragilis

Dientamoeba fragilis
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
(unranked):
Excavata
Phylum:
Metamonada
Class:
Parabasalia
Order:
Trichomonadida
Family:
Monocercomonadidae
Genus:
Dientamoeba
Species:
D. fragilis
Binomial name
Dientamoeba fragilis
Jeeps et Dobell, 1918

Dientamoeba fragilis is a species of single-celled excavates found in the gastrointestinal tract of some humans, pigs and gorillas. It causes gastrointestinal upset in some people, but not in others.[1] It is an important cause of traveller's diarrhoea, chronic diarrhoea, fatigue and, in children, failure to thrive. Despite this, its role as a "commensal, pathobiont, or pathogen" is still debated.[2] D. fragilis is one of the smaller parasites that are able to live in the human intestine. Dientamoeba fragilis cells are able to survive and move in fresh feces but are sensitive to aerobic environments. They dissociate when in contact or placed in saline, tap water or distilled water.[3]

  1. ^ Windsor JJ, Macfarlane L (May 2005). "Irritable bowel syndrome: the need to exclude Dientamoeba fragilis". Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 72 (5): 501, author reply 501–2. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.2005.72.5.0720501. PMID 15891119.
  2. ^ Chudnovskiy, Aleksey (August 2016). "Host-Protozoan Interactions Protect from Mucosal Infections through Activation of the Inflammasome". Cell. 167 (2): 444–456.e14. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2016.08.076. PMC 5129837. PMID 27716507.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference emedicine was invoked but never defined (see the help page).