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It is crucial to detect and distinguish the different forms of <jats:italic>Blastocystis<\/jats:italic> to understand better its impact on human health and its epidemiological evolution. This study evaluated three diagnostic methods on 105 stool samples: direct examination, culture in Jones\u2019 medium, and conventional PCR. PCR is considered the gold standard and revealed a high prevalence of <jats:italic>Blastocystis<\/jats:italic> (67.62%) compared to direct examination (20.95%) and culture in Jones\u2019 medium (51.43%). Although the sensitivity of direct examination and culture was 31% and 76.1%, respectively, their specificity was 100%. No significant risk factors were identified. A statistically significant association was observed between <jats:italic>Blastocystis<\/jats:italic> infection and abdominal pain. Microscopic analysis revealed various morphological forms. Molecular diagnosis is an essential tool to determine the true prevalence of <jats:italic>Blastocystis<\/jats:italic>, and studying the different forms of this microorganism will contribute to a better understanding of its biological cycle and, therefore, the impact of this emerging infection on human health.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1051\/parasite\/2023065","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,20]],"date-time":"2023-12-20T09:22:03Z","timestamp":1703064123000},"page":"64","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":12,"title":["Prevalence of <i>Blastocystis<\/i> sp. in Morocco: Comparative assessment of three diagnostic methods and characterization of parasite forms in Jones\u2019 culture 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