{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,17]],"date-time":"2026-05-17T08:58:19Z","timestamp":1779008299550,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","issue":"2","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2012,2,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p><jats:italic>Dientamoeba fragilis<\/jats:italic> is a commonly occurring pathogenic protozoan often detected at higher rates in stool samples than <jats:italic>Giardia intestinalis<\/jats:italic>. However, little is known about its life cycle and mode of transmission. A total of 210 environmental and household samples were examined for the presence of <jats:italic>D. fragilis<\/jats:italic> by culture and polymerase chain reaction. Of 100 environmental samples, <jats:italic>D. fragilis<\/jats:italic> was detected only in untreated sewage. In the household samples <jats:italic>D. fragilis<\/jats:italic> was detected in 30% of household contacts tested and was not detected in any domestic pets. This study provides evidence that environmental transmission of <jats:italic>D. fragilis<\/jats:italic> is unlikely and that pets played no role in transmission of the disease in this study. Direct transmission from infected persons is the most likely mode of transmission for <jats:italic>D. fragilis<\/jats:italic>. The study also highlights the need for household contacts to be screened, given the propensity of close contacts to become infected with the organism.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.2012.11-0526","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2012,2,6]],"date-time":"2012-02-06T21:50:37Z","timestamp":1328565037000},"page":"233-236","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":23,"title":["Detection and Transmission of Dientamoeba fragilis from Environmental and Household 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