The human gut is host to a diversity of microorganisms, including a parasite called Blastocystis. While there are increasing reports characterizing Blastocystis subtypes (STs) among healthy individuals, only a few studies have investigated the Blastocystis STs in renal or dialysis patients. This study investigates the Blastocystis prevalence and STs in hemodialysis patients. Fifty healthy controls and 100 chronic kidney disease patients undergoing dialysis participated in the study. Blastocystis infection was identified by using microscopic and molecular diagnosis using 18S rRNA-PCR. Then all positive samples were sent for sequencing to identify which ST they belong to. Phylogenetic and pairwise distance analyses were performed to confirm the validity of the STs. Thirty-four hemodialysis patients were infected with Blastocystis while 17 patients in the control were infected with the parasite. All positive samples were then confirmed using PCR. Genetic sequencing analysis subsequently revealed that 66% of Blastocystis infection belonged to ST1 and ST3 (33% each), followed by ST10 (20%), and ST6 (14%). The nucleotide sequence analysis of the 385 bp 18S rRNA gene revealed a >97% identity with previously identified Blastocystis isolates. The genetic analysis showed that the 8 identified isolates correspond to previously observed alleles. Six ST1 isolates produced a high frequency of Blastocystis isolates matching allele 4, with very low genetic divergence. ST3 isolates showed relatively increased genetic diversity and matching allele 34, which is the most common allele worldwide.

Schistosomiasis remains a major neglected tropical disease, affecting approximately 600 million individuals worldwide and accounting for nearly 500,000 deaths annually. The principal causative species — Schistosoma haematobium, S. mansoni, and S. japonicum — drive significant morbidity through hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and progressive hepatic fibrosis. Praziquantel (PZQ) remains the cornerstone of treatment; however, its limited efficacy against immature worms and eggs, combined with concerns over emerging drug resistance, underscores the urgent need for novel therapeutic alternatives. This study investigated the anti-schistosomal potential of green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in a murine model of S. mansoni infection, benchmarked against PZQ. ZnO NPs were fabricated using ginger extract via an eco-friendly green synthesis approach. Fifty male BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 10): normal control, infected untreated control, infected treated with PZQ alone, infected treated with ZnO NPs alone, and infected treated with a PZQ–ZnO NP combination. Parasitological, histopathological, and fibrosis assessments were subsequently performed. All treatment groups demonstrated significant reductions in worm burden and tissue egg counts relative to infected untreated controls. Histopathological examination of untreated infected mice revealed extensive chronic granulomatous inflammation, concentric perioval fibrosis, fibroblast proliferation, hepatocellular necrosis, hydropic degeneration, marked collagen deposition, and portal-to-portal fibrous bridging. Treated groups, by contrast, exhibited marked hepatic improvement characterized by reduced granuloma size, diminished fibrosis, and decreased collagen deposition. Collectively, these findings indicate that green-synthesized ZnO NPs possess promising anti-schistosomal and antifibrotic properties, warranting further investigation as a potential adjunct or alternative therapeutic strategy for schistosomiasis management.