Enterocytozoon bieneusiandCryptosporidiumspecies are increasingly recognized as important causes of diarrhea in immunocompromised patients. Recent studies of the immune response to cryptosporidiosis offer new insight into potential therapeutic options. The debate about the pathogenicity ofBlastocystis hominiscontinues to rage. New methods including lectin immunoassays and DNA probes appear to be useful for differentiating pathogenic from nonpathogenic strains ofEntamoeba histolytica. Numerous studies have further elucidated the mechanisms involved in excystation, attachment, and encystation ofGiardia lamblia. Finally, immunoassays for the detection ofCiardiaantigens in stool are being applied to epidemiologic investigations of giardiasis.
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