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Background  Alternating wet and dry seasons may play an important role in the acquisition and distribution of  Blastocystis  subtype infection in the tropics. This cross-sectional study was therefore conducted to provide the prevalence of  Blastocystis  and to determine the potential risk factors associated with each subtype during the wet and dry seasons in the Aboriginal community, Pahang, Malaysia.    Methods  A total of 473 faecal samples were collected: 256 (54.1%) and 217 (45.9%) samples were obtained during the wet (October-November 2014) and the dry season (June 2015), respectively. All fresh faecal samples were subjected to molecular analysis for subtype and allele identification.    Results  Of the 473 samples, 42.6% and 37.8% were positive for  Blastocystis  ST1, ST2, ST3 and ST4 during wet and dry seasons, respectively. Prevalence of  Blastocystis  ST1 was significantly higher during the wet season compared to the dry season ( Z  = 2.146,  P  < 0.05). Analysis of the association of each  Blastocystis  subtype with socioeconomic characteristics showed the presence of other family members infected with  Blastocystis  ST3 and the use of stored river water for domestic activities were the significant risk factors for  Blastocystis  ST3 infections during both seasons. Untreated water supply and low monthly household income (less or equal to RM 500) were the other significant risk factors for  Blastocystis  ST3 infections during wet and dry season, respectively. The presence of other family members with  Blastocystis  ST1 and ST2 was the only significant risk factor associated with ST1 and ST2 infections during both seasons. We hypothesise that transmission of  Blastocystis  ST1, ST2 and ST3 occurred from person to person during both seasons. The waterborne transmission was also identified as a mode of transmission of  Blastocystis  ST3.    Conclusion  The significant risk factors identified in this study were important in the dynamic transmission of  Blastocystis  infections during both seasons. Provision of treated water supply and health education are affirmative actions to be taken to control  Blastocystis  infections in this community.    Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2294-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

parasites and vectors

Molecular epidemiology of blastocystosis in Malaysia: does seasonal variation play an important role in determining the distribution and risk factors of Blastocystis subtype infections in the Aboriginal community?