Molecular detection and characterization of Blastocystis in herbivore livestock species in Portugal.
Vet Parasitol
; 327: 110147, 2024 Apr.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38364349
ABSTRACT
Blastocystis is a ubiquitous intestinal protist in humans and animals worldwide. The traditional livestock free-roaming raising system in rural communities increases the risk of infection with contact with a wider range of pathogens transmitted via the faecal-oral route associated with that wildlife-livestock-human interface. However, no studies have been conducted to determine the occurrence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis in livestock in Portugal. Here, we collected 180 faecal samples from herbivore livestock (cattle, goats, horses, and sheep) in different regions of the country to investigate Blastocystis prevalence and subtype diversity using PCR and next-generation amplicon sequencing. Blastocystis was present in 40.6% (73/180; 95% CI 33.31-48.11) of the samples (goats, 81.0%; sheep, 60.9%; cattle, 32.2%). None of the horse samples were Blastocystis-positive. Eighteen subtypes were detected (ST1-ST3, ST5-ST7, ST10, ST13, ST14, ST21, ST23-ST26, ST30, ST42-ST44). Mixed infections were detected in 97.3% of the Blastocystis-positive samples. Potentially zoonotic subtypes were identified in 75.0%, 96.4%, and 100% of the Blastocystis-positive specimens collected from cattle, sheep, and goats, respectively. These results demonstrate that cattle, sheep, and goats harbour a high diversity of Blastocystis subtypes in the study regions. Importantly, our data provide novel molecular evidence strongly suggesting that some Blastocystis STs/ST subgroups may have differential host specificity.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Enfermedades de las Ovejas
/
Enfermedades de los Bovinos
/
Enfermedades de las Cabras
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Infecciones por Blastocystis
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Blastocystis
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Enfermedades de los Caballos
Límite:
Animals
/
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Vet Parasitol
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article