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@#Abstract: Objective To investigate the prevalence and genetic characterization of Blastocystis in primary and middle school students in Baisha Li Autonomous County, Hainan Province, in order to understand the infection status of Blastocystis and its subtype distribution characteristics in this area. Methods From March to November 2021, fecal samples were collected from two primary and middle schools in Baisha Li Autonomous County. Nested PCR targeting the SSU rDNA was employed in this study, sequence analysis were performed to determine the prevalence and subtype. A neighbor-joining tree was built using Mega 7. Meanwhile, the risk factors of the Blastocystis infection among different grades and genders were evaluated. Results The infection rate of Blastocystis was 4.1% (13/314), there was no statistical difference in infection rates among genders and grades (P>0.05). Sequence analysis revealed that three Blastocystis subtypes were identified, namely ST3 (n=7), ST7 (n=4) and ST1 (n=2), all of which have zoonotic potential. Conclusions This is the first report of the identification of Blastocystis in humans in Hainan at the subtype level, and provide the basic data for the prevention and control of Blastocystis in this area. The zoonotic subtypes identified in this area indicated more studies should be taken in humans and various animals, to better evaluate the transmission of Blastocystis and provide scientific support for the prevention and control of Blastocystis.
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Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a microsporidian and zoonotic species. This study investigated the prevalence and distribution of E. bieneusi genotypes in farmed masked palm civets using nested PCR, as well as assessed their zoonotic potential by phylogenetic analysis of the ITS region of the rRNA region. Here, we collected 251 fecal specimens from farmed masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) from the Hainan Island, China. In total, 128 of 251 samples were positive for E. bieneusi, with an average infection rate of 51.0%. Seventeen genotypes were identified including 12 known genotypes-HNR-VI (n = 56), SHR1 (n = 45), SHW7 (n = 6), KIN-1 (n = 3), D (n = 3), New1 (n = 3), EbpC (n = 2), CHC5 (n = 1), CHG19 (n = 1), CHN4 (n = 1), EbpA (n = 1), and Henan-III (n = 1)-and five novel genotypes (HNPL-I to HNPL-II; one each). Phylogenetic analysis categorized these genotypes into two groups. Thirteen of them were members of the zoonotic group 1, and the remaining four genotypes were in group 12. This study has shown that the infection rates of E. bieneusi in masked palm civets from Hainan were relatively high and provide baseline data to control and prevent microsporidiosis in farm-related communities. Therefore, infections in masked palm civets with zoonotic genotypes D, EbpC, CHN4, EbpA, KIN-1, and Henan-III should be considered potential threats to public health.
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BACKGROUND: Enterocytozoon bieneusi, a microsporidian species, is a zoonotic pathogen found in both humans and animals. Here, we determined the prevalence, explored the different genotypes of E. bieneusi in wild rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) (Hainan Island of China), and assessed their zoonotic potential. METHODS: We collected 173 fecal specimens from wild rhesus macaques living in Nanwan Monkey Island, Hainan, China. Subsequently, we identified and genotyped E. bieneusi using nested PCR analysis amplification of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of the rRNA gene. Lastly, a neighbor-joining tree was built based on gene sequences from the ITS region of E. bieneusi. RESULTS: Of the 173 specimens from wild rhesus macaques, 26 (15%) were infected with E. bieneusi. We identified six genotypes of E. bieneusi, of which five were known: PigEBITS7 (n = 20), D (n = 2), Type IV (n = 1), Peru6 (n = 1), Henan-III (n = 1), and a novel genotype: HNM-IX (n = 1). From the phylogenetic analysis, the six genotypes identified here were all clustered into zoonotic group 1. CONCLUSION: This study is the first report to detect E. bieneusi infection in wild rhesus macaques from Hainan, China. Human-pathogenic genotypes D, Henan-III, Peru6, PigEbITS7, and Type IV in the wild rhesus macaques support these animals infected with E. bieneusi have a public health significance.