First molecular characterization of Balantioides coli (Malmsten, 1857) isolates maintained in vitro culture and from feces of captive animals, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ciliate protozoa of the genus Balantioides can parasitize a variety of animals. The morphology of the evolutionary forms of the parasite and the host species affected have long been the only characteristics used to taxonomically identify the species of these protozoa, but these variables are not very precise. To confirm species identity, molecular biology tools are currently used. In this context, this study aimed to analyze protozoan isolates maintained in culture medium and from fecal samples from captive animals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by means of molecular tools. Forty isolates maintained in Pavlova modified medium (30 were isolated from feces of pigs and 10 from feces of cynomolgus macaques) were analyzed. In addition, 34 fecal samples (8 from pigs, 8 from cynomolgus macaques and 18 from rhesus macaques) containing Balantioides coli-like cysts were analyzed. All samples were subjected to DNA extraction and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the fragment ITS1 - 5.8s rRNA - ITS2, and the PCR products were purified and sequenced. All samples (100%) presented sequences that were grouped in the Balantioides coli cluster. The type A0 variant predominated. These sequences were 96% to 99% identical to those deposited in GenBank, including a B. coli sequence that had been obtained from human fecal material in Bolivia. It seems that the culturing system did not select variants, because this variant was also seen in the amplified sequences of fecal samples containing cysts. The isolate sequences in the cultures showed few ambiguities and substitutions, thus generating reliable chromatograms. This was the first study to identify B. coli in captive animals in Brazil, through molecular biology. In addition, it was the first to evaluate a large panel of isolates of the parasite through culturing.

AVALIAÇÃO DA FREQUÊNCIA DE Balantidium coli EM suínos, TRATADORES DE SUÍNOS E PRIMATAS NÃO HUMANOS NO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIRO

Este trabalho relata a frequência de Balantidium coli nos tratadores de suínos e primatas não humanos que trabalham em criatórios localizados em distintos municípios do estado do Rio de Janeiro. No período de 2012 a 2014, foram coletadas 104 amostras fecais de 52 tratadores, 790 amostras fecais de suínos e 1.115 de primatas não humanos. Todas as amostras foram coletadas sem conservante químico, sendo submetidas às técnicas de Faust et al., Sheather modificada, Ritchie modificada, Lutz e exame direto. Formas evolutivas de B. coli não foram detectadas nas amostras fecais dos tratadores, porém foram evidenciadas em 49,2% dos suínos e em 41,5% do material fecal dos símios. A ausência da balantidiose em humanos, embora estivessem em contato próximo com animais parasitados, como foi demonstrado neste estudo, pode ter ocorrido em virtude da adoção de adequadas medidas higiênico-sanitárias na manipulação desses animais ou graças à resistência humana à infecção por esse protozoário.

Balantidium coli and other gastrointestinal parasites in captives non-human primates of the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

BACKGROUND

Parasites are agents of diarrhea in captive non-human primates (NHP). To broaden information about those etiological agents in captive animals in Brazil, gastrointestinal parasites in captive NHP were researched in nurturing Centers of Rio de Janeiro State.

METHODS

Fecal samples were collected from primates, of which 960 came from the Research Center (Cecal/Fiocruz) and 115 from the Primate Center (CPRJ/Inea). The study involved species of the New World (NW) primates and of the Old World (OW).

RESULTS

The estimated prevalence was 56.7%, of which 91.3% presented protozoans and 7.4% presented helminths. Statistical difference between the nurturing centers occurred in the overall value of parasitosis and in the isolated frequency of Balantidium coli and Entamoeba sp., especially in the samples of OW primates living in Cecal.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrated the need for implements of sanitation programs in the sites for captive primates nurturing.