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Duan J, Qin H, Sun M, Fu Y, Lang J, Zhang A, Qin Z, Guo Z, Xu H, Li X, Wang C, Zhang L. Occurrence and genotypic identification of Blastocystis sp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Giardia duodenalis in dairy cattle in Heilongjiang Province, China. Parasitol Int 2024; 100:102871. [PMID: 38403046 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2024.102871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Blastocystis sp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Giardia duodenalis are three common zoonotic intestinal parasites, and cattle are important hosts of these three intestinal protozoa. In this study, 1632 fecal samples were collected from dairy farms in Heilongjiang Province, China, and screened for Blastocystis sp., E. bieneusi, and G. duodenalis using polymerase chain reaction. Of these, 149 (9.13%) were positive for three zoonotic pathogens, including 104 (6.40%), 22 (1.35%), and 23 (1.41%) for Blastocystis sp., E. bieneusi, and G. duodenalis, respectively. Based on partial SSU rRNA gene sequencing analysis, 104 positive samples of Blastocystis sp. were found, and a total of nine known subtypes were identified, including ST10 (61), ST3 (18), ST14 (6), ST26 (7), ST24 (3), ST25 (2), ST1 (2), ST5 (2), and ST21 (1). Among these, three subtypes (ST1, ST3, and ST5) were recognized as zoonotic subtypes, and two subtypes (ST10 and ST14) were specific to animals. All 23 Giardia duodenalis-positive samples belonged to assemblage E (n = 23) based on sequenced beta-giardin (bg) and triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) genes. Three known genotypes of E. bieneusi, namely J (n = 9), I (n = 6), and BEB4 (n = 7), were identified by sequence analysis of the internal transcriptional spacer region gene. Our study provides basic data for prevention and control in Heilongjiang Province; however, further research is required to better understand the prevalence and public health significance of these pathogens in the Heilongjiang region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junxia Duan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products (Zhengzhou), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PR China
| | - Huikai Qin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products (Zhengzhou), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PR China
| | - Mengqing Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products (Zhengzhou), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PR China
| | - Yin Fu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products (Zhengzhou), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PR China
| | - Jiashu Lang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products (Zhengzhou), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PR China
| | - Aihui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bovine Disease Control in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Ziyang Qin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products (Zhengzhou), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PR China
| | - Zhenxuan Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products (Zhengzhou), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PR China
| | - Huiyan Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products (Zhengzhou), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PR China.
| | - Xiaoying Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products (Zhengzhou), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PR China.
| | - Chunren Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bovine Disease Control in Northeast China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Longxian Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou 450046, Henan Province, China; Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products (Zhengzhou), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PR China.
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Sun Y, Nan H, Zhang C, Yang X, Zhao Y, Feng G, Ma L. Genetic characteristics of Blastocystis sp. in cattle from Hebei Province, China. Microb Pathog 2024; 190:106629. [PMID: 38522492 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.106629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a protozoan parasite that infects the intestines of humans and animals, causing chronic diseases such as skin rashes, abdominal pain, and irritable bowel syndrome. A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence and genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp. infection in cattle, in Hebei Province, China. 2746 cattle fecal samples were collected from 11 cities in Hebei Province and analyzed using polymerase chain reaction targeting the Blastocystis sp. barcoding gene. MEGA, PhyloSuite, and PopART were used to analyze the subtype, sequence signature, pairwise genetic distance, and genetic diversity indices. The results showed that the Blastocystis sp. detection rate was 12.60% (346/2746). The infection rate in different herds was affected by region, age, breeding mode, and variety; that is, the infection rates in areas of southern Hebei, cattle under one year old, intensive raising, and dairy cattle were higher than the infection rates in northern Hebei, cattle over one year old, scatter feeding, and beef cattle. Seven Blastocystis subtypes were identified, namely, ST1, ST2, ST5, ST10, ST14, ST21, and ST26; ST10 was the dominant subtype, and ST14 was the second most common subtype. A total of 374 polymorphic and conserved sites were obtained, including 273 invariable (monomorphic) sites and 101 variable (polymorphic) sites, accounting for 27.01% of all nucleotides. The nucleotide diversity index (Pi) was 0.07749, and the haplotype (gene) diversity index (Hd) was 0.946. This study provides the first comprehensive information on the epidemiological situation of Blastocystis sp. infection in cattle from Hebei Province, China, and revealed rich genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Sun
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Huizhu Nan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Gang Feng
- Tangshan Municipal Administration Center of Zoo, Tangshan, 063000, China
| | - Lei Ma
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
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Asghari A, Yousefi A, Mohammadi MR, Badali R, Shamsi L, Köseoğlu AE, Abbaszadeh A, Shams M, Mohammadi-Ghalehbin B. Comparative molecular epidemiology, subtype distribution, and zoonotic potential of Blastocystis sp. in Equus animals (horses, donkeys, and mules) in northwestern Iran. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 106:102124. [PMID: 38262257 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2024.102124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
A total of 500 fecal samples were collected from Equus animals in six different cities (Ardabil, Namin, Nir, Meshginshahr, Germi, and Khalkhal) of Ardabil Province, northwestern Iran, with 200 samples from horses, 200 from donkeys, and 100 from mules. Of the horse samples, 100 were from racing horses under special monitoring and care, while the remaining 100 were from non-racing horses, including those used for herding or in rural areas. All fecal samples were examined for the presence of Blastocystis sp. using PCR amplification of the SSU rRNA gene's barcode region after DNA extraction. The molecular prevalence of Blastocystis infection in Equus animals was 7.6% (38/500). Blastocystis was more common in horses [11.5% (23/200)] than in donkeys [5.5% (11/200)] and mules [4% (4/100)] (P > 0.05). Compared to racing horses [3% (3/100)], non-racing/rural horses [20% (20/100)] exhibited a substantially higher prevalence of Blastocystis (P < 0.05). The prevalence of Blastocystis in diarrheal samples and younger animals was remarkably higher than in formed samples and older animals, respectively (P < 0.05). No significant difference in Blastocystis infection prevalence was found between the genders of examined animals (P > 0.05). In Equus animals, 38 Blastocystis isolates included eight STs: ST10 [31.6% (12/38)], ST1 [21.1% (8/38)], ST2 [15.8% (6/38)], ST3 [10.5% (4/38)], ST4 [7.9% (3/38)], ST7 [5.2% (2/38)], ST14 [5.2% (2/38)], and ST6 [2.6% (1/38)]. These results suggest that Equus animals act as a proper reservoir for numerous Blastocystis STs, consequently playing a crucial part in the spread of this protozoan infection to humans, animals, and water reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Asghari
- Zoonoses Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Amirhosein Yousefi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mohammad Reza Mohammadi
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Roya Badali
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Laya Shamsi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Ahmet Efe Köseoğlu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Biruni University, 34010, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Amir Abbaszadeh
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Morteza Shams
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
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Gomes-Gonçalves S, Santos-Silva S, Cruz AVS, Rodrigues C, Soeiro V, Barradas P, Mesquita JR. A Thorny Tale of Parasites: Screening for Enteric Protozoan Parasites in Hedgehogs from Portugal. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:326. [PMID: 38275786 PMCID: PMC10812701 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Enteric protozoan parasites, such as Blastocystis sp., Balantioides coli, Cryptosporidium spp., and Giardia duodenalis, may have implications for both animal and human health.Transmitted through the fecal-oral route, these parasites cause symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. This study investigated the presence of these enteric protozoan parasites and genetically characterized them in hedgehogs from Portugal. A total of 110 hedgehog stool samples were collected. Molecular detection methods showed an overall occurrence of protozoa in 1.82% (2/110 95% CI: 0.22-6.41) of hedgehogs, with Blastocystis being found in one hedgehog and Cryptosporidium being found in another. No evidence for the presence of B. coli or G. duodenalis was found. This study suggests that there is a need to stay aware of hedgehogs as potential hosts of enteric protozoa. Ongoing research and surveillance efforts are recommended to explore practical prevention and control strategies. The results contribute to the limited knowledge of these parasites in Portuguese hedgehog populations and underscore their potential relevance to both veterinary and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Gomes-Gonçalves
- Department of Biology, Campus de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (S.S.-S.); (A.V.S.C.)
| | - Andreia V. S. Cruz
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (S.S.-S.); (A.V.S.C.)
| | - Clarisse Rodrigues
- Centro de Recuperação e Interpretação do Ouriço—CRIDO, 4470-372 Maia, Portugal;
| | - Vanessa Soeiro
- Parque Biológico de Gaia, 4430-812 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal;
| | - Patrícia Barradas
- 1H-TOXRUN—One Health Toxicology Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, CRL(CESPU, CRL), 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal;
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
| | - João R. Mesquita
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (S.S.-S.); (A.V.S.C.)
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
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Shams M, Bahrami AM, Mousivand A, Shamsi L, Asghari A, Shahabi S, Sadrebazzaz A. First molecular characterization of Blastocystis subtypes from domestic animals (sheep and cattle) and their animal-keepers in Ilam, western Iran: A zoonotic concern. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2024:e13019. [PMID: 38225853 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.13019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
A total of 360 fecal samples were randomly collected from 150 cattle, 150 sheep, and 60 humans (30 people with close animal contact and 30 individuals without close animal contact) at 10 farms in Ilam, western Iran from June 2022 to August 2023. All samples were directly examined for Blastocystis by zinc sulfate flotation, followed by microscopic observation. Positive samples were further subtyped using conventional PCR and sequencing methods. A mean prevalence of 5.3% (16/300) was estimated for Blastocystis infection among examined animals, with 6% and 4.7% for cattle and sheep, respectively. Among the people who had close and non-close animal contact, 16.7% (5/30) and 3.3% (1/30) were infected with Blastocystis, respectively (p < 0.05). All 22 positive samples were successfully sequenced at the SSU rRNA locus. Accordingly, Blastocystis isolates infecting domestic animals in Ilam belonged to the four STs (ST1-ST3, and ST10). Of the 16 animal isolates, nine sequences (four ST10, three ST3, and two ST1) were related to cattle, and seven sequences (three ST10, two ST3, and two ST2) were isolated from sheep. Among the six human isolates, ST3 was the most predominant ST, followed by STs 1, 2, 6, and 7 (one case each). Of note, ST1-ST3 were isolated in various farms both from animals and their breeders, which indicates the possible circulation of these STs between animal and human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morteza Shams
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | | | - Asma Mousivand
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Laya Shamsi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Ali Asghari
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Saeed Shahabi
- Department of Biology and Control of Disease Vectors, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Alireza Sadrebazzaz
- Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Mashhad, Iran
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Asghari A, Banavand S, Akhlaghzadeh M, Shamsi L, Hatam G. First Molecular Identification and Subtyping of Blastocystis sp. in the Most Consumed Edible Marine Fish of Iran: A Foodborne Concern. Acta Parasitol 2024:10.1007/s11686-023-00769-9. [PMID: 38183610 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00769-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The presence of Blastocystis sp. is commonly observed in humans and different animals, displaying a wide range of genetic variations with the discovery of multiple subtypes (STs). However, the prevalence and distribution of these STs in edible marine fish and marine mammals remain uncertain. This study marks the first survey conducted in Iran and the second global molecular investigation to examine the occurrence and STs distribution of Blastocystis in various species of edible marine fish. METHODS This study screened 200 fresh intestinal contents from 10 well-known fish species (Narrow-barred mackerel, Indo-pacific king mackerel, Tigertooth croaker, Silver pomfret, Black pomfret, Longtail tuna, John's snapper, Blackspotted croaker, Four-finger threadfin, and Javelin grunter) in southern Iran, caught in the Persian Gulf. All collected samples were evaluated by microscopy and SSU-PCR methods. RESULTS Based on both microscopy and PCR, the overall prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in evaluated fish species was 2% (4/200). In brief, Blastocystis sp. was reported from Narrow-barred mackerel [10% (2/20)], Silver pomfret [5% (1/20)], and Tigertooth croaker [5% (1/20)]. Interestingly, among infected fish species three zoonotic STs (ST1, ST2, and ST7) were identified. ST2 was the most predominant ST [50% (2/4)], followed by ST1 and ST7, one sample each [5% (1/20)]. CONCLUSION Overall, the prevalence and STs distribution of Blastocystis in edible marine fish along with the possibility of its zoonotic transmission are still open to question and require extensive and more detailed studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Asghari
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Shaghayegh Banavand
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Maryam Akhlaghzadeh
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Laya Shamsi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Hatam
- Nanomedicine and Nanobiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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Boutahar M, Belaouni M, Ibrahimi A, Eljaoudi R, Aanniz T, Er-Rami M. Prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in Morocco: Comparative assessment of three diagnostic methods and characterization of parasite forms in Jones' culture medium. Parasite 2023; 30:64. [PMID: 38117274 PMCID: PMC10732137 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2023065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Blastocystosis is an infection caused by Blastocystis sp., which colonizes the digestive tract of various hosts, including humans, although its pathogenicity is debated. It is crucial to detect and distinguish the different forms of Blastocystis to understand better its impact on human health and its epidemiological evolution. This study evaluated three diagnostic methods on 105 stool samples: direct examination, culture in Jones' medium, and conventional PCR. PCR is considered the gold standard and revealed a high prevalence of Blastocystis (67.62%) compared to direct examination (20.95%) and culture in Jones' medium (51.43%). Although the sensitivity of direct examination and culture was 31% and 76.1%, respectively, their specificity was 100%. No significant risk factors were identified. A statistically significant association was observed between Blastocystis infection and abdominal pain. Microscopic analysis revealed various morphological forms. Molecular diagnosis is an essential tool to determine the true prevalence of Blastocystis, and studying the different forms of this microorganism will contribute to a better understanding of its biological cycle and, therefore, the impact of this emerging infection on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mounia Boutahar
- Human Pathology, Biomedicine and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Technology of Fez, B.P. 2202 - Route d'Imouzzer, Fez, Morocco
| | - Mourad Belaouni
- Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, Moulay Ismaïl Military Hospital, Meknes 50007, Morocco
| | - Azeddine Ibrahimi
- Biotechnology Lab (MedBiotech), Bioinova Research Center, Rabat Medical & Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat 10100, Morocco - Mohammed VI Center for Research & Innovation (CM6), Rabat 10000, Morocco - Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Casablanca 20000, Morocco
| | - Rachid Eljaoudi
- Biotechnology Lab (MedBiotech), Bioinova Research Center, Rabat Medical & Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat 10100, Morocco - Mohammed VI Center for Research & Innovation (CM6), Rabat 10000, Morocco - Emergency Department, Military Hospital Mohammed V, Rabat 10000, Morocco
| | - Tarik Aanniz
- Biotechnology Lab (MedBiotech), Bioinova Research Center, Rabat Medical & Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat 10100, Morocco
| | - Mohammed Er-Rami
- Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, Moulay Ismaïl Military Hospital, Meknes 50007, Morocco - Human Pathology, Biomedicine and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Fez 30070, Morocco
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Naguib D, Gantois N, Desramaut J, Arafat N, Mandour M, Abdelmaogood AKK, Mosa AF, Denoyelle C, Even G, Certad G, Chabé M, Viscogliosi E. Molecular Epidemiology and Genetic Diversity of the Enteric Protozoan Parasite Blastocystis sp. in the Northern Egypt Population. Pathogens 2023; 12:1359. [PMID: 38003823 PMCID: PMC10674599 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is currently reported as the most frequent single-celled eukaryote inhabiting the intestinal tract of humans and a wide range of animal groups. Its prevalence is especially higher in developing countries linked with fecal peril. Despite a growing interest in this enteric protozoan, certain geographical regions potentially at high risk of infection, such as North Africa, remain under-investigated. Therefore, a large-scale molecular epidemiological survey, including 825 participants presenting digestive disorders or not, was conducted in five governorates located in Northern Egypt. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was performed to identify the parasite in stool samples, followed by direct sequencing of the positive PCR products for subtyping and genotyping of the corresponding isolates. The overall prevalence was shown to reach 72.4% in the Egyptian cohort, coupled with a variable frequency depending on the governorate (41.3 to 100%). Among the 597 positive participants, a large proportion of them (39.4%) presented mixed infections, as determined by sequencing. The remaining individuals with single infection were predominantly colonized by subtype 3 (ST3) (48.3%) followed by ST1 (39.5%), ST2 (10.8%), ST14 (1.1%), and ST10 (0.3%). This was the first report of ST10 and ST14 in North Africa. Age, sex, digestive symptoms, and health status of the participants or contact with animals were not identified as significant risk factors for Blastocystis sp. occurrence or affecting the ST distribution. In contrast, substantial variations in the prevalence and ST distribution of the parasite were reported according to the governorate. Genotyping of isolates revealed the lower intra-ST diversity for ST3, followed by ST1 and then ST2. By combining subtyping and genotyping data, a widespread inter-human transmission was strongly suggested for ST3 within the Egyptian cohort. Regarding ST1 and ST2, additional animal or environmental sources of infection by these STs have been proposed, whereas the few cases of colonization by ST10 and ST14 were likely the result of zoonotic transmission from bovid. These investigations clearly emphasized the active circulation of Blastocystis sp. in Northern Egypt and the necessity for health authorities to implement prevention campaigns towards the population and quality control of drinking water, with the aim of reducing the burden of this enteric protozoan in this endemic country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doaa Naguib
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (D.N.); (N.G.); (J.D.); (C.D.); (G.C.); (M.C.)
- Department of Hygiene and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Nausicaa Gantois
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (D.N.); (N.G.); (J.D.); (C.D.); (G.C.); (M.C.)
| | - Jeremy Desramaut
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (D.N.); (N.G.); (J.D.); (C.D.); (G.C.); (M.C.)
| | - Nagah Arafat
- Department of Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt;
| | - Mohamed Mandour
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41511, Egypt; (M.M.); (A.K.K.A.)
| | | | - Ashraf Fawzy Mosa
- Parasitology Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt;
| | - Constance Denoyelle
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (D.N.); (N.G.); (J.D.); (C.D.); (G.C.); (M.C.)
| | - Gaël Even
- GD Biotech-Gènes Diffusion, F-59000 Lille, France;
- PEGASE-Biosciences (Plateforme d’Expertises Génomiques Appliquées aux Sciences Expérimentales), Institut Pasteur de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Gabriela Certad
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (D.N.); (N.G.); (J.D.); (C.D.); (G.C.); (M.C.)
- Délégation à la Recherche Clinique et à l’Innovation, Groupement des Hôpitaux de l’Institut Catholique de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Magali Chabé
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (D.N.); (N.G.); (J.D.); (C.D.); (G.C.); (M.C.)
| | - Eric Viscogliosi
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (D.N.); (N.G.); (J.D.); (C.D.); (G.C.); (M.C.)
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Gomes-Gonçalves S, Palmeira JD, Ferreira H, Santos-Silva S, Mesquita JR. Occurrence and Phylogenetic Analysis of Zoonotic Enteropathogenic Protist Parasites in Asymptomatic Domestic Ruminants from Portugal. Pathogens 2023; 12:1341. [PMID: 38003805 PMCID: PMC10675233 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Enteropathogenic parasites are of significant concern for public health due to their zoonotic potential and their impact on human and animal health. In this study, we investigated their occurrence and characterized these enteropathogens in asymptomatic domestic ruminants from Portugal. A total of 302 stool samples were collected from cattle (n = 166), sheep (n = 73), and goats (n = 63) in various regions of Portugal and tested for Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Blastocystis sp., and Balantioides coli by PCR. The occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. was found to be 12.7% (8/63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.65-23.5) in goats; however, no sample was found to be positive for Cryptosporidium spp. in cattle and sheep. For E. bieneusi, 6.35% (4/63; 95%CI: 1.76-15.47) of goats were found to be positive; however, no cattle or sheep were found to be positive. Blastocystis sp. was found in sheep (9.59%; 7/73; 95% [CI]: 0.394-18.76) and goats (12.70%; 8/63; 95% [CI]: 5.65-23.50) but none was found in cattle. No positive results for G. duodenalis or B. coli were detected in this study. This study provides essential baseline information for understanding the silent shedding and epidemiology of these enteropathogens in Portugal, contributing to overall livestock health and related occupational safety. Raising awareness among consumers, veterinarians, and farm owners is crucial to minimize the risk of transmission and promote effective disease control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Gomes-Gonçalves
- Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Josman Dantas Palmeira
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.D.P.); (H.F.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Microbiology, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy of University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Helena Ferreira
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.D.P.); (H.F.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Microbiology, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy of University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
| | - João R. Mesquita
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
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10
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Zhao W, Zhang Y, Li J, Ren G, Qiang Y, Wang Y, Lai X, Lei S, Liu R, Chen Y, Huang H, Li W, Lu G, Tan F. Prevalence and distribution of subtypes of Blastocystis in Asiatic brush-tailed porcupines (Atherurus macrourus), bamboo rats (Rhizomys pruinosus), and masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) farmed in Hainan, China. Parasite 2023; 30:45. [PMID: 37921619 PMCID: PMC10624160 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2023048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is an important gastrointestinal parasite with global distribution, prevalent in humans, farmed animals, and wildlife. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp. in Asiatic brush-tailed porcupines (Atherurus macrourus), bamboo rats (Rhizomys pruinosus), and masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) in Hainan Province, China. A total of 900 fecal samples were collected from three farmed animal species including 257 porcupines, 360 rats, and 283 civets. Genomic DNA was extracted from each fecal sample and Blastocystis sp. was detected by PCR at the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the maximum likelihood method. Blastocystis sp. was detected in 47 (5.2%) fecal samples: 12 (4.7%) Asiatic brush-tailed porcupines, 8 (2.2%) bamboo rats, and 27 (9.5%) masked palm civets. Three known Blastocystis sp. subtypes, including ST1, ST4, ST5, and one unnamed subtype (unST), were found in one, 19, 26, and one animal, respectively. Subtypes ST4 and unST were detected in porcupines, ST4 in rats, and ST1 and ST5 in civets. Our results suggest that the three farmed animal species reported in this study could serve as reservoirs for potentially zoonotic Blastocystis sp. subtypes and transmit this parasite to humans, other farmed animals, and wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhao
- Department of Parasitology, Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou 325035 China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China
| | - Jiaqi Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China
| | - Guangxu Ren
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China
| | - Yu Qiang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China
| | - Xiuyi Lai
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China
| | - Sheng Lei
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University Haikou 570100 China
| | - Yuankun Chen
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University Haikou 570100 China
| | - Huicong Huang
- Department of Parasitology, Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou 325035 China
| | - Wenting Li
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University Haikou 570100 China
| | - Gang Lu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University Haikou 570100 China
| | - Feng Tan
- Department of Parasitology, Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou 325035 China
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11
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Mei X, Su C, Zhang S, Jia L, Yang Z, Tian X, Zhang Z, Wang S. Development and application of recombinase polymerase amplification assay for rapid detection of Blastocystis sp. Parasitology 2023; 150:1221-1225. [PMID: 37860882 PMCID: PMC10801367 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023000975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a common parasite in the intestinal tract of humans and animals. The clinical diagnosis of Blastocystis sp. mainly depends on the microscopic observation of parasite, which can lead to false-negative results. An accurate and convenient diagnostic approach for Blastocystis sp. infection is crucial for effectively preventing and controlling blastocystosis. Herein, we developed a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) method for detecting Blastocystis sp. The results showed that the DNA amplification by RPA established in this study could be performed within 5 min at 37°C, with maximum band intensity observed at 30 min. The minimum detection limit of RPA was 100 fg μL−1, consistent with conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR). Furthermore, the RPA method exhibited no cross-reactivity with 7 other non-target pathogens in the intestinal tract. Next, the newly established RPA method was used to analyse 40 fecal samples collected clinically, and the detection results were consistent with cPCR. These results corroborate that the newly developed RPA method has good sensitivity and specificity and offers the advantage of short detection times, which can be harnessed for differential diagnosis and rapid detection of Blastocystis sp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefang Mei
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China
| | - Changwei Su
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China
| | - Shanrui Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China
| | - Luwei Jia
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China
| | - Zhenke Yang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China
| | - Xiaowei Tian
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China
| | - Zhenchao Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China
| | - Shuai Wang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China
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Muñoz-Antoli C, Irisarri-Gutiérrez MJ, Acosta L, Bonet MJ, Esteban JG, Toledo R. Intestinal parasitic infections and their potential risk factors among prison inmates in Valencia, Spain. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:616. [PMID: 37726678 PMCID: PMC10507839 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08613-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the fact that prison inmates are a population at higher risk than other groups of suffering from intestinal parasite infections in relation to their living conditions, information about these diseases in prison environments is still scarce. Herein, we analyze the status of intestinal parasite infections in a Spanish prison. METHODS A cross-sectional study involving 528 inmates was conducted from April to June 2022 among inmates at Centro Penitenciario Picassent (Valencia, Spain). Stool specimens were examined using the direct wet mount technique, the formol-ether concentration technique, and the Ziehl-Neelsen staining method. We used STATA 16.1 for data analysis. We consider a p-value less than 0.05 significant at a 95% confidence level. RESULTS Of the 528 inmates (471 men and 57 women; a mean age of 41.94 years) enrolled in the study, 83 (15.7%) were infected. Only six species of protozoa were detected. The gut potential microeukaryotic pathobiont Blastocystis sp. was the predominant parasite, accounting for 37 (44.6%) of the infections. Gut parasite amebas (6.6%) and pathobionts (5.3%) were more prevalent than flagellates (2.3%). The prevalence of infection with pathogenic species (8.9%) was similar to that of non-pathogenic species (8.7%). Infection among men (15.2%) was higher than in women (0.6%) (p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, the country of birth (AOR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.18-0.52) and the time spent in prison (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.06-3.14) were statistically significant associated to intestinal parasite infections (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.028, respectively). CONCLUSION This study found low levels of intestinal parasite infections in the CPP which could be indicative of the implementation of sanitary measures in prison environments in Spain. The less time spent in prison favor the risk of having infection while the Spanish nationality of inmates could reduce the risk of infection. The main recommendation would be to introduce routine parasitological tests upon foreigners entering prison.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Muñoz-Antoli
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
| | - María José Irisarri-Gutiérrez
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucrecia Acosta
- Parasitology Area, Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, Miguel Hernández de Elche University, Alicante, Spain
| | - María José Bonet
- Medical Deputy Director, Picassent Penitentiary Center, Valencia, Spain
| | - J Guillermo Esteban
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rafael Toledo
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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13
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Liang Y, Liu YY, Mei JJ, Zheng WB, Liu Q, Gao WW, Zhu XQ, Xie SC. Molecular Identification and Genotyping of Cryptosporidium spp. and Blastocystis sp. in Cattle in Representative Areas of Shanxi Province, North China. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2929. [PMID: 37760332 PMCID: PMC10525831 DOI: 10.3390/ani13182929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Both Cryptosporidium spp. and Blastocystis sp. are common intestinal protozoa, which can cause zoonotic diseases and economic losses to livestock industry. To evaluate the prevalence and genetic population structure of Cryptosporidium spp. and Blastocystis sp. in beef and dairy cattle in Shanxi Province, north China, a total of 795 fecal samples were collected from beef and dairy cattle in three representative counties in Shanxi Province, and these fecal samples were examined using molecular approaches based on 18S small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) of Cryptosporidium spp. and Blastocystis sp., respectively. Among 795 cattle fecal samples, 23 were detected as Cryptosporidium-positive and 103 were detected as Blastocystis-positive, and the overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Blastocystis sp. in cattle in Shanxi Province was 2.9% and 13.0%, respectively. For Cryptosporidium spp., DNA sequence analysis indicated that all 23 positive samples were identified as C. andersoni. Furthermore, five known subtypes (ST1, ST10, ST14, ST21 and ST26) and three unknown subtypes of Blastocystis sp. were detected among 103 positive samples using DNA sequence analysis. This study reported the occurrence and prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Blastocystis sp. in cattle in Shanxi Province for the first time, which extends the geographical distribution of these two zoonotic parasites and provides baseline data for the prevention and control of these two important zoonotic parasites in cattle in Shanxi Province.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Liang
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.L.); (Y.-Y.L.); (J.-J.M.); (W.-B.Z.); (Q.L.); (W.-W.G.)
| | - Ya-Ya Liu
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.L.); (Y.-Y.L.); (J.-J.M.); (W.-B.Z.); (Q.L.); (W.-W.G.)
| | - Jin-Jin Mei
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.L.); (Y.-Y.L.); (J.-J.M.); (W.-B.Z.); (Q.L.); (W.-W.G.)
| | - Wen-Bin Zheng
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.L.); (Y.-Y.L.); (J.-J.M.); (W.-B.Z.); (Q.L.); (W.-W.G.)
| | - Qing Liu
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.L.); (Y.-Y.L.); (J.-J.M.); (W.-B.Z.); (Q.L.); (W.-W.G.)
| | - Wen-Wei Gao
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.L.); (Y.-Y.L.); (J.-J.M.); (W.-B.Z.); (Q.L.); (W.-W.G.)
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.L.); (Y.-Y.L.); (J.-J.M.); (W.-B.Z.); (Q.L.); (W.-W.G.)
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Higher Education of Yunnan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Shi-Chen Xie
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.L.); (Y.-Y.L.); (J.-J.M.); (W.-B.Z.); (Q.L.); (W.-W.G.)
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
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14
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Qi T, Zheng W, Guo L, Sun Y, Li J, Kang M. First description of Blastocystis sp. and Entamoeba sp. infecting zoo animals in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau area, China. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1212617. [PMID: 37360523 PMCID: PMC10287090 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1212617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Protozoan parasites are a well-known threat to human health, particularly for people working at or visiting zoos, and potentially cause zoonotic diseases in humans. Captive wildlife may be potential reservoirs for human infection with protozoan parasites. Therefore, focusing on zoonotic protozoan infections in zoo animals is critical. However, there is no report on this topic in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau region. In this study, a total of 167 and 103 fecal samples were collected from 12 animal species from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wildlife Park in winter and summer, respectively, to detection the prevalence of infections and subtype distribution with Entamoeba sp., Cryptosporidium sp., Giardia duodenalis, Enteromicrosporidia bieneusi sp., Blastocystis sp. by PCR assay. The results showed that a total of 21 fecal samples collected in winter, including from 2 white-lipped deer, 8 Sika deer, 6 blue sheep, 2 wolves and 3 bears, were positive for Entamoeba, with a 12.6% (21/167) positive rate. However, 4.9% (5/103) of animals in summer were positive for Entamoeba, including 1 snow leopard, 1 tiger, 1 Tibetan argali and 2 mouflon. Moreover, 1 white-lipped deer and 1 bear were found to be positive for Blastocystis sp., one zoonotic STs (ST10) was identified and found in white-lipped deer. We found no effect on season on Blastocystis sp. and Entamoeba sp. colonization. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first description of Blastocystis sp. and Entamoeba sp. infecting zoo animals in the plateau area. The findings provide the latest data on Entamoeba sp. and Blastocystis sp. in zoo animals in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongsheng Qi
- College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Wangli Zheng
- College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Liangting Guo
- College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Yali Sun
- College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogen Diagnosis for Animal Diseases and Green Technical Research for Prevention and Control, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Jixu Li
- College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogen Diagnosis for Animal Diseases and Green Technical Research for Prevention and Control, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Ming Kang
- College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China
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Hidalgo-Gonzalez LA, Salgado-Lopez J, Pineda-Rodriguez SA, Martinez A, Romero-Valdovinos M, Martinez-Hernandez F, Rendon-Franco E, Olivo-Diaz A, Maravilla P, Rodriguez-Bataz E. Identification of Blastocystis sp. in school children from a rural Mexican village: subtypes and risk factors analysis. Parasitol Res 2023:10.1007/s00436-023-07872-w. [PMID: 37191687 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07872-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a common eukaryotic microorganism that colonizes the intestinal tract of several animals, including humans, although its role as a pathogen is still unclear. In the present study, we report the prevalence and risk factors associated with Blastocystis infection in scholars from a rural community in Mexico. A cross-sectional observational study was carried out on schoolchildren aged 3 to 15 years old; fecal samples were analyzed by culture, Faust technique, and molecular analysis. In addition, a structured questionnaire was applied to identify possible risk factors. Of the 177 samples obtained, Blastocystis sp. was the microorganism that presented the highest frequency (n=78, 44%), and included the following subtypes (STs): ST1 (n=43, 56.5%), ST2 (n=18, 23.6%), and ST3 (n=15, 19.7%); Blastocystis STs were not identified in two cases. No associating factors were found between Blastocystis infection or among STs vs. symptoms. During bivariate analysis, no statistically significant risk factors were found, except for the variable of "eating sweets, snacks, and handmade food on the way home" (p=0.04). Therefore, it is plausible to conclude that schoolchildren become infected with Blastocystis sp. mainly outside their homes, perhaps by eating contaminated handmade food on their way to or from school; however, this variable should be evaluated in detail in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leydi Anahi Hidalgo-Gonzalez
- Laboratorio de Investigacion en Parasitologia, Facultad de Ciencias Quimico Biologicas, Universidad Autonoma de Guerrero, El Centenario, 39086, Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico
| | - Jeanille Salgado-Lopez
- Laboratorio de Investigacion en Parasitologia, Facultad de Ciencias Quimico Biologicas, Universidad Autonoma de Guerrero, El Centenario, 39086, Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico
| | - Sandra Alheli Pineda-Rodriguez
- Laboratorio de Investigacion en Parasitologia, Facultad de Ciencias Quimico Biologicas, Universidad Autonoma de Guerrero, El Centenario, 39086, Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico
| | - Arony Martinez
- Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez", 14080, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | - Emilio Rendon-Franco
- Departamento de Produccion Agricola y Animal, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Pablo Maravilla
- Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez", 14080, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Elvia Rodriguez-Bataz
- Laboratorio de Investigacion en Parasitologia, Facultad de Ciencias Quimico Biologicas, Universidad Autonoma de Guerrero, El Centenario, 39086, Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico.
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16
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Radhwi O, Almohammadi A, Almarzouki A, Barefah A, Bahashwan S, Alahwal H. Blastocystis sp.-An emerging cause of diarrhea post stem cell transplantation. Clin Case Rep 2023; 11:e7285. [PMID: 37143462 PMCID: PMC10152071 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.7285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Key Clinical Message Protozoans are endemic in the Middle East and diarrhea workup post stem cell transplant should always include stool examination for ova and parasites. Abstract We present a case of Blastocystis sp. infection in a multiple myeloma patient who developed diarrhea on day five of post-autologous stem cell transplantation. Diarrhea is a major complication and a potential cause of mortality in this population. Testing for endemic protozoan is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osman Radhwi
- Hematology Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University HospitalKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
- Hematology Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research CenterKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Almohammadi
- Hematology Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University HospitalKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
- Hematology Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research CenterKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
| | - Adel Almarzouki
- Hematology Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University HospitalKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
- Hematology Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research CenterKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Barefah
- Hematology Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University HospitalKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
- Hematology Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research CenterKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
| | - Salem Bahashwan
- Hematology Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University HospitalKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
- Hematology Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research CenterKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
| | - Hatem Alahwal
- Hematology Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University HospitalKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
- Hematology Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research CenterKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
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17
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Rondón S, Cavallero S, Link A, González C, D'Amelio S. Prevalence and Molecular Characterisation of Blastocystis sp. Infecting Free-Ranging Primates in Colombia. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12040569. [PMID: 37111455 PMCID: PMC10143058 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12040569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with Blastocystis sp. has been reported in free-living and captive non-human primates (NHPs); however, surveys on Blastocystis sp. from north-western South America are scarce. This study aimed to identify Blastocystis sp. in free-ranging NHPs living in Colombia. A total of 212 faecal samples were collected from Ateles hybridus, Cebus versicolor, Alouatta seniculus, Aotus griseimembra, Sapajus apella, and Saimiri cassiquiarensis. Smears and flotation were used for morphological identification. For samples microscopically classified as positive for Blastocystis sp., we used conventional PCR to amplify and sequence two regions of the SSU rRNA gene and used Maximum Likelihood methods and Median Joining Network analyses for phylogenetic analyses. Via microscopy, 64 samples were Blastocystis sp. positive. Through molecular analyses, 18 sequences of Blastocystis sp. subtype 8 (ST8) were obtained. Strain and allele assignment together with a comparative phylogenetic approach confirmed that the sequences were ST8. Alleles 21, 156, and 157 were detected. Median Joining network analyses showed one highly frequent haplotype shared by specimens from Colombia and Peru and close relationships between haplotypes circulating in NHPs from Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and Mexico. This survey could support the elaboration of a more accurate epidemiological picture of the Blastocystis sp. infecting NHPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Rondón
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Cavallero
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrés Link
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Bosques Tropicales y Primatología (LEBTYP), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1 N° 18a-12, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Camila González
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Tropical (CIMPAT), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1 N° 18a-12, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Stefano D'Amelio
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
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18
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Soleimani Jevinani S, Mohammad Rahimi H, Asri N, Rostami-Nejad M, Ahmadipour S, Mirjalali H. Molecular epidemiology and subtyping of Blastocystis sp. and its subtypes in celiac patients; a case control study. Microb Pathog 2023; 179:106086. [PMID: 36963704 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a common intestinal protist, reported from symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. Blastocystis sp. has been reported from a broad spectrum of gastrointestinal disorders. Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine, which leads to the lack of tolerance against gluten. Long-term following of gluten-free diet in CD patients decreases the gut microbiota restoration and probably decreases the chance of Blastocystis sp. colonization. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. and its subtypes in CD patients in comparison to healthy subjects. Stool samples were collected from 238 participants including 92 confirmed CD patients and 146 healthy subjects. upon DNA extraction, the presence of Blastocystis sp. was evaluated using amplification of discriminative regions of the small ribosomal RNA (ssu rRNA) gene. To characterize subtypes and alleles, amplified fragments were sequenced. Phylogenetic trees were constructed to visualize subtype correlation. Our findings showed that 21% (50) of samples including 16.3% (15/92) and 23.97% (35/146) were positive for Blastocystis sp. in CD patients and healthy controls, respectively. Except family relationship, other variables were not statistical correlated with the presence of Blastocystis sp.. Totally, 25 samples were successfully sequenced. Accordingly, ST1, ST2, and ST3 were present in 8 (32%), 9 (36%), and 8 (32%) of the samples, respectively. Allele discrimination showed that all ST1 were allele 4; alleles 11, 9, and 12 were retrieved from ST2, and alleles 34, 36, and 38 were observed in ST3. The relationship between colonization of Blastocystis sp. and alteration in the gut microbiota composition is indeterminate, however, this hypothesis that lower prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in CD patients who follow a gluten-free diet affect the colonization of Blastocystis sp. via alteration in the gut microbiota composition could be interesting for further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hanieh Mohammad Rahimi
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nastaran Asri
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Rostami-Nejad
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shokoufeh Ahmadipour
- Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirjalali
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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19
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Zhang M, Zhang J, Sun J, Zhu S, Xu H, Li X, Zhang L, Li J. First identification of Blastocystis sp. subtypes in Rex rabbits in China. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:1079-1086. [PMID: 36897380 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07807-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a common protist that colonizes the intestinal tract in both humans and animals worldwide. A total of 666 fecal samples of Rex rabbits were collected from 12 farms in three administrative regions in Henan, China. Blastocystis sp. was screened and subtyped by PCR amplification of the small subunit ribosomal DNA. The results indicated that 31 (4.7%, 31/666) rabbits were positive for Blastocystis sp. across three farms (25.0%, 3/12). The infection rate of Blastocystis sp. in Rex rabbits was highest in Jiyuan at 9.1% (30/331), followed by Luoyang (0.5%, 1/191), with no positive infections found in Zhengzhou. The Blastocystis sp. infection rate in adults (10.2%, 14/287) was higher than that in young rabbits (4.5%, 17/379) (χ2 = 0.0027, P > 0.50). Four Blastocystis sp. subtypes (ST1, ST3, ST4, and ST17) were identified in rabbits in the present study. Among them, the subtypes ST1 (n = 15) and ST3 (n = 14) were dominant, followed by ST4 (n = 1) and ST17 (n = 1). Blastocystis sp. ST1 was the dominant subtype in adult rabbits, and ST3 was the dominant subtype in young rabbits. This study enriches the data on the prevalence and subtype distributions of Blastocystis sp. in rabbits. More studies are needed among humans, domestic animals, and wild animals to obtain a better understanding of their role in the spread of Blastocystis sp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaomiao Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Junchen Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Jingjing Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Shuying Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Huiyan Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.,Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoying Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.,Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Longxain Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou, 450046, China.,Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Junqiang Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China. .,International Joint Research Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases of Henan, Zhengzhou, 450046, China. .,Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control of Poultry Products, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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20
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Aykur M, Calıskan Kurt C, Dirim Erdogan D, Biray Avcı C, Vardar R, Aydemir S, Girginkardesler N, Gunduz C, Dagci H. Distribution and Phylogenetic Analysis of Subtypes and Alleles of Blastocystis sp. in the Stool Samples Collected from Patients with Gastrointestinal Complaints in İzmir, Turkey. Acta Parasitol 2023. [PMID: 36806111 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00665-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Blastocystis sp. is one of the most prevalent intestinal protozoa found in humans and many other animals. The present study aimed to examine the distribution and genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp. in stool samples from patients with gastrointestinal complaints in İzmir, Turkey. METHODS All stool samples of 439 patients with gastrointestinal complaints were examined by native-Lugol and trichrome staining. To investigate the presence of Blastocystis sp. in stool samples, DNA was isolated, and PCR was performed with the barcode region in the SSU rRNA gene. PCR positive samples were sequenced to identify subtypes and alleles of Blastocystis sp. RESULTS The prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was found to be 16.6% (73/439) in patients with gastrointestinal complaints in İzmir, Turkey. Three different Blastocystis sp. subtypes were identified. ST3 (28/55; 51.0%) was the most common subtype followed by ST2 (19/55; 34.5%) and ST1 (8/55; 14.5%). Itching and diarrhea were the most prominent clinical symptoms in Blastocystis sp. positive patients. When clinical symptoms and subtypes were compared, diarrhea was found in 62.5%, 47.4%, and 46.4% of patients with ST1, ST2, and ST3 subtypes, respectively. In addition, itching was found in 37.5%, 32.1%, and 21.1% of patients with ST1, ST3, and ST2, respectively. Six distinct alleles were identified by allele analysis of Blastocystis 18S rRNA gene: allele 4 for ST1, alleles 9, 11, and 12 for ST2, and alleles 34 and 36 for ST3. In this study, Blastocystis sp. was detected in 16 of 21 districts, including the central and rural districts of İzmir. Although ST1 was detected in central districts, it was not found in rural districts. CONCLUSION This study provides comprehensive data on the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of the genetic diversity at the level of subtypes and alleles of Blastocystis sp. in different districts of İzmir province in Turkey. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study which evaluates the distribution of subtypes and alleles of Blastocystis sp. according to PCR and SSU rRNA gene sequencing in patients with gastrointestinal complaints in different districts of İzmir province in Turkey.
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21
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Santos-Silva S, Moraes DFDSD, López-López P, Palmeira JD, Torres RT, São José Nascimento M, Dashti A, Carmena D, Rivero-Juarez A, Mesquita JR. Survey of Zoonotic Diarrheagenic Protist and Hepatitis E Virus in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) of Portugal. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13. [PMID: 36670797 DOI: 10.3390/ani13020256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Enteropathogenic parasites and viruses have been frequently reported in swine and can infect a wide range of mammals, including humans. Among the wide variety of parasites infecting swine, diarrhoeagenic protists are among those that cause significant morbidity. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has also been reported both in domestic pigs and wild boar and is known to have an important public health significance. These agents share the fecal−oral transmission route, but data on their fecal shedding and circulation pathways are still lacking or incomplete. Hence, the aim of the present study was to characterize the presence of microeukaryotes and HEV in the wild boar of Portugal. Wild boar stool samples (n = 144) were obtained during the official hunting seasons (October to February) in 2018/2019, 2019/2020, and 2021/2022 and tested for Cryptosporidium spp., Balantioides coli, Giardia duodenalis, Blastocystis sp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi and HEV by molecular assays, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. We have detected Cryptosporidium scrofarum (1.4%, 95% CI: 0.2−4.9), B. coli (14.6%, 95% CI: 9.2−21.4), Blastocystis ST5 (29.2%, 95% CI: 21.9−37.2) and HEV genotype 3 (2.8%, 95% CI: 0.7−6.9; subgenotypes 3e and 3m). Co-infections were observed in thirteen animals where two were positive for both HEV and B. coli, one was positive for both C. scrofarum and Blastocystis ST5, and ten were positive for both B. coli and Blastocystis ST5. Giardia duodenalis and E. bieneusi were not detected in the surveyed wild boar population. As far as we know, this is the first report describing protist infections by Cryptosporidium spp., B. coli, and Blastocystis sp., as well as the first identification of the emerging HEV genotype 3m in wild boar of Portugal. The present work shows that potentially zoonotic protozoa and HEV are circulating in wild boar populations in Portugal. Awareness and epidemic-surveillance network implementation measures targeting wild boar are needed to prevent the spread of these pathogenic agents to humans.
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Ake-Canche B, Rodriguez-Bataz E, Esquivel-Piña JY, Tolentino-Loreto A, Arroyo-Escalante S, Martínez-Ocaña J, Romero-Valdovinos M, Valenzuela O, Orozco-Mosqueda GE, Martinez-Hernandez F, Maravilla P, Martinez A. Can the genetic variability of Blastocystis sp. be associated with the climatic region of its human carriers? Infect Genet Evol 2022; 106:105383. [PMID: 36336275 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a widespread microorganism that colonizes the intestinal tract of several animals, including human beings, while its pathogenic role in humans is still under debate. The objective of the present study was to describe the frequency of Blastocystis sp. subtypes (STs) and their genetic variation within and among samples recovered from scholars inhabiting two rural villages with tropical climates and compare this information with previously documented data from arid and temperate zones in Mexico. Blastocystis sp. positive samples and ST identification were achieved by coprological analysis screening and Polymerase Chain Reaction-sequencing, respectively. Classical population genetics indexes (nucleotide diversity (π), haplotype polymorphism (θ), gene flow (Nm), genetic differentiation (ST), and Tajima's D) were calculated by comparing the sequences here obtained (n = 42) and those from previous studies from the arid (n = 80) and temperate (n = 61) climates from Mexico. Although Blastocystis sp. was the parasite most frequently found between 33% and 26% in both communities, only STs 1-3 were found. Haplotype network inference of Blastocystis sp. STs showed different haplotype profiles among STs vs. climate zones, although no specific haplotypes were identified for any particular climatic zone. Population genetics indexes showed different values within STs and climate zones (π and θ values ranged from 0.004 to 0.147; Nm > 4 and ST from 0.006 to 0.12). Our results show that Blastocystis sp. subtypes exhibit a different genetic variability profile according to the climate zone, suggesting a balancing process between the genetic variability within the Blastocystis sp. subtype and the number of haplotypes identified in each climate.
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Naguib D, Gantois N, Desramaut J, Arafat N, Even G, Certad G, Chabé M, Viscogliosi E. Prevalence, Subtype Distribution and Zoonotic Significance of Blastocystis sp. Isolates from Poultry, Cattle and Pets in Northern Egypt. Microorganisms 2022; 10:2259. [PMID: 36422329 PMCID: PMC9696183 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a widespread enteric protozoan that frequently infects human and animal groups. Despite its burden and zoonotic potential worldwide, epidemiological investigations remain limited in animal groups that come in contact with humans. Therefore, the largest survey ever conducted in North Africa was performed in Egypt with the aim to investigate the prevalence and subtype (ST) distribution of Blastocystis sp. in animals. For this purpose, a total of 889 fecal specimens were collected from chickens (217), cattle (373), dogs (144) and cats (155) from six governorates of northern Egypt. These specimens were then screened for the presence of Blastocystis sp. using a quantitative real-time PCR, followed by subtyping the isolates. The overall prevalence of Blastocystis sp. reached 9.2% (82/889), with the highest infection rates reported in chickens (17.0%) and domestic cattle (11.0%), highlighting an active circulation of the parasite in both animal groups. In contrast, the low prevalence in cats (2.6%) and the absence of the parasite in dogs suggested that pets are not natural hosts of Blastocystis sp. ST10 and ST14 were largely predominant in cattle, confirming that both STs represented cattle-adapted STs. The report of one ST3 and one ST4 isolate in this animal group could be explained by an accidental zoonosis from humans to animals. All but one of the subtyped isolates in poultry belonged to ST7, which was considered as an avian ST. The presence of a remaining isolate of ST14 likely reflected a transient infection from contact between birds and cattle feces. The same environmental contamination was also likely the source of the ST14 infection in three of the four positive cats, with the remaining animals infected by ST3 as the result of human-to-animal transmission. These occurrences and subtyping data, combined with those previously collected in the Egyptian population, implies that poultry could play a significant role as reservoir for zoonotic transmission, which would not be the case for cattle and pets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doaa Naguib
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
- Department of Hygiene and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Nausicaa Gantois
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Jeremy Desramaut
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Nagah Arafat
- Department of Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Gaël Even
- GD Biotech-Gènes Diffusion, F-59000 Lille, France
- PEGASE-Biosciences (Plateforme d’Expertises Génomiques Appliquées aux Sciences Expérimentales), Institut Pasteur de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Gabriela Certad
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
- Délégation à la Recherche Clinique et à l’Innovation, Groupement des Hôpitaux de l’Institut Catholique de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Magali Chabé
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Eric Viscogliosi
- CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
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Barati M, KarimiPourSaryazdi A, Rahmanian V, Bahadory S, Abdoli A, Rezanezhad H, Solhjoo K, Taghipour A. Global prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in rodents, birds, and water supplies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Prev Vet Med 2022; 208:105770. [PMID: 36181747 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Animals such as rodents and birds may play a key role in the distribution of Blastocystis sp., either as introducers of the parasite into the water or as receptors of an infection already established in the water. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence and subtype distributions of Blastocystis sp. in rodents, birds, and water supplies at a global scale through a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. The standard protocol of preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statements were applied. Eligible prevalence studies on Blastocystis sp. in rodents, birds, and water supplies, published between 1 January 2000 and 20 January 2022 were collected using a systematic literature search in online databases (Scopus and Web of Science) and search engines (PubMed and Google Scholar). Inclusion and exclusion criteria were followed. The point estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. The variances between studies (heterogeneity) were computed by I2 index. In total, 20 articles (24 datasets) for birds, 18 articles (18 datasets) for rodents, and 10 articles (12 datasets) for water supply were included for the final meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in birds, rodents, and water was estimated to be 29% (95% CI 12-47%), 18% (95% CI 12-23%), and 10% (95% CI 6%-15%), respectively. Considering the subtypes, Blastocystis sp. with subtypes ST7 in birds, ST4 in rodents, and ST1 in water supplies were the highest reported subtypes. The present results highlight the role of birds, rodents, and water as a reservoir for human-infected Blastocystis sp. Therefore, this global estimate could be beneficial for preventive and control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Barati
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir KarimiPourSaryazdi
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Rahmanian
- Research Center for Social Determinants of Health, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
| | - Saeed Bahadory
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Abdoli
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran; Zoonoses Research Center, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran.
| | - Hassan Rezanezhad
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran; Zoonoses Research Center, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
| | - Kavous Solhjoo
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran; Zoonoses Research Center, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
| | - Ali Taghipour
- Zoonoses Research Center, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran.
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Ni Q, Dong S, Fan Y, Wan W, Teng P, Zhu S, Liang X, Xu H, Yao Y, Zhang M, Xie M. Molecular Epidemiology of Blastocystis in Confined Slow Lorises, Macaques, and Gibbons. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:2992. [PMID: 36359116 PMCID: PMC9656527 DOI: 10.3390/ani12212992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a common intestinal anaerobic parasite infecting non-human primates and many other animals. This taxon threatens the health of NHPs due to its high genetic diversity, impeding efforts to improve confined management and subsequent conservation practices. This study collected 100 and 154 fecal samples from captive macaques, gibbons, and slow lorises in the summer and winter, respectively. The Blastocystis infection, its gene subtypes, and its zoonotic potential based on small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) were analyzed. The prevalence of Blastocystis in the three primate genera was 57.79% (89/154) in the summer (2021) and 29.00% (29/100) in the winter (2020). Four zoonotic subtypes-ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4-were identified. ST2 was the most prevalent subtype, suggesting that these animals may serve as reservoirs for pathogens of human Blastocystis infections. The macaques showed a more significant variation in Blastocystis infection between seasons than gibbons and slow lorises. The slow lorises in small cages and enclosure areas were potentially more infected by Blastocystis in the summer, indicating that inappropriate captive management may have detrimental effects on their health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyong Ni
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611134, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611134, China
| | - Shasha Dong
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611134, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611134, China
| | - Yumai Fan
- Dehong Wildlife Rescue Center, Forestry Bureau of Dehong Prefecture, Mangshi 678499, China
| | - Wen Wan
- Dehong Wildlife Rescue Center, Forestry Bureau of Dehong Prefecture, Mangshi 678499, China
| | - Ping Teng
- Dehong Wildlife Rescue Center, Forestry Bureau of Dehong Prefecture, Mangshi 678499, China
| | - Shaobo Zhu
- Dehong Wildlife Rescue Center, Forestry Bureau of Dehong Prefecture, Mangshi 678499, China
| | - Xiaobi Liang
- Dehong Wildlife Rescue Center, Forestry Bureau of Dehong Prefecture, Mangshi 678499, China
| | - Huailiang Xu
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625099, China
| | - Yongfang Yao
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625099, China
| | - Mingwang Zhang
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611134, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611134, China
| | - Meng Xie
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625099, China
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Matovelle C, Tejedor MT, Monteagudo LV, Beltrán A, Quílez J. Prevalence and Associated Factors of Blastocystis sp. Infection in Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Spain: A Case-Control Study. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:226. [PMID: 36136637 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7090226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is known to be the most prevalent parasite in fecal samples of humans worldwide. In the present report, a case–control study (1:9.89 (≈10)) was performed, by analyzing data from 3682 patients who attended a public hospital in the northern area of Spain showing gastrointestinal symptoms. Diagnosis was performed in human fecal samples by means of optical microscopy. The prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms was 9.18% (338/3682). Most of the Blastocystis sp.-infected patients tested negative for protozoa and helminths, and were underweight and foreign-born (26.4%), mainly from Africa and Central/South America. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, anorexia, halitosis, plus relative eosinophilia, as well as co-infections with pathogenic bacteria were associated with Blastocystis sp. infection. Both type 2 diabetes and treatment with immunosuppressive medicines at the time of Blastocystis sp. detection were associated with a higher proportion of infected patients. This is the first case–control study of Blastocystis sp. in humans in northern Spain and may contribute to surveillance and intervention strategies by public health authorities.
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Caudet J, Trelis M, Cifre S, Soriano JM, Rico H, Merino-Torres JF. Interplay between Intestinal Bacterial Communities and Unicellular Parasites in a Morbidly Obese Population: A Neglected Trinomial. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14153211. [PMID: 35956387 PMCID: PMC9370494 DOI: 10.3390/nu14153211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity is an epidemic causing a metabolic health crisis. Herein, the interactions between the gut prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities, metabolic comorbidities and diet were studied. Stool samples from 56 subjects, 47 with type III obesity and 9 with type II obesity and cardiovascular risk or metabolic disease, were assessed for the richness, diversity and ecology of the bacterial gut community through metagenomics, together with the study of the presence of common unicellular eukaryote parasites (Blastocystis sp., Dientamoeba fragilis and Giardia intestinalis) by qPCR. Clinical information regarding metabolic comorbidities and non-alcoholic hepatic fatty liver disease was gathered. To assess the quality of the patients’ diet, each participant filled in three dietary questionnaires. The most prevalent parasite Blastocystis sp. (46.4%), together with D. fragilis (8.9%), was found to be associated with higher mean diversity indexes regarding non-colonized subjects; the opposite of that which was observed in those with G. intestinalis (16.1%). In terms of phyla relative abundance, with Blastocystis sp. and D. fragilis, very slight differences were observed; on the contrary, G. intestinalis was related to an increase in Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria, and a decrease in Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, presenting the lowest Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. At genus level, Blastocystis sp. and/or D. fragilis was accompanied with an increase in Lactobacillus spp., and a decrease in Akkermansia spp., Bifidobacterium spp. and Escherichia spp., while G. intestinalis was associated with an increase in Bacteroides spp., and a decrease in Faecalibacterium spp., Prevotella spp. and Lactobacillus spp., and the highest Bacteroides spp./Prevotella spp. ratio. Participants with non-alcoholic hepatic fatty liver presented a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, and those with type 2 diabetes displayed a significantly lower Faecalibacterium spp./Escherichia spp. ratio, due to an overrepresentation of the genus Escherichia spp. The presence of parasites was associated with variations in the richness, diversity and distribution of taxa in bacterial communities, confirming a gain in diversity associated with Blastocystis sp. and providing different functioning of the microbiota with a potential positive effect on comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Future basic and clinical studies should assess the beneficial or pathogenic effect of these eukaryotes on obese subjects and focus on deciphering whether they may imply a healthier metabolic profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Caudet
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Joint Research Unit on Endocrinology, Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, University of Valencia-Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - María Trelis
- Joint Research Unit on Endocrinology, Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, University of Valencia-Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Parasite & Health Research Group, Area of Parasitology, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (J.M.S.)
| | - Susana Cifre
- Joint Research Unit on Endocrinology, Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, University of Valencia-Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - José M. Soriano
- Joint Research Unit on Endocrinology, Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, University of Valencia-Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Food & Health Lab, Institute of Materials Science, University of Valencia, 46980 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (J.M.S.)
| | - Hortensia Rico
- Joint Research Unit on Endocrinology, Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, University of Valencia-Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Area of Microbiology, Department of Microbiology and Ecology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan F. Merino-Torres
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Joint Research Unit on Endocrinology, Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, University of Valencia-Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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Rauff-Adedotun AA, Nuur Syafyqah S, Nur Soleha R, Noranis Shahida S, Farah Haziqah MT. Prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in freshwater fishes, poultry, and caprine from Penang, Malaysia. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2022; 33:100749. [PMID: 35820721 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Blastocystis is an enigmatic intestinal protist of humans and many animals. There is growing interest in its potential as an enteric pathogen, and the possible role of domestic and in-contact animals as reservoirs for human infection. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Blastocystis infection in fishes, poultry, and caprine in Penang, Malaysia. A total of 353 faecal samples/intestinal contents, consisting of 123 intestinal contents from freshwater fishes, 96 intestinal contents of commercially barn-reared chickens, 84 intestinal contents of barn-reared quails, and 50 faecal samples of caprine (29 from meat goats and 21 from dairy goats) were collected. Faecal sample/intestinal content from each animal was subjected to in-vitro cultivation method using Jones' medium supplemented with 10% horse serum. The respective colonization frequencies for dairy and meat goats were 47.6% and 31.0%, whereas 26.1% was recorded for chickens and 16.7% for quails. None of the freshwater fishes were found infected with Blastocystis. The organism was most commonly seen as spherically shaped vacuolated forms and cell diameter was significantly larger in poultry than in caprine. For further studies, molecular characterization of Blastocystis in poultry and livestock animals in the study area is highly recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Rauff-Adedotun
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Penang, Malaysia
| | - S Nuur Syafyqah
- School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - R Nur Soleha
- Faculty of Agro-Based Industry, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli Campus, Locked Bag No. 100, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan
| | - S Noranis Shahida
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Penang, Malaysia
| | - M T Farah Haziqah
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Penang, Malaysia.
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Chen S, Meng W, Shi X, Chai Y, Zhou Z, Liu H, Zhong Z, Fu H, Cao S, Ma X, Shen L, Deng L, Peng G. Occurrence, genetic diversity and zoonotic potential of Blastocystis sp. in forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in Southwest China. Parasite 2022; 29:34. [PMID: 35833784 PMCID: PMC9281496 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2022037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a common anaerobic protist with controversial pathogenicity that can infect various animals and humans. However, there are no reports of Blastocystis sp. infections in forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii). The present study was designed to examine the occurrence, subtype distribution and genetic characterization of Blastocystis sp. in forest musk deer in southwestern China, and to assess the potential for zoonotic transmission. A total of 504 fresh stool samples were collected from captive forest musk deer in four distinct areas of southwestern China. Overall, 14.7% of the forest musk deer (74/504) were found to be infected with Blastocystis sp. The highest occurrence of Blastocystis sp. was observed in Dujiangyan (27.5%), followed by Maerkang (23.3%). The occurrence of Blastocystis sp. was 7.9% and 4.1% in Shimian and Hanyuan, respectively. Significant differences in the occurrence of Blastocystis sp. among different areas were observed (p < 0.05), while we did not observe significant differences among animals of different age and sex (p > 0.05). Two known zoonotic subtypes (ST1 and ST5) and three animal-predominant subtypes (ST10, ST13, and ST14) were identified, of which ST10 was the most common (36/74, 48.6%). Our findings highlight that forest musk deer may be potential reservoirs of zoonotic human Blastocystis sp. infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanyu Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanyu Meng
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianpeng Shi
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yijun Chai
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziyao Zhou
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Haifeng Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhijun Zhong
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hualin Fu
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Suizhong Cao
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoping Ma
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Liuhong Shen
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Deng
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China - Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Guangneng Peng
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
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30
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Shams M, Asghari A, Baniasad M, Shamsi L, Sadrebazzaz A. Blastocystis sp. in Small Ruminants: A Universal Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:1073-1085. [PMID: 35834160 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-022-00589-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The present review was done to evaluate the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis infection among small ruminants, at a global perspective. METHODS Systematic search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science until 30th January 2022 and total estimates along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed using a random-effects model. RESULTS Ultimately, the required data were extracted from 25 papers including 19 datasets for each animal. Among 3125 sheep, the Blastocystis prevalence was 25.3% (95% CI 16.1-37.4%) (10 countries), being lower in comparison to that in 2869 examined goats [20.5% (95% CI 11-35.1%)] (12 countries). Regarding STs distribution, fourteen genetically diverse STs of Blastocystis (ST1-ST5, ST7, ST10, ST12, ST14, ST15, ST21, ST23, ST24, ST26) have been reported in sheep, and the highest pooled prevalence was related to ST10 [11 datasets, 57.8% (95% CI 43.7-70.8%)], followed by ST14 [8 datasets, 28.4% (95% CI 20.2-38.4%)], and ST7 [2 datasets, 21.1% (95% CI 4.5-60.3%)]. Compared to sheep, more STs (ST1, ST3-ST7, ST10, ST12, ST14, ST21, ST23-ST26, and ST32) were reported from goats, and the highest weighted frequency was related to ST10 [6 datasets, 45.1% (95% CI: 25.6-66.2%)], followed by ST7 [2 datasets, 40.4% (95% CI 30-51.7%)], and ST14 [4 datasets, 29% (95% CI 15.5-47.7%)]. Out of ten known zoonotic STs reported for Blastocystis (ST1-ST9, and ST12), 7 were isolated from sheep (ST1-ST5, ST7, and ST12) and 7 were reported from goats (ST1, ST3-ST7, ST12). CONCLUSIONS Overall, Blastocystis epidemiology in sheep and goats is yet to be elucidated and demands more comprehensive studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morteza Shams
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Ali Asghari
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Maryam Baniasad
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Laya Shamsi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Alireza Sadrebazzaz
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Mashhad, Iran
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Öncü Öner T, Karakavuk M, Değirmenci Döşkaya A, Güvendi M, Gül A, Köseoğlu AE, Erkunt Alak S, Gürüz AY, Ün C, Döşkaya M, Can H. Molecular prevalence of Blastocystis sp. and subtype diversity in fecal samples collected from cattle in dairy farms in Turkey. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2022; 87:101850. [PMID: 35751914 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2022.101850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Close contact with infected animals is one of the main risk factors for zoonotic transmission of enteric protozoan parasite Blastocystis and thus, several animal species are being screened for the detection of the zoonotic subtypes. For this purpose, 22 fecal samples were collected from healthy cattle aged > 2 months and 39 fecal samples were also collected from cattle (aged <2 months) which are treated with TMP-SMX due to diarrhea. Later, Blastocystis sp. and subtypes were investigated by a PCR targeting the SSU rRNA gene and subsequently by sequencing. Among the 22 fecal samples collected from healthy cattle, Blastocystis was detected in 12 of them with a prevalence rate of 54.5 %. Among Blastocystis-positive samples, five different subtypes (ST3, ST5, ST10, ST12, and ST13) were detected. The predominant subtype was ST10 (allele 152) with a prevalence rate of 50 % (6/12). In the other group treated with TMP-SMX due to diarrhea, Blastocystis was detected in only one (2.56 %;1/39) fecal sample and its subtype was ST1 (allele 2). High prevalence of Blastocystis as well as predominance of ST10 (allele 152) were detected in healthy cattle. The identification of zoonotic ST1, ST3, ST5 and ST12 subtypes among the detected subtypes with a high prevalence (46.1 %; 6/13) showed the importance of cattle as a source for transmission of Blastocystis to humans. It was observed that the efficiency of TMP-SMX on the clearance of Blastocystis in cattle was very strong. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is the first study detecting Blastocystis ST13 subtype in the cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tülay Öncü Öner
- Manisa Celal Bayar University Faculty of Engineering Department of Bioengineering, Manisa, Turkey
| | - Muhammet Karakavuk
- Ege University Odemis Vocational School, İzmir, Turkey; Ege University Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Aysu Değirmenci Döşkaya
- Ege University Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkey; Ege University Faculty of Medicine Department of Parasitology, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Mervenur Güvendi
- Ege University Faculty of Science Department of Biology Molecular Biology Section, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Aytül Gül
- Ege University Faculty of Engineering Department of Bioengineering, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Efe Köseoğlu
- Biruni University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Sedef Erkunt Alak
- Ege University Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkey; Ege University Faculty of Science Department of Biology Molecular Biology Section, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Adnan Yüksel Gürüz
- Ege University Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkey; Ege University Faculty of Medicine Department of Parasitology, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Cemal Ün
- Ege University Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkey; Ege University Faculty of Science Department of Biology Molecular Biology Section, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Mert Döşkaya
- Ege University Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkey; Ege University Faculty of Medicine Department of Parasitology, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Hüseyin Can
- Ege University Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkey; Ege University Faculty of Science Department of Biology Molecular Biology Section, İzmir, Turkey.
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Olyaiee A, Sadeghi A, Yadegar A, Mirsamadi ES, Mirjalali H. Gut Microbiota Shifting in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: The Mysterious Role of Blastocystis sp. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:890127. [PMID: 35795640 PMCID: PMC9251125 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.890127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder, which its causative agent is not completely clear; however, the interaction between microorganisms and gastrointestinal (GI) epithelial cells plays a critical role in the development of IBS and presenting symptoms. During recent decades, many studies have highlighted the high prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in patients with IBS and suggested a probable role for this protist in this disease. Recent studies have documented changes in the gut microbiota composition in patients with IBS regarding the presence of Blastocystis sp., but it is not clear that either disturbance of the gut during GI disorders is a favorable condition for Blastocystis sp. colonization or the presence of this protist may lead to alteration in the gut microbiota in IBS patients. In this review, we comprehensively gather and discuss scientific findings covering the role of Blastocystis sp. in IBS via gut microbiota shifting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Olyaiee
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Sadeghi
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Yadegar
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elnaz Sadat Mirsamadi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirjalali
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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İnal N, Ünalan Altıntop T, Ergüven S, Akyön Yılmaz Y. Retrospective Results of Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Parasitology Laboratory Between 2014-2019. Turkiye Parazitol Derg 2022; 46:114-118. [PMID: 35604188 DOI: 10.4274/tpd.galenos.2022.84429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Parasitic infections emerge as a significant health problem, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries. Epidemiological data play an important role in taking effective measures against parasitic diseases. METHODS Clinical samples (stool, blood, bone marrow and tissue samples, etc.) that were sent to Hacettepe University Hospitals Parasitology Laboratory between 2014 and 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS The positivity rates of the parasites detected in this study are as follows; Blastocystis sp. (71.6%), Dientamoeba fragilis (13.3%), Giardia lamblia (4.7%), Echinococcus spp. (1.9%), Enterobius vermicularis (1.8%) and Taenia spp. (0.3%). In this study, four of the patients were found to be positive for Leishmania spp. and two patients for Plasmodium falciparum and four patients for Plasmodium spp. E. histolytica/E. dispar cysts and/or trophozoites examined by Trichrome staining in our study were not detected within six years. CONCLUSION According to this data and in the light of the results obtained from different regions of our country, it will be possible to properly direct the necessary strategies for the diagnosis, treatment of parasitic infections and the implementation of preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neşe İnal
- Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Tuğçe Ünalan Altıntop
- Amasya University, Sabuncuoğlu Şerefeddin Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Medical Microbiology, Amasya, Turkey
| | - Sibel Ergüven
- Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yakut Akyön Yılmaz
- Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey
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Li S, Wang P, Zhu XQ, Zou Y, Chen XQ. Prevalence and genotypes/subtypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. in different breeds of cattle in Jiangxi Province, southeastern China. Infect Genet Evol 2022; 98:105216. [PMID: 35066167 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. are common zoonotic pathogens that parasitize in the small intestine of humans and animals, posing a threat to public health. However, little information is available on the prevalence and genotypes/subtypes of E. bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. in cattle in Jiangxi Province, southeastern China. In the present study, 556 fecal samples of cattle were collected from Nanchang city, Gao'an city, Xinyu city, and Ji'an city in Jiangxi Province. All samples were examined for the presence of E. bieneusi by nested PCR analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and Blastocystis sp. using PCR targeting the SSU rRNA gene. The overall prevalence of E. bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. was 5.4% (30/556) and 54.9% (305/556), respectively. The prevalence of E. bieneusi in dairy cattle, beef cattle, and buffaloes was 7.9% (13/165), 3.9% (11/283), and 5.6% (6/108), respectively. Eleven E. bieneusi genotypes were identified in this study, including six known genotypes, D (n = 10), I (n = 5), J (n = 4), IV (n = 4), N (n = 1), and BEB4 (n = 1), and five novel genotypes, JX-I to JX-V (n = 1), with genotype D as the predominant genotype in cattle. Phylogenetic analysis showed that six genotypes of E. bieneusi, D, IV, and JX-II to JX-V, were clustered into zoonotic group 1, whereas the remaining five genotypes belonged to group 2. Moreover, seven, seven, four, and five types were identified by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) at the MS1, MS3, MS4, and MS7 loci, respectively, forming three distinct multilocus genotypes (MLGs). In addition, the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was 42.4% (70/165), 59.4% (168/283), and 62.0% (67/108) in dairy cattle, beef cattle, and buffaloes, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed that ST1, ST5, ST10, and ST14 of Blastocystis sp. were identified in these cattle, with ST10 being the major subtype. ST1 and ST5 are potential zoonotic subtypes. These findings have important implications for the control of E. bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. in cattle in Jiangxi Province.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Li
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Animal Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330045, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China
| | - Ping Wang
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Animal Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330045, PR China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province 030801, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Yunnan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province 650201, PR China
| | - Yang Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China.
| | - Xiao-Qing Chen
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Animal Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330045, PR China.
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Maleki B, Sadraei J, Dalimi Asl A, Pirestani M. High occurrence of Blastocystis sp. subtype 3 in individuals referred to medical laboratories in Kermanshah, Iran. Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench 2022; 15:164-171. [PMID: 35845305 PMCID: PMC9275734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Aim The current study investigated the prevalence and genotypes of Blastocystis sp. in individuals who referred to medical laboratories in Kermanshah, Iran. Background Blastocystis sp. is a common intestinal protozoan found in humans and a wide range of animals, and it is involved in the development of gastrointestinal disorders. Methods A total of 950 stool samples were examined using the standard formalin-ether concentration technique. All specimens were cultured in Robinson xenic medium. Subsequently, DNA extraction and PCR amplification of subtype specific sequence-tagged site (STS) were conducted. Results Microscopic examination showed that 86 out of 950 samples (9.05%) were infected with Blastocystis sp. Subsequently, 33 of 86 positive samples were cultured and molecularly confirmed by conventional PCR, indicating six subtypes (ST1-ST6). Of note, ST3 (45.0%) was the predominant subtype, followed by ST1 (15.15%) and ST5 (12%). Conclusion Based on the current findings, ST3 was the most frequent subtype among all positive samples. Having a better understanding of Blastocystis sp. subtype distribution and risk factors would lead to improved preventive measures.
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Song J, Yang X, Ma X, Wu X, Wang Y, Li Z, Liu G, Zhao G. Molecular characterization of Blastocystis sp. in Chinese bamboo rats (Rhizomys sinensis). Parasite 2021; 28:81. [PMID: 34907896 PMCID: PMC8672676 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2021081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis sp., a parasitic eukaryote, widely colonizes the intestines of humans and a large number of animals, including rodents and lagomorphs. More than 30 million bamboo rats (Rhizomys sinensis) are farmed in China as a source of meat for human consumption. However, there have been no published articles on Blastocystis infection in Chinese bamboo rats prior to the present study. Herein, 480 fresh faecal samples were collected from R. sinensis on six farms located in four cities (Wugang, Chenzhou, Huaihua and Jishou) in Hunan Province, south-central China, and were examined for Blastocystis infection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. The total prevalence of Blastocystis in R. sinensis was 4.58% (22/480), and significant differences in prevalence were detected among four age groups (<6 months, 6–12 months, 12–24 months and >24 months), with the highest prevalence (7.81%) in rats aged 6–12 months but with no positive samples in rats over 24 months. All farms, except for one in Jishou, were positive for Blastocystis infection, with the prevalence ranging from 1.80% to 7.27%. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses revealed two potentially zoonotic subtypes (namely ST4 and ST5) in these rodents, with ST4 predominant in all except one farm in Huaihua. Seven and five sequence types were identified within ST4 and ST5, respectively. This is the first report of Blastocystis infection in Chinese bamboo rats and the findings suggest the potential of R. sinensis to transmit Blastocystis to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junke Song
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Xin Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Xun Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Xuemei Wu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Yuxin Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Zhili Li
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528231, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Guohua Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410125, Hunan, PR China
| | - Guanghui Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, PR China
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Asghari A, Sadeghipour Z, Hassanipour S, Abbasali Z, Ebrahimzadeh-Parikhani H, Hashemzaei M, Alimardani V, Hatam G. Association between Blastocystis sp. infection and immunocompromised patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021; 28:60308-60328. [PMID: 34528202 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16187-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The significance of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients and the enigmatic pathogenicity of Blastocystis directed us to conduct the first global systematic review and meta-analysis on Blastocystis prevalence, odds ratios (ORs), and subtypes distribution in various immunocompromised patients (HIV/AIDS, cancer and hemodialysis patients, as well as transplant recipients). The systematic searching procedure was done in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases for relevant published literature until November 11, 2020. Random-effects model was utilized to calculate the weighted estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). The computed pooled prevalence of Blastocystis inferred from 118 papers (128 datasets) on immunocompromised patients was 10.3% (95% CI: 8.7-12.2%), with 16.1% (95% CI: 11.3-22.2%), 12.5% (95% CI: 8.5-18%), 8.4% (95 % CI: 6.6-10.6%), and 6% (95% CI: 2.6-13.3%) for hemodialysis patients, cancer patients, HIV/AIDS patients, and transplant recipients, respectively. Based on 50 case-control studies (54 datasets), the highest ORs were associated with cancer [2.81 (95% CI: 1.24-6.38, P = 0.013)] and hemodialysis patients [2.78 (95% CI: 1.19-6.48, P = 0.018)]. The most frequent subtype being found in immunocompromised patients was ST3 [41.7% (95% CI: 31.4-52.7%)], followed by ST1 [31.7% (95% CI: 23.2-41.8%)] and ST2 [23.1% (95% CI: 14.8-34.1%)]. Also, the weighted frequency of Blastocystis in various subgroups (publication year, WHO regions, geographical distribution, continents, and country income) was analyzed separately. In total, the results of the present meta-analysis highlighted that one's immunodeficiency status is probably associated with an increased Blastocystis infection, underpinning strict preventive measures to be taken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Asghari
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Zeinab Sadeghipour
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Soheil Hassanipour
- Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Zahra Abbasali
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hasan Ebrahimzadeh-Parikhani
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Hashemzaei
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Vahid Alimardani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Hatam
- Basic Sciences in Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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Yang X, Li Y, Wang Y, Wang J, Lai P, Li Y, Song J, Qi M, Zhao G. Molecular Characterization of Blastocystis sp. in Camelus bactrianus in Northwestern China. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:3016. [PMID: 34827749 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Knowledge for the distribution and genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp. can provide novel insights for the prevention and control of this parasite. The present study first reported the occurrence of Blastocystis infection in Camelus bactrianus, an important economic animal in northwestern China. We found the existence of eight Blastocystis subtypes in C. bactrianus, indicating potential risks and transmission of Blastocystis sp. for C. bactrianus. Abstract Blastocystis sp. is an important zoonotic protist in humans and various animals with worldwide distribution. However, there have been no data on the occurrence of Blastocystis sp. in C. bactrianus, an important economic animal in northwestern China. In the present study, a PCR-sequencing tool based on the SSU rRNA gene was applied to investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp. in 638 faecal samples from C. bactrianus in 21 sampling sites within three main breeding areas (Gansu, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang) in northwestern China. The total prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was 21.8% (139/638) in C. bactrianus, with the infection rates of 29.5% (18/61), 50.0% (14/28) and 19.5% (107/549) for animals aged <2 years, 2–6 years and >6 years, respectively. Significant differences in prevalence were detected among C. bactrianus from three geographic areas (χ2 = 19.972, df = 2, p < 0.001) and all sampling sites (χ2 = 104.154, df = 20, p < 0.001). A total of 16 of 21 sampling sites were positive for Blastocystis sp., with the prevalence ranging from 7.7% to 70.6%. Sequence analysis of the SSU rRNA gene identified eight subtypes in C. bactrianus in the present study, including seven animal adapted subtypes (ST10, ST14, ST21, ST24, ST25, ST26 and ST30) and one potentially novel subtype, with ST10 being the dominant one. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first insight for the occurrence and genetic make-up of Blastocystis sp. in C. bactrianus and contributes to the understanding of the transmission of Blastocystis infection in C. bactrianus in China.
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Karamati SA, Mirjalali H, Niyyati M, Yadegar A, Asadzadeh Aghdaei H, Haghighi A, Seyyed Tabaei SJ. Association of Blastocystis ST6 with higher protease activity among symptomatic subjects. BMC Microbiol 2021; 21:285. [PMID: 34666703 PMCID: PMC8524833 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-021-02341-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Blastocystis sp. is an anaerobic intestinal protozoan parasite of humans and a wide range of animals worldwide. In the current study the correlation between the cysteine protease activity of clinical samples of Blastocystis sp. ST1–3 and 6 with the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines was evaluated. Methods Stool samples were collected from subjects with or without clinical symptoms. All samples were cultivated in DMEM medium. The bacteria were eliminated or reduced in Blastocystis sp. positive samples subtypes 1–3 and 6 by a variety of antibiotics and consecutive sub-cultures. To prepare parasite lysate, 1 × 105Blastocystis sp. from each isolate were harvested and lysed using freeze-thaw. Protease activity of each isolate was measured and the gene expression of pro-inflammatory biomarkers in HT-29 cell line sensed by isolates was investigated using quantitative Real-time PCR. Results Protease activity assay showed inter- and intra-subtype variations among subtypes regarding the presence of symptoms, while the protease activity of symptomatic isolates was higher than asymptomatic isolates. The highest and lowest levels of protease activity were seen in ST6 and ST2, respectively. However, patterns of the expression of pro-inflammatory biomarkers in HT-29 cell line was different regarding the presence of symptoms and time points. There was no significant correlation between protease activity of different subtypes with the expression levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers. Conclusions Our study indicated a higher protease activity among isolates from symptomatic compared to asymptomatic subjects, suggesting functional role for proteases in clinical symptoms due to Blastocystis sp. The lack of correlation between the levels of expression of pro-inflammatory biomarkers with subtypes regarding the presence of clinical symptoms proposes the importance of host-related factors in presentation of clinical symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Ahmad Karamati
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirjalali
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Maryam Niyyati
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Abbas Yadegar
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Asadzadeh Aghdaei
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Haghighi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyyed Javad Seyyed Tabaei
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Zhang K, Zheng S, Wang Y, Wang K, Wang Y, Gazizova A, Han K, Yu F, Chen Y, Zhang L. Occurrence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Blastocystis sp. in captive wild animals in zoos in Henan, China. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:332. [PMID: 34663327 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-03035-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Captive wild animals in zoos infected with Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Blastocystis sp. can be sources of zoonotic infections and diseases. Therefore, to investigate the distribution of these pathogens in captive wild animals of zoos in Henan, China, a total of 429 fresh fecal samples were collected from six zoos in Henan, China. The infection rates of Cryptosporidium spp., G. duodenalis, E. bieneusi, and Blastocystis sp. were determined by PCR analysis of corresponding loci. Positive results for Cryptosporidium (C. parvum and C. hominis) were subtyped based on the (gp60) gene. RESULTS The overall prevalence was 43.1% (185/429), and the prevalence of Cryptosporidium, Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Blastocystis sp. were 2.8% (12/429), 0.5% (2/429), 20.8% (89/429), and 19.1% (82/429), respectively. Five Cryptosporidium species, namely, C. hominis, C. parvum, C. muris, C. andersoni, and C. macropodum, were identified in this study. Cryptosporidium parvum was further subtyped as IIdA19G1. Two Giardia duodenalis assemblages (A and E) were also identified. A total of 20 Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotypes were detected, including 18 known (BEB6, D, HND-1, CD7, SDD1, Henan-IV, KIN-1, CHK1, Peru8, Henan-V, CHG11, CHG-1, CHS9, CHG21, Type-IV, CHC9, CM5, and CHB1) and 2 novel genotypes (CHWD1 and CHPM1). A total of nine subtypes of Blastocystis sp. (ST1, ST2, ST3, ST5, ST6, ST7, ST10, ST13, and ST14) were identified in captive wild animals in zoos in the present study. Cryptosporidium andersoni, nine Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotypes, and five Blastocystis subtypes were here first identified in new hosts. CONCLUSIONS Our study has expanded the host ranges of these four pathogens. The data indicate that animals in zoos can commonly be infected with these four zoonotic pathogens, and animals in zoos are potential sources of zoonotic infections in humans.
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Abedi SH, Fazlzadeh A, Mollalo A, Sartip B, Mahjour S, Bahadory S, Taghipour A, Rostami A. The neglected role of Blastocystis sp. and Giardia lamblia in development of irritable bowel syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Microb Pathog 2021; 162:105215. [PMID: 34592369 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The possible role of Blastocystis sp. and Giardia lamblia infections in the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has long been controversial. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate whether these protozoan infections are associated with IBS development. We systematically searched international databases for all studies that reported these protozoa in IBS patients published by May 10, 2021. Studies were included in the review if they were observational studies with confirmed patients with IBS (in case-control and cross-sectional studies) or parasitic infections (cohort studies) with an appropriate control group. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using a random-effects meta-analysis model for included studies. A total of 32 papers (42 datasets), including 29 papers (31 datasets) for Blastocystis sp./IBS and 11 papers (11 datasets) for G. lamblia/IBS met the eligibility criteria. Our results indicated that the individuals with Blastocystis sp. infection were significantly at a higher risk of IBS development (OR, 1.78; 95%CI, 1.29-2.44). Moreover, cohort studies indicated a significant positive association between G. lamblia infection and IBS risk (OR, 5.47; 95%CI, 4.23-7.08); while an increasing but no statistically significant risk was observed in case-control studies (OR, 1.19; 95%CI, 0.75-1.87). Our findings suggested that Blastocystis sp. and G. lamblia infections are associated with the increased risk of developing IBS. Despite these results, further studies are needed to determine the effect of these protozoa on IBS development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Hasan Abedi
- Cancer Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Aylar Fazlzadeh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abolfazl Mollalo
- Department of Public Health and Prevention Science, School of Health Sciences, Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, OH, USA
| | - Behnam Sartip
- Department of Internal Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Sanaz Mahjour
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Saeed Bahadory
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Taghipour
- Zoonoses Research Center, School of Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran.
| | - Ali Rostami
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
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Wang P, Li S, Zou Y, Hong ZW, Wang P, Zhu XQ, Song DP, Chen XQ. Prevalence and Subtype Distribution of Blastocystis sp. in Diarrheic Pigs in Southern China. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10091189. [PMID: 34578221 PMCID: PMC8471349 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a common pathogen that infects the intestines of humans and animals, causing a threat to public health. However, little information on the prevalence and subtypes of Blastocystis sp. in diarrheic pigs in China is available. Herein, 1254 fecal samples were collected from diarrheic pigs in 37 intensive pig farms in Hunan, Jiangxi, and Fujian provinces in southern China, and the prevalence and subtypes of Blastocystis sp. were investigated. Blastocystis sp. was detected by PCR assay, which amplified the small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene. Overall prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was 31.4% (394/1254), including 21.5% (66/307), 33.1% (99/299), 58.9% (56/95), and 31.3% (173/553) in suckling piglets, weaned piglets, fattening pigs, and sows, respectively. Moreover, age and region factors were significantly related to prevalence of Blastocystis sp. (p < 0.05). Four Blastocystis sp. subtypes were identified, including ST1, ST3, ST5, and ST14. The preponderant subtype was ST5 (76.9%, 303/394). To our knowledge, ST14 was firstly found in pigs in China. The human-pathogenic subtypes (ST1, ST3, ST5, and ST14) that were observed in this study indicate a potential threat to public health. These findings provided a new sight for studying the genetic structure of Blastocystis sp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Wang
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Animal Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (P.W.); (S.L.); (Z.-W.H.); (P.W.)
| | - Sen Li
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Animal Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (P.W.); (S.L.); (Z.-W.H.); (P.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China;
| | - Yang Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China;
| | - Zhao-Wei Hong
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Animal Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (P.W.); (S.L.); (Z.-W.H.); (P.W.)
| | - Ping Wang
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Animal Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (P.W.); (S.L.); (Z.-W.H.); (P.W.)
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China;
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Yunnan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - De-Ping Song
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Animal Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (P.W.); (S.L.); (Z.-W.H.); (P.W.)
- Correspondence: (D.-P.S.); (X.-Q.C.)
| | - Xiao-Qing Chen
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Animal Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (P.W.); (S.L.); (Z.-W.H.); (P.W.)
- Correspondence: (D.-P.S.); (X.-Q.C.)
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Asghari A, Sadrebazzaz A, Shamsi L, Shams M. Global prevalence, subtypes distribution, zoonotic potential, and associated risk factors of Blastocystis sp. in domestic pigs (Sus domesticus) and wild boars (Sus scrofa): A systematic review and meta-analysis. Microb Pathog 2021; 160:105183. [PMID: 34517066 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The intestinal parasite Blastocystis sp. is a widely distributed protist among humans and various animal hosts, with significant prevalence in developing countries. Due to the zoonotic nature of its subtypes (STs), we aimed at global estimation of the prevalence, STs distribution, zoonotic potential, and associated risk factors of Blastocystis sp. infection in domestic pigs (Sus domesticus) and wild pigs/wild boars (Sus scrofa). The study was designed and conducted in 2021 via searching articles in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases, based on the PRISMA checklist, and meta-analysis was done using a random-effects model to calculate the weighted estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Totally, 43 papers (47 datasets) reported data on 7977 examined pigs in 24 countries with a total prevalence of 50.9% (95% CI: 42.8-59%). In details, prevalence was higher among domestic pigs [52.4% (95% CI: 43.9-60.7%)] than wild boars [31.2% (95% CI: 11.2-62%)], but is poorly statistically supported as far as the CIs largely overlap. Out of 28 reported STs, nine (ST1-ST7, ST10, and ST15) were reported from domestic pigs, while six (ST1, ST3-ST5, ST8, and ST15) had been isolated from wild boars. Among nine zoonotic STs (ST1-ST8, and ST12), all were identified in examined swine populations, except for ST12. As well, ST1 and ST5 were probably the most frequently circulating STs among these animals. In addition, male and older pigs showed higher Blastocystis sp. infection. Altogether, Blastocystis epidemiology and the distribution of its related STs in pigs is still open to question and requires more extensive studies, especially in the neglected regions of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Asghari
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Alireza Sadrebazzaz
- Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Laya Shamsi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
| | - Morteza Shams
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
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Shirozu T, Morishita YK, Koketsu M, Fukumoto S. Molecular detection of Blastocystis sp. subtype 14 in the Yezo sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) in Hokkaido, Japan. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2021; 25:100585. [PMID: 34474780 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
This study describes the first report of Blastocystis sp. colonization in the sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Japan and in other animals in Hokkaido, Japan. Blastocystis sp. is one of the most widespread intestinal protist in a wide range of animals. Blastocystis sp. isolated from mammalian and avian species have been classified into 17 subtypes (STs). Some of the STs are zoonotic. The aim of this study was to evaluate Blastocystis sp. colonization in the Yezo sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) in Hokkaido, Japan. The Yezo sika deer are currently overabundant and they are expanding their habitat to humans and livestock. A total of 132 deer fecal samples were subjected for molecular detection of Blastocystis sp. Of these, 60 (45.5%) samples were positive using PCR, which targets the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequence. All Blastocystis sp. DNA sequences from the Yezo sika deer were genotyped into ST14, which were originally reported in cattle. These findings indicate that the current public health risks of Blastocystis sp. from the Yezo sika deer is low, although more detailed future analysis is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Shirozu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Yu-Ki Morishita
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Mami Koketsu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Shinya Fukumoto
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
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Asghari A, Hassanipour S, Hatam G. Comparative molecular prevalence and subtypes distribution of Blastocystis sp. a potentially zoonotic infection isolated from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Parasitol 2021; 66:745-59. [PMID: 33686524 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-021-00360-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The present systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed to assess the weighted molecular prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in humans along with the comparative molecular prevalence and subtypes distribution of Blastocystis isolated from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients in Iran. METHODS International electronic databases including Medline/PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar were explored until 4th October 2020. Heterogeneity index was evaluated among studies using Cochran's Q test and I2 index. Finally, 23 eligible studies were qualified to be included in this review. RESULTS The pooled molecular prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in Iran was reported 15.2% (95% CI 11.5-19.7). In addition, the molecular prevalence based on PCR-sequencing and STS primers was reported 12.5% (95% CI 8.6-17.7) and 19.8% (95% CI 13.1-28.8), respectively. Interestingly, there was a considerably higher prevalence among asymptomatic patients [25.1% (95% CI 20.8-30.0)] in comparison to symptomatic ones [21.0% (95% CI 15.9-27.2)]. In addition, the frequency of Blastocystis ST1, ST2, and ST3 from positive samples in symptomatic patients was 19.7%, 35.1%, and 47.4%, respectively. In addition, the prevalence of Blastocystis ST1, ST2, and ST3 from positive samples in asymptomatic patients was 27.1%, 26.8%, and 37.8%, respectively. The results obtained in Iran showed that Blastocystis is more common in asymptomatic patients compared to patients having clinical symptoms. Of note, ST3, as the most common subtype causing clinical symptoms, was the most prevalent reported subtype among both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients in the country. CONCLUSIONS Hence, the pathogenicity of the Blastocystis parasite is not subtype-specific and appears to be related to a variety of risk factors. Still the Blastocystis epidemiology is open to question and more large-scale studies should be performed on this aspect.
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Chang T, Jung BK, Shin H, Hong S, Ryoo S, Lee J, Han S, Park SM, Rhee MS, Kimm H, Jee SH, Chai JY. Genotypes of Blastocystis sp. among elderly health checkup people in South Korea with a questionnaire on risk factors. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:3297-306. [PMID: 34351493 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07274-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a common zoonotic intestinal parasite of humans and animals, and has been classified into at least 17 distinct subtypes. Despite its potential impact on public health, the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. have seldom been the study subject in South Korea. To determine the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. and to obtain information on risk factors, we performed a cross-sectional study targeting elderly health checkup people, who visited Seoul Western Branch of the Korea Association of Health Promotion (KAHP) in October 2019. Stool samples were collected from 293 participants consisting of 128 males and 165 females with a mean age of 64.7 years (from 50 to 88 years) with a questionnaire on potential risk factors. All the samples were tested by PCR targeting the SSU rRNA gene of Blastocystis sp., and nucleotide sequences of positive samples were used to identify the subtypes. The overall prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was 9.2% (27/293). Among the positive samples, subtype 3 was predominant (59%; 16/27), followed by subtype 1 (41%; 11/27). No other subtypes were detected. In the univariable analysis, the age, sex, presence of digestive symptoms, source of drinking water, and history of drug intake were not significantly associated with Blastocystis sp. infection. Two parameters, including the Enterococcus hirae bacterial infection and the frequency of intake of cooked or boiled vegetables less than twice a week, showed statistical significance. However, the multivariable regression analysis revealed that only the latter parameter was statistically significant. The results suggested that subtypes 3 and 1 are the 2 major genotypes of Blastocystis sp. among elderly people in South Korea, and low frequency of consuming cooked or boiled vegetables is a potential risk factor.
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Zhang SX, Carmena D, Ballesteros C, Yang CL, Chen JX, Chu YH, Yu YF, Wu XP, Tian LG, Serrano E. Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Protist Infections in Hospital Inpatients in Southwestern China. Pathogens 2021; 10:684. [PMID: 34072858 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia duodenalis, and Blastocystis sp. infections have been frequently reported as etiological agents for gastroenteritis, but also as common gut inhabitants in apparently healthy individuals. Between July 2016 and March 2017, stool samples (n = 507) were collected from randomly selected individuals (male/female ratio: 1.1, age range: 38–63 years) from two sentinel hospitals in Tengchong City Yunnan Province, China. Molecular (PCR and Sanger sequencing) methods were used to detect and genotype the investigated protist species. Carriage/infection rates were: Blastocystis sp. 9.5% (95% CI: 7.1–12.4%), G. duodenalis 2.2% (95% CI: 1.1–3.8%); and E. histolytica 2.0% (95% CI: 0.9–3.6%). Cryptosporidium spp. was not detected at all. Overall, 12.4% (95% CI: 9.7–15.6) of the participants harbored at least one enteric protist species. The most common coinfection was E. histolytica and Blastocystis sp. (1.0%; 95% CI: 0.3–2.2). Sequence analyses revealed that 90.9% (10/11) of the genotyped G. duodenalis isolates corresponded to the sub-assemblage AI. The remaining sequence (9.1%, 1/11) was identified as sub-assemblage BIV. Five different Blastocystis subtypes, including ST3 (43.7%, 21/48), ST1 (27.1%, 13/48), ST7 (18.8%, 9/48), ST4 (8.3%, 4/48), and ST2 (2.1%, 1/48) were identified. Statistical analyses confirmed that (i) the co-occurrence of protist infections was purely random, (ii) no associations were observed among the four protist species found, and (iii) neither their presence, individually or jointly, nor the patient’s age was predictors for developing clinical symptoms associated with these infections. Overall, these protist mono- or coinfections are asymptomatic and do not follow any pattern.
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Shams M, Shamsi L, Sadrebazzaz A, Asghari A, Badali R, Omidian M, Hassanipour S. A systematic review and meta-analysis on the global prevalence and subtypes distribution of Blastocystis sp. infection in cattle: A zoonotic concern. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2021; 76:101650. [PMID: 33930630 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2021.101650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystosis is an interesting parasitosis, since the parasitic infection is still seriously neglected and a considerable zoonotic evidence is emerging. Blastocystis sp. infects the intestinal lumen of humans and a wide range of animals, while there is a lack of comprehensive information on Blastocystis epidemiology in cattle worldwide. Thus, the present systematic review and meta-analysis were performed by exploring four electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google scholar) for relevant published papers up to 7th November 2020, utilizing a random-effects model to pool estimations and assign 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Results of 28 studies (29 datasets) on cattle showed a 24.4 % (95 % CI: 16.9-33.9 %) prevalence for Blastocystis infection. Also, 16 out of 26 reported subtypes (STs) were isolated from cattle, with ST10 (18 datasets) as the highest-reported [32.3 % (95 % CI: 21.6-45.3)] as well as ST24 and ST25 (one study each) as the lowest-reported STs [1.4 % (95 % CI: 0.2-9.1)]. Additionally, among nine well-known zoonotic STs (ST1-ST8 and ST12), all STs except for ST8 were reported from cattle worldwide, demonstrating this animal species as a potential reservoir for human infections. Meanwhile, the overall prevalence of Blastocystis in various subgroups (publication year, WHO regions, countries, continents, and age groups) was analyzed separately. The finding of the present review article highlights the cattle as a significant source of zoonotic transmission of Blastocystis infection to humans, which must be considered for preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morteza Shams
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
| | - Laya Shamsi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
| | - Alireza Sadrebazzaz
- Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Ali Asghari
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Roya Badali
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran.
| | - Mostafa Omidian
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Soheil Hassanipour
- Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
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Li J, Dong H, Karim MR, Yang X, Chao L, Liu S, Song H, Zhang L. Molecular identification and subtyping of Blastocystis sp. in hospital patients in Central China. Eur J Protistol 2021; 79:125796. [PMID: 33975057 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2021.125796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Blastocystis is a common enteric protist that inhabits the gastrointestinal tract of approximately 1 billion people worldwide. In this study, a total of 1,070 patients from two hospitals in Zhengzhou, Central China were enrolled to know molecular characteristics of Blastocystis sp. The microorganism was identified and subtyped with a PCR amplification and sequencing of the small subunit ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (SSU-rDNA). The overall minimum prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in participants was 3.1% (33/1070). Although there were no significant differences on Blastocystis sp. infections among study sites, age groups, and gender, the higher infection was observed in the patients with gastrointestinal diseases (8.8%, 15/170). Sequence analysis of the 33 isolates revealed three known subtypes, such as ST1 (n = 7), ST3 (n = 23), and ST7 (n = 3). Among them, ST3 was the dominant subtype being detected in 23 isolates (69.7%), followed by ST1 (21.2%, 7/33) and ST7 (9.1%, 3/33). The phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that three subtypes (ST1, ST3 and ST7) were clustered with their reference sequences with good bootstrap support. The subtype determination of Blastocystis sp. isolates by the phylogenetic analysis was well supported by online platform. The present study provides the first molecular report of Blastocystis sp. infections in hospital patients in Central China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqiang Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
| | - Haiju Dong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Md Robiul Karim
- Department of Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh.
| | - Xianli Yang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450004, China
| | - Liqin Chao
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Hairong Song
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Longxian Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
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Salvador F, Lobo B, Goterris L, Alonso-Cotoner C, Santos J, Sulleiro E, Bailo B, Carmena D, Sánchez-Montalvá A, Bosch-Nicolau P, Espinosa-Pereiro J, Fuentes I, Molina I. Blastocystis sp. Carriage and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Is the Association Already Established? Biology (Basel) 2021; 10:biology10040340. [PMID: 33921803 PMCID: PMC8072823 DOI: 10.3390/biology10040340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The intestinal protist Blastocystis sp. is one of the most common intestinal parasites observed in humans, and has a worldwide distribution, being more prevalent in developing countries. Although this parasite has been described decades ago, the pathogenic potential it is still not understood completely. It has been suggested that Blastocystis sp. could be related with irritable bowel syndrome, a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain, discomfort with defecation, and changes in the frequency or form of stool. In our study, we compare a group of patients with irritable bowel syndrome with a group of healthy volunteers; no differences regarding the occurrence of Blastocystis sp. detection was found between both groups. Abstract Background: The aim of the present study is to describe the occurrence of Blastocystis sp. detection among asymptomatic subjects and patients with irritable bowel syndrome in order to evaluate the potential association between irritable bowel syndrome and the parasitic infection. Methods: Cross-sectional study where adult patients with irritable bowel syndrome diagnosed according to Rome IV criteria were included. A control group was formed by asymptomatic subjects older than 18 years. Exclusion criteria were: immunosuppressive condition or having received any drug with demonstrated activity against Blastocystis sp. within the last 6 months before study inclusion. Epidemiological and clinical information was collected from all included participants. Two stool samples were obtained from all participants: one sample for microscopic examination and one sample for Blastocystis sp. PCR detection. Blastocystis sp. infection was defined by the positivity of any of the diagnostic techniques. Results: Seventy-two participants were included (36 asymptomatic subjects and 36 patients with irritable bowel syndrome). Thirty-five (48.6%) were men, and median age of participants was 34 (IQR 29–49) years. The overall rate of Blastocystis sp. carriage was 27.8% (20/72). The prevalence assessed through microscopic examination was 22.2% (16/72), while the prevalence measured by PCR was 15.3% (11/72). When comparing the presence of Blastocystis sp. between asymptomatic subjects and IBS patients, we did not find any statistically significant difference (36.1% vs. 19.4% respectively, p = 0.114). Conclusions: regarding the occurrence of Blastocystis sp., no differences were found between asymptomatic participants and patients with irritable bowel disease irrespective of the diagnostic technique performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Salvador
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Pº Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (A.S.-M.); (P.B.-N.); (J.E.-P.); (I.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-93-274-60-90; Fax: +34-93-489-40-91
| | - Beatriz Lobo
- Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd); Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (B.L.); (C.A.-C.); (J.S.)
| | - Lidia Goterris
- Department of Microbiology, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (L.G.); (E.S.)
| | - Carmen Alonso-Cotoner
- Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd); Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (B.L.); (C.A.-C.); (J.S.)
| | - Javier Santos
- Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd); Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (B.L.); (C.A.-C.); (J.S.)
| | - Elena Sulleiro
- Department of Microbiology, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (L.G.); (E.S.)
| | - Begoña Bailo
- National Centre of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (B.B.); (D.C.); (I.F.)
| | - David Carmena
- National Centre of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (B.B.); (D.C.); (I.F.)
| | - Adrián Sánchez-Montalvá
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Pº Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (A.S.-M.); (P.B.-N.); (J.E.-P.); (I.M.)
| | - Pau Bosch-Nicolau
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Pº Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (A.S.-M.); (P.B.-N.); (J.E.-P.); (I.M.)
| | - Juan Espinosa-Pereiro
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Pº Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (A.S.-M.); (P.B.-N.); (J.E.-P.); (I.M.)
| | - Isabel Fuentes
- National Centre of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (B.B.); (D.C.); (I.F.)
| | - Israel Molina
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Pº Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (A.S.-M.); (P.B.-N.); (J.E.-P.); (I.M.)
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