Molecular detection and public health risk assessment of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Blastocystis sp. of animals in a tropical wildlife park of Hainan Island, China

Abstract

Objective: To detect the prevalence and characterize of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia (G.) duodenalis, Enterocytozoon (E.) bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. of animals at a tropical wildlife park in Hainan Province, China, and to assess zoonotic risks and the potential threat of public health. Methods: Fecal specimens were collected from animals of 27 species at the wildlife park in Hainan Province, China, and detected these pathogens using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifications and sequencing of gene fragments based on small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and SSU rRNA gene, respectively. Results: A total of 99 animals were studied, and 33 (33.3%) animals were found to harbor intestinal parasite, and the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp., G. duodenalis, E. bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. were 9.1%, 2.0%, 5.1%, and 25.3%, respectively. Five Cryptosporidium species (C. parvum, C. ubiquitum, C. scrofarum, C. xiaoi and C. parvum-like), one G. duodenalis assemblages (E), four E. bieneusi ITS genotypes (CM1, HLJD-I, HNR-III and 1 novel genotype HNED-III) were detected, and seven subtypes of Blastocystis sp. (ST1, ST2, ST3, ST5, ST10, ST14 and ST15) were also identified. Conclusions: This is the first molecular detection and public health risk assessment of four intestinal protozoa species in Hainan Tropical Wildlife Park and Botanical Garden, China. Almost all species/genotypes/subtypes of four intestinal protozoa identified in this study have the potential of zoonosis and may cause public health risks.