Abstract
Blastocystis is a common intestinal protist distributed worldwide, infecting humans and a wide range of domestic and wild animals. It exhibits an extensive genetic diversity and, so far, 25 distinct small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) lineages termed subtypes (STs)) have been characterized; among them, 12 have thus far been reported in humans. The aims of the present study were to detect and genetically characterize Blastocystis sp. in synantropic animals to improve our current knowledge on the distribution and zoonotic transmission of Blastocystis STs in Italy. Samples were collected from N = 193 farmed animals and submitted to DNA extraction and PCR amplification of the SSU rRNA. Blastocystis was detected in 60 samples (31.08%) and successfully subtyped. Phylogenetic analysis evidenced that the isolates from fallow deer, goats, and pigs (N = 9) clustered within the ST5; those from pheasants (N = 2) in the ST6; those from chickens (N = 8) in the ST7; those from sheep (N = 6) in the ST10; and those from water buffaloes (N = 9) in the ST14 clade. The comparison between the present isolates from animals and those previously detected in humans in Italy suggested the animal-to-human spillover for ST6 and ST7. The present study represents the widest Blastocystis survey performed thus far in farmed animals in Italy. Further epidemiological studies using molecular approaches are required to determine the occurrence and distribution of Blastocystis STs in other potential animal reservoirs in Italy and to define the pathways of zoonotic transmission.
Highlights
Blastocystis is a common intestinal protist distributed worldwide, currently known as belonging to the Stramenopiles [1], infecting humans and a wide range of domestic and wild animals [2]
A total of N = 193 fecal samples were collected from farmed animals, i.e., water buffaloes (N = 101), cow (N = 13), donkey (N = 2), duck (N = 2), fallow deer (N = 1), goat (N = 9), chicken (N = 17), horse (N = 3), ostrich (N = 2), peacock (N = 7), pheasant (N = 11), pig (N = 13), sheep (N = 11), and turkey (N = 1)
The outcome of this study may be considered as a starting point to define the distribution of Blastocystis STs in different animal hosts in Italy and to hypothesize pathways of the zoonotic transmission of the protist
Summary
Blastocystis is a common intestinal protist distributed worldwide, currently known as belonging to the Stramenopiles [1], infecting humans and a wide range of domestic and wild animals [2]. The life cycle of Blastocystis remains incompletely known far. Experimental infectivity studies in animals have demonstrated that the water- and environmentalresistant infective cysts are the transmission stage [4,5]. Excystment takes place in the host intestine, giving rise to vacuolar forms, which divide by binary fission and may develop further into amoeboid or granular forms. Encystment may occur during the passage down the colon before cyst excretion in the feces [6]
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