Abstract
BackgroundBlastocystis is an anaerobic unicellular protist frequently detected in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals worldwide. However, the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis in the coypu (Myocastor coypus) population have not been reported so far. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, genetic characteristics, and zoonotic potential of Blastocystis isolates detected in coypus in China.ResultsA total of 308 fecal samples were collected from coypus in seven regions across China and subsequently examined. Blastocystis was detected in 44 (14.3%) specimens by nested PCR amplification of the small subunit ribosomal rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene. Further DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses resulted in the identification of two zoonotic known subtypes, ST4 and ST5, and an unknown subtype. ST4 was the most predominant subtype observed in the samples. ST5 infections were only observed in three coypus. Factors that were associated with prevalence of Blastocystis included age, geographical region and subtype. Interestingly, this is the first report about a potentially novel subtype infecting coypus.ConclusionsThis is the first comprehensive report of Blastocystis in M. coypus across a wide geographic range of China. A moderate degree of genetic divergence was observed. The presence of zoonotic subtypes in farmed M. coypus suggests that these animals have the potential to transmit blastocystosis to both humans and domestic animals. These findings provide a better understanding of the genetic diversity of Blastocystis in rodents and contribute towards the establishment of efficient blastocystosis control strategies in the investigated areas.Graphical abstract
Highlights
Blastocystis is an anaerobic unicellular protist frequently detected in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals worldwide
We evaluated the prevalence and subtypes of Blastocystis in M. coypus across China, with the overall aim to better understand the risk of zoonotic spread of this parasite
To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report on the Blastocystis infection in M. coypus throughout China
Summary
Blastocystis is an anaerobic unicellular protist frequently detected in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, genetic characteristics, and zoonotic potential of Blastocystis isolates detected in coypus in China. Blastocystis is a eukaryotic protozoan parasite that belongs to the stramenopile clade of heterokonts whose members are commonly observed in the intestinal tract of humans and animals worldwide [1, 2]. A total of 32 Blastocystis subtypes have been reported based on polymorphisms within the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene [4, 9, 10]. Infections have been associated with at least 14 subtypes (ST1–ST10, ST12, ST14, ST16 and ST24) in both humans and animals, indicating a strong potential for zoonotic transmission [11,12,13]. A variety of mammalian and avian hosts have been examined to determine the identity of Blastocystis subtypes carried by each species
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