Abstract
Dientamoeba fragilis is a common intestinal parasite in humans. Transmission routes and natural host range are unknown. To determine whether pigs are hosts, we analyzed 152 fecal samples by microscopy and molecular methods. We confirmed that pigs are a natural host and harbor genotypes found in humans, suggesting zoonotic potential.
Highlights
Dientamoeba fragilis is a common intestinal parasite in humans
To determine whether pigs are a host of D. fragilis, we analyzed fecal samples from 152 pigs in Italy by microscopy and molecular methods
Pig fecal samples from 7 of the 9 farms were available for molecular analysis
Summary
To determine whether pigs are a host of D. fragilis, we analyzed fecal samples from 152 pigs in Italy by microscopy and molecular methods. Pig fecal samples from 7 of the 9 farms were available for molecular analysis. The microscopic examination showed that 52 of the 74 piglets, 11 of the 14 fattening pigs, and 8 of the 64 sows were positive for D. fragilis (Table 1). The sequence analysis of 15 amplified products (11 from pigs and 4 from humans) showed 100% homology with D. fragilis genotype 1 (Table 2). Amplification was obtained from 11 of the 24 pig samples (Table 2), but only 2 sequences could be clearly identified as D. fragilis. The 2 D. fragilis sequences from pigs showed 100% homology with sequences from human isolates from the United Kingdom (Table 2), further supporting the presence of genotype 1 in these 2 hosts. The analysis of ITS1 from the 2 human isolates showed full identity to human isolates from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (Table 2)
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