Abstract
ABSTRACTBlastocystis sp., the most common intestinal protozoa, remains a public health problem among people in many countries, particularly in rural areas of developing countries. The infection usually reflects poor sanitation in communities by waterborne, zoonotic, and person-to-person transmission. Interestingly, at least 17 subtypes (STs) have been reported and are associated with a broad range of animal hosts, including humans. In this study, we reported potential evidence of zoonotic transmission of Blastocystis ST1 in rural communities of eastern Thailand where the overall prevalence of Blastocystis infection was 15.7%. Two major and three minor subtypes were found to be distributed unequally in this region. Of 5 STs, only ST1 was found to be associated with pig feces in an open farm system that produced organic fertilizer for agriculture uses in the community. This finding suggests that properly protective contact and standard production of organic fertilizer from pig feces by-products could be key factors for reducing the prevalence of Blastocystis infection and prevent Blastocystis reinfection among people in the community.IMPORTANCE Blastocystis sp. remains a public health problem among people, particularly in rural areas of many developing countries. The infection usually reflects poor sanitation in communities by waterborne, zoonotic, and person-to-person transmission. In this study, we reported potential evidence of zoonotic transmission of Blastocystis subtype 1 (ST1) in rural communities of eastern Thailand. Two major and three minor subtypes were found to be unequally distributed in this region. Interestingly, only ST1 was found to be associated with pig feces in an open farm system that produced organic fertilizer for agriculture uses in the community. The finding makes significant contributions to genetic and molecular investigations of microbial topics of practical value and suggest that properly protective contact and standard production of organic fertilizer from pig feces by-products could be key factors for reducing the prevalence of Blastocystis infection and prevent Blastocystis reinfection among people in the community.
Highlights
Blastocystis sp., the most common intestinal protozoa, remains a public health problem among people in many countries, in rural areas of developing countries
In January 2018, 902 participants were enrolled in this study and 745 stool samples were collected with a response rate of 82.6%
This study showed that the prevalence of Blastocystis infection was apparently high compared with that of related community studies (15.7% versus 6.1% to 7.8%)
Summary
Blastocystis sp., the most common intestinal protozoa, remains a public health problem among people in many countries, in rural areas of developing countries. Of 5 STs, only ST1 was found to be associated with pig feces in an open farm system that produced organic fertilizer for agriculture uses in the community This finding suggests that properly protective contact and standard production of organic fertilizer from pig feces by-products could be key factors for reducing the prevalence of Blastocystis infection and prevent Blastocystis reinfection among people in the community. We reported potential evidence of zoonotic transmission of Blastocystis subtype 1 (ST1) in rural communities of eastern Thailand. Is an anaerobic enteric parasite, a member of the Stramenopiles or Heterokonta branch of the Eukarya [1], that is phylogenetically distinct from other microbial species of Eukarya and, inhabits or infects the human intestinal tract It comprises one of the most common intestinal parasites, has a worldwide distribution [2], infects approximately between 1 and 2 billion people, and is frequently found in rural areas in developing countries [3]. ST1 among residents in an eastern community of Thailand where at least five subtypes were distributed in the community
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