Blastocystis subtype distribution in domestic and captive wild bird species from Brazil using next generation amplicon sequencing.

ABSTRACT: Blastocystis is a food and water borne intestinal parasite commonly identified in humans and many other animals worldwide. Of the nine potentially zoonotic subtypes of Blastocystis, seven have been reported in bird species. However molecular studies of Blastocystis subtype diversity in birds are limited. In this study, fecal samples from 109 domestic and captive wild birds from Minas Gerais, Brazil were tested for the presence of Blastocystis subtypes using PCR and next generation amplicon sequencing of a fragment of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. Birds from 11 orders and 38 species from both local markets and bird conservation facilities were sampled. Blastocystis was present in 14.7% of samples, and eight subtypes, six previously repor

SUBMITTER: Maloney JG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6995250 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature