Exploring Micro-Eukaryotic Diversity in the Gut: Co-occurrence of <i>Blastocystis</i> Subtypes and Other Protists in Zoo Animals.

ABSTRACT: Blastocystis is a genetically diverse microbial eukaryote thriving in the gut of humans and other animals. While Blastocystis has been linked with gastrointestinal disorders, its pathogenicity remains controversial. Previous reports have suggested that one out of six humans could be carrying Blastocystis in their gut, while the numbers could be even higher in animals. Most studies on Blastocystis are either exclusively targeting the organism itself and/or the associated prokaryotic microbiome, while co-occurrence of other microbial eukaryotes has been mainly ignored. Herein, we aimed to explore presence and genetic diversity of Blastocystis along with the commonly occurring eukaryotes Cryptosporidium, Eimeria, Entamoeba and Giardia

SUBMITTER: Betts EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7052370 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature