First identification and molecular subtyping of Blastocystis sp. in zoo animals in southwestern China.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Blastocystis sp. is an anaerobic protozoan that parasitizes many animal hosts and the human gastrointestinal tract, and its pathogenicity is controversial. Captive wildlife may be potential reservoirs for human infection with Blastocystis sp. The present study was performed to investigate the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in zoo animals in Sichuan Province, southwestern China.

Methods

A total of 420 fresh fecal samples were collected from 54 captive wildlife species in four zoos in southwestern China between June 2017 and September 2019. The prevalence and subtype (ST) genetic characteristics of Blastocystis sp. were determined by PCR amplification of the barcode region of the SSU rRNA gene and phylogenetic analysis.

Results

Overal

SUBMITTER: Deng L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7788908 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature