Molecular detection and subtype distribution of Blastocystis in farmed pigs in southern China

Yang Zou; Wen-Bin Yang; Feng-Cai Zou; Rui-Qing Lin; Xing-Quan Zhu; Jun-Ling Hou

doi:10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104751

Molecular detection and subtype distribution of Blastocystis in farmed pigs in southern China

Microb Pathog. 2021 Feb:151:104751. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104751. Epub 2021 Jan 19.

Authors

Yang Zou¹, Wen-Bin Yang², Feng-Cai Zou³, Rui-Qing Lin⁴, Xing-Quan Zhu⁵, Jun-Ling Hou⁶

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China. Electronic address: zouyangdr@163.com.
² State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
³ Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Higher Education of Yunnan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, 650201, PR China.
⁴ College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510642, PR China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Higher Education of Yunnan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, 650201, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province, 030801, PR China.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China. Electronic address: houjunling@caas.cn.

PMID: 33482261
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104751

Abstract

Blastocystis is one of the most common causative agents of intestinal diseases, which can cause enteric diseases in animals and humans. However, limited data is available on the prevalence or subtypes of Blastocystis infections in farmed pigs in southern China. In this study, a total of 396 fecal samples were collected from farmed pigs in three provinces in southern China in 2016, and screened for Blastocystis by PCR amplification of the small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene fragment. One hundred and seventy (42.93%) of the examined fecal samples were detected Blastocystis-positive, and two known zoonotic subtypes ST1 and ST5 were identified, with ST5 being the predominate subtype. Moreover, gender, age and region were considered as risk factors that associated with Blastocystis infection in farmed pigs. The present study revealed the prevalence and subtypes of Blastocystis infections in farmed pigs in southern China, which provided essential data for the control of Blastocystis infections in pigs, other animals and humans in China.

Keywords: Blastocystis; Farmed pigs; Prevalence; Risk factors; Southern China; Subtype.

MeSH terms

Animals
Blastocystis Infections* / epidemiology
Blastocystis Infections* / veterinary
Blastocystis* / genetics
China / epidemiology
Feces
Genetic Variation
Phylogeny
Prevalence
Swine