First subtyping of Blastocystis sp. from pet rodents in southwestern China
2020
Yijun Chai | Lei Deng | Haifeng Liu | Jingxin Yao | Zhijun Zhong | Hualin Fu | Liuhong Shen | Ziyao Zhou | Junliang Deng | Yanchun Hu | Guangneng Peng
Blastocystis sp. is a common eukaryotic parasite, which infects humans as well as various other animals. To date, epidemiological data regarding the detection rate and distribution of Blastocystis sp. subtypes in pet rodents are lacking in China; the present study aims to fill this gap. A total of 503 fecal samples collected from pets in different locations in southwestern China were screened for the presence of Blastocystis sp. using a nested PCR amplification of SSU rRNA method. Forty-two samples (8.35%) tested positive for Blastocystis sp. colonization. Two subtypes of Blastocystis sp. were identified based on nucleotide sequence homology and phylogenetic analysis: Blastocystis ST4 was present in 41 samples, and Blastocystis ST17 was found in 1 sample. Our results revealed robust host preference of Blastocystis ST4 and confirmed that Blastocystis ST17 can also parasitize rodents. Keywords: Blastocystis sp., Pet rodent, Subtype, China
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