Subtypes of Blastocystis in Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii)

• Published in: Research in veterinary science Vol. 171; p. 105233
• Main Authors: Yan, Wei-Lan, Li, Xiao-Man, Qin, Si-Yuan, Xue, Nian-Yu, Zou, Yang, Li, Jing-Hao, Zhang, Xiao-Xuan, Ni, Hong-Bo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2024
• Subjects: Blastocystis; Epidemiology; PCR; Subtypes; Tibetan antelope; Subtypes; Blastocystis; Epidemiology; PCR; Tibetan antelope
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2024.105233

Blastocystis is a protist that is distributed in the gut tract of humans and animals. However, the reports about Blastocystis infection in Tibetan antelope are scarce. We collected 173 Tibetan antelope feces samples from Xinjiang, Qinghai and Xizang, and amplified the SSU rRNA gene of 600 bp region of Blastocystis in our research. Fifty-one samples in total were positive for Blastocystis, with all subtypes being ST31. The lowest prevalence of Blastocystis was observed in Xizang (2/20, 9.1%), followed by Qinghai (18/92, 16.4%), Xinjiang (31/61, 33.7%). The highest prevalence of Blastocystis in Tibetan antelope was detected during the summer was (19/30, 38.8%). This is the first research work regarding the Blastocystis subtypes ST31 in Tibetan antelope. Our research provides information for future researches on the distribution of this Blastocystis subtype and the control of Blastocystis infection. •A total of 51 of 173 Tibetan antelope were detected as Blastocystis-positive.•Only ST31 was found in investigated Tibetan antelope in this study.•The prevalence of Blastocystis in Tibetan antelope varied from 9.1% in Xizang to 33.7% in Xinjiang.