Molecular identification and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in farm and pet animals in Turkey

• Published in: Acta tropica Vol. 220; p. 105939
• Main Authors: Onder, Zuhal, Yildirim, Alparslan, Pekmezci, Didem, Duzlu, Onder, Pekmezci, Gokmen Zafer, Ciloglu, Arif, Simsek, Emrah, Kokcu, Nesrin Delibasi, Yetismis, Gamze, Ercan, Nuri, Inci, Abdullah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.08.2021
• Subjects: Blastocystis; Farm animals; Pet animals; Subtype distrubution; Turkey; Farm animals; Pet animals; Turkey; Subtype distrubution; Blastocystis
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105939

•The subtype distribution and prevalence of Blastocystis sp. were investigated in Turkey.•The overall prevalence of Blastocystis in farm animals was 19.4%.•Two animal-specific subtypes, ST10 and ST14, and one zoonotic subtype, ST7, were identified.•Chickens might contribute to the transmission of zoonotic Blastocystis subtypes to humans. A total of 1340 fresh fecal samples from farm and pet animals in Central Anatolia and the Middle Black Sea Region of Turkey were investigated using a PCR assay targeting the SSU rRNA of Blastocystis sp. An overall Blastocystis sp. prevalence of 19.4% (183/940) was found in farm animals, including cattle, sheep, water buffaloes, and chickens. Fecal samples of dogs, cats, and horses were negative. The highest prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was found in sheep (38.2%) among the farm animals. The SSU rRNA sequence analysis revealed two animal-specific subtypes, including ST10 in cattle and sheep and ST14 in water buffaloes. The zoonotic subtype ST7 was identified in chickens. Our results indicated a high prevalence of animal-specific subtypes in livestock and zoonotic subtype ST7 in chickens, highlighting the potential risk of chickens for zoonotic transmission of Blastocystis in the research area. This study is the first large-scale evaluation of Blastocystis in animal hosts in Turkey, and contributes to the molecular epidemiology and genetics of Blastocystis. Our results should be considered by authorities as an indication of the zoonotic importance of Blastocystis sp. and the need for surveillance in public health intervention programs.