Subtype distribution of Blastocystis isolates from synanthropic and zoo animals and identification of a new subtype

• Published in: International journal for parasitology Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 473 - 479
• Main Authors: Stensvold, C. Rune, Alfellani, Mohammed A., Nørskov-Lauritsen, Sara, Prip, Katrine, Victory, Emma L., Maddox, Charlotte, Nielsen, Henrik V., Clark, C. Graham
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2009; [Oxford; New York]: Elsevier Science; Elsevier
• Subjects: animal technicians; Animals; Animals, Domestic - parasitology; Animals, Zoo - parasitology; Biological and medical sciences; Blastocystis; Blastocystis - classification; Blastocystis - genetics; Blastocystis - isolation & purification; Blastocystis Infections - epidemiology; Blastocystis Infections - parasitology; Blastocystis Infections - veterinary; Cattle; Deer; disease prevalence; DNA Primers; DNA, Protozoan - analysis; Dogs; Epidemiology; Feces - parasitology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genotype; host specificity; Humans; Life cycle. Host-agent relationship. Pathogenesis; molecular epidemiology; Molecular Sequence Data; nucleotide sequences; PCR; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; primate handlers; Primates; Primates - genetics; Primates - parasitology; Protozoa; protozoal infections; ribosomal DNA; sequence homology; Sequence Tagged Sites; Sheep; strains; Subtypes; Swine; synanthropic animals; United Kingdom - epidemiology; zoo animals; zoonoses; Denmark; United Kingdom; Subtypes; Phylogeny; Blastocystis; Epidemiology; PCR; Polymerase chain reaction; Synanthropic; Protozoa; Lobosea; Taxonomy; Parasite; Subtype
• ISSN: 0020-7519; 1879-0135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2008.07.006

Blastocystis isolates from 56 Danish synanthropic and zoo animals, 62 primates primarily from United Kingdom (UK) collections and 16 UK primate handlers were subtyped by PCR, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. A new subtype (ST) from primates and artiodactyls was identified and designated as Blastocystis sp. ST10. STs isolated from non-human primates ( n = 70) included ST3 (33%), ST8 (21%), ST2 (16%), ST5 (13%), ST1 (10%), ST4 (4%) and ST10 (3%). A high prevalence of ST8 was seen among primate handlers (25%). This ST is normally very rare in humans, suggesting that acquisition of Blastocystis ST8 infections from primates by their handlers had occurred in these cases. Data from published studies of non-human primates, other mammals and birds were collected and interpreted to generate a comprehensive overview on the ST distribution in such animals. On the basis of information on 438 samples, it was found that Blastocystis from primates belong mainly to ST1, ST2, ST3, ST5 and ST8, ungulates and dogs mainly ST1, ST2, ST3, ST5 and ST10, rodents ST4 and birds mainly ST6 and ST7. The data indicate moderate host specificity, most clearly exemplified by the fact that STs isolated from avian and non-avian hosts rarely overlap.