Molecular epidemiology of Blastocystis isolated from animals in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 14; no. 1; p. e0210740
• Main Authors: Valença-Barbosa, Carolina, do Bomfim, Teresa Cristina Bergamo, Teixeira, Bernardo Rodrigues, Gentile, Rosana, Neto, Sócrates Fraga da Costa, Magalhães, Bárbara Souza Neil, Balthazar, Daniel de Almeida, da Silva, Fabio Alves, Biot, Renata, d'Avila Levy, Claudia Masini, Santos, Helena Lúcia Carneiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 25.01.2019; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animals; Biodiversity; Biology and Life Sciences; Birds; Blastocyst; Blastocystis; Blastocystis - classification; Blastocystis - genetics; Brazil; Computer and Information Sciences; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA sequencing; DNA, Protozoan - genetics; DNA, Ribosomal - genetics; Epidemiology; Feces; Gene sequencing; Genetic aspects; Genetic diversity; Hogs; Host specificity; Laboratories; Marsupials; Molecular Epidemiology - methods; National parks; Parasites; Parks & recreation areas; People and places; Phylogeny; Primates; Reptiles & amphibians; Research and Analysis Methods; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; Species diversity; Vertebrates; Zoonoses; Brazil; Rio de Janeiro Brazil
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210740

The enteric protist Blastocystis is one of the most frequently reported parasites infecting both humans and many other animal hosts worldwide. A remarkable genetic diversity has been observed in the species, with 17 different subtypes (STs) on a molecular phylogeny based on small subunit RNA genes (SSU rDNA). Nonetheless, information regarding its distribution, diversity and zoonotic potential remains still scarce, especially in groups other than primates. In Brazil, only a few surveys limited to human isolates have so far been conducted on Blastocystis STs. The aim of this study is to determine the occurrence of Blastocystis subtypes in non-human vertebrate and invertebrate animal groups in different areas of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A total of 334 stool samples were collected from animals representing 28 different genera. Blastocystis cultivated samples were subtyped using nuclear small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses and BLAST searches revealed six subtypes: ST5 (28.8%), ST2 (21.1%), ST1 and ST8 (19.2%), ST3 (7.7%) and ST4 (3.8%). Our findings indicate a considerable overlap between STs in humans and other animals. This highlights the importance of investigating a range of hosts for Blastocystis to understand the eco-epidemiological aspects of the parasite and its host specificity.