Medical Laboratory Sciences Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark.
Protist. 2019 Nov;170(5):125679. doi: 10.1016/j.protis.2019.125679. Epub 2019 Aug 27.
The contribution of Blastocystis from non-human hosts to zoonotic transmission is only partly known. The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of Blastocystis genetic subtypes in different animal species in United Arab Emirates. A total of 114 stool samples were tested using PCR of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene and sequence analysis. Twenty-three Blastocystis-positive samples were identified. The following detection rates were observed: cattle, 22.7%; sheep, 63.6%; rabbits, 33.3%; rodents, 37.5%; reptiles, 21.2%. Four subtypes were identified in this study; ST4, ST10, ST14, and ST17; ST10 was isolated from sheep and cattle, corroborating previous data indicating that these are natural hosts for this subtype. Cases of mixed subtype colonization were also detected. Conspicuously, we found ST14 in rabbits. The discovery of ST17 in a squirrel indicates a novel host for this subtype. Furthermore, the discovery of ST4 in rodents suggests that these may serve as reservoir for human Blastocystis ST4 colonization. Six tortoises and one iguana were positive for Blastocystis. In conclusion, this is the first report of Blastocystis infection in various animals in the UAE. Apart from ST4, no potentially zoonotic subtypes were detected.
从非人类宿主传播而来的芽囊原虫对人畜共患病传播的贡献仅部分为人所知。本研究的目的是确定不同阿联酋动物物种中芽囊原虫遗传亚型的分布。使用小亚基（SSU）rRNA 基因的 PCR 和序列分析检测了 114 份粪便样本。共鉴定出 23 个芽囊原虫阳性样本。观察到以下检出率：牛 22.7%；绵羊 63.6%；兔 33.3%；啮齿动物 37.5%；爬行动物 21.2%。本研究鉴定出 4 种亚型；ST4、ST10、ST14 和 ST17；ST10 分离自绵羊和牛，证实了先前的数据表明这些是该亚型的天然宿主。还检测到混合亚型定植的病例。值得注意的是，我们在兔子中发现了 ST14。在松鼠中发现 ST17 表明该亚型有新的宿主。此外，在啮齿动物中发现 ST4 表明这些可能是人类芽囊原虫 ST4 定植的储主。6 只龟和 1 只鬣蜥的芽囊原虫检测呈阳性。总之，这是阿联酋各种动物中芽囊原虫感染的首次报告。除 ST4 外，未检测到潜在的人畜共患病亚型。
