Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
Zoonoses Public Health. 2022 Aug;69(5):572-578. doi: 10.1111/zph.12949. Epub 2022 Apr 25.
The protozoan Dientamoeba fragilis is one of the most common parasites in the digestive system of humans worldwide. The host range and transmission routes of D. fragilis, including the role of animals, are still ambiguous with few reports from non-human primates, sheep, rodents, pigs, a cat and a dog. In this study, we used microscopic and TaqMan qPCR analyses to investigate D. fragilisin 150 faecal samples from pet budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. Dientamoeba fragilis DNA was detected in 32 samples, resulting in a mean prevalence of 21.3%. In microscopic examination, trophozoites/cysts of D. fragilis were detected in 13 of 32 qPCR-positive samples. SSU rRNA sequence analyses of the qPCR-positive isolates identified genotype 1 of D. fragilis as predominant in budgerigars. Phylogenetic analyses of the SSU rRNA gene region clustered D. fragilis genotypes, as well as other trichomonads, in separate monophyletic clusters with bootstrap values ≥79.0. Our study provides the first evidence for the natural host status of pet budgerigars for D. fragilisand contributes to the knowledge of the epidemiology of this parasite. The high prevalence of genotype 1 of D. fragilis suggests that pet budgerigars are suitable reservoirs for zoonotic transmission. Our findings contribute to an increased awareness and knowledge of D. fragilis infections in the context of a one-health approach.
原虫脆弱双滴虫是全球人类消化系统中最常见的寄生虫之一。脆弱双滴虫的宿主范围和传播途径，包括动物的作用，仍然不明确，仅有来自非人类灵长类动物、绵羊、啮齿动物、猪、猫和狗的少数报道。在这项研究中，我们使用显微镜和 TaqMan qPCR 分析方法，调查了来自土耳其中安纳托利亚地区的 150 份宠物虎皮鹦鹉（Melopsittacus undulatus）粪便样本中的脆弱双滴虫。在 32 个样本中检测到脆弱双滴虫 DNA，平均流行率为 21.3%。在显微镜检查中，在 13 个 qPCR 阳性样本中检测到脆弱双滴虫的滋养体/包囊。qPCR 阳性分离株的 SSU rRNA 序列分析鉴定出虎皮鹦鹉中以脆弱双滴虫 1 型为主导。SSU rRNA 基因区域的系统发育分析将脆弱双滴虫基因型以及其他滴虫分类为单独的单系聚类，支持率≥79.0。本研究首次为宠物虎皮鹦鹉作为脆弱双滴虫的自然宿主提供了证据，并为该寄生虫的流行病学提供了知识。脆弱双滴虫 1 型的高流行率表明，宠物虎皮鹦鹉是人畜共患病传播的合适储存宿主。我们的发现有助于提高人们对脆弱双滴虫感染的认识，并在一种健康方法的背景下增加对其的了解。
