Laboratory of Biodiversity and Environment: Interactions, Genome, Biology Faculty, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria.
Laboratory of Parasitic Eco-Epidemiology and Population Genetics, Pasteur Institute of Algeria, Dely-Brahim, 16000, Algiers, Algeria.
Acta Parasitol. 2024 Sep;69(3):1338-1351. doi: 10.1007/s11686-024-00857-4. Epub 2024 Jun 3.
Blastocystis sp. is a single-celled, anaerobic, parasitic protozoan commonly found in the intestinal tract of animals and humans globally. Genetic analysis has revealed significant diversity within its species, leading to the identification of at least 40 subtypes (ST1-ST40). This study aimed to identify and differentiate Blastocystis in faeces samples from various animal hosts in Algeria.
A total of 403 fecal samples, collected from both domestic and zoo animals, were subjected to PCR amplification and sequencing of Blastocystis-specific small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-RNA) gene.
The overall prevalence of Blastocystis in animals was found to be 38.9%. Through comprehensive phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses, we identified four distinct subtypes (ST1 in both domestic and zoo animals, and ST3, ST4, and ST5 exclusively in zoo animals), encompassing nine different haplotypes, including five that appear original to Algeria.
This study represents the first epidemiological molecular investigation of Blastocystis sp. in animals in Algeria.
芽囊原虫是一种常见于全球动物和人类肠道内的单细胞、厌氧、寄生原生动物。基因分析显示其种内存在显著的多样性，已鉴定出至少 40 个亚型（ST1-ST40）。本研究旨在鉴定和区分来自阿尔及利亚不同动物宿主粪便样本中的芽囊原虫。
共采集了 403 份来自家养和动物园动物的粪便样本，进行了芽囊原虫特异性小亚基核糖体 RNA（SSU-RNA）基因的 PCR 扩增和测序。
动物中芽囊原虫的总流行率为 38.9%。通过全面的系统发生和系统地理分析，我们鉴定出了四个不同的亚型（ST1 同时存在于家养和动物园动物中，以及 ST3、ST4 和 ST5 仅存在于动物园动物中），包含了九个不同的单倍型，其中包括五个在阿尔及利亚首次出现的单倍型。
本研究代表了对阿尔及利亚动物中芽囊原虫的首次流行病学分子调查。
