Multicentric Study on Enteric Protists Occurrence in Zoological Parks in Portugal.

Parasitic infections of the gastrointestinal tract of domestic animals play a major role in the transmission of disease, which in turn may result in financial and productive losses. Notwithstanding, studies on the burden and distribution of diarrheagenic protists in zoological gardens are still insufficient. Given the close animal-animal and animal-human interaction in these settings, Public Health concerns under the One Health context are raised. Using molecular detection tools and phylogenetic analysis, the goal of this study was to assess the occurrence of four potentially zoonotic protists-, sp., spp. and spp.-in animals residing in zoological parks in Portugal. Occurrence of spp. was also assessed because of its veterinary relevance. Although sp. represents most of the positive samples obtained (11.6%; 95% CI: 0.08-0.17), all parasites were detected ( (2.9%; 95% CI: 0.01-0.06), and spp., spp. and spp. presented the same prevalence (0.5%; 95% CI: 0.00-0.03)). We also describe the first molecular detection of in a collared peccary (), of sp. in three different python species, and in a central bearded dragon (), suggesting the broadening of the host range for these parasites.