Caballero-Gómez Javier, Ávalos Gabriel, Matas-Méndez Pablo, Figueiredo Ana M, Castro-Scholten Sabrina, Jiménez-Martín Débora, Köster Pamela C, Santín Mónica, Bailo Begoña, Cano-Terriza David, Sarmento Pedro, Neves Nuno, Carrapato Carlos, González-Barrio David, Mateo Marta, García-Bocanegra Ignacio, Dashti Alejandro, Sánchez Sergio, Carmena David
Department of Animal Health, Animal Health and Zoonosis Research Group (GISAZ), UIC Zoonoses and Emerging Diseases (ENZOEM), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain; Infectious Diseases Unit, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research (IMIBIC), University Hospital Reina Sofía, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain; CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER Infectious Diseases, Health Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Health Institute Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
Res Vet Sci. 2025 Mar;184:105518. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2024.105518. Epub 2024 Dec 26.
Recent molecular and metagenomic studies have revealed that the obligate anaerobic protist Blastocystis is found more prevalently and with higher subtype diversities in herbivore species than in carnivore species. However, information on wild carnivore species is scarce. Here, we investigated the presence of Blastocystis by molecular methods in fecal DNA samples of free-ranging and captive Iberian lynxes from Spain (n = 243) and Portugal (n = 30). In addition, a systematic review was conducted to obtain information on the Blastocystis prevalence rates and subtype diversities reported in free-living and captive wild carnivores worldwide during the period 2000-2024. Blastocystis was not detected by PCR in any of the samples investigated. Analyses of the data gathered from our systematic review revealed that Blastocystis is uncommon either in free-living (2.1 %, 29/1377) or captive (8.5 %, 100/1175) wild carnivore species. Many of these findings seem to result from accidental acquisition via prey animals, scavenging, contaminated water/feed (free-ranging wild carnivores), or cross-species transmission among animals sharing enclosures (captive wild carnivores). Comparative metagenomic studies analyzing gut microbiota profiles of carnivores are needed to fully understand how microbial communities affect Blastocystis colonization.
最近的分子和宏基因组学研究表明，专性厌氧原生生物芽囊原虫在食草动物物种中的发现更为普遍，且亚型多样性高于食肉动物物种。然而，关于野生食肉动物物种的信息却很匮乏。在此，我们通过分子方法调查了来自西班牙（n = 243）和葡萄牙（n = 30）的自由放养和圈养伊比利亚猞猁粪便DNA样本中芽囊原虫的存在情况。此外，还进行了一项系统综述，以获取2000年至2024年期间全球自由生活和圈养野生食肉动物中报道的芽囊原虫患病率和亚型多样性信息。在所调查的任何样本中均未通过PCR检测到芽囊原虫。对我们系统综述收集的数据进行分析后发现，芽囊原虫在自由生活（2.1%，29/1377）或圈养（8.5%，100/1175）的野生食肉动物物种中都不常见。这些发现中的许多似乎是通过猎物动物、 scavenging、受污染的水/饲料（自由放养的野生食肉动物）或共享围栏的动物之间的跨物种传播（圈养野生食肉动物）偶然获得的。需要进行比较宏基因组学研究来分析食肉动物的肠道微生物群概况，以全面了解微生物群落如何影响芽囊原虫的定植。
