Molecular identification and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in farm and pet animals in Turkey

ÖNDER Z., YILDIRIM A., Pekmezci D., DÜZLÜ Ö., Pekmezci G. Z., ÇİLOĞLU A., ...Daha Fazla

ACTA TROPICA, cilt.220, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 220
  • Basım Tarihi: 2021
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105939
  • Dergi Adı: ACTA TROPICA
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, EMBASE, Geobase, MEDLINE, Metadex, Veterinary Science Database, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Blastocystis, Farm animals, Pet animals, Subtype distrubution, Turkey, GENETIC DIVERSITY, ZOO ANIMALS, PROVINCE, SPP., CATTLE, PIGS, CRYPTOSPORIDIUM, EPIDEMIOLOGY, PREVALENCE, INFECTION
  • Erciyes Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

A total of 1340 fresh fecal samples from farm and pet animals in Central Anatolia and the Middle Black Sea Region of Turkey were investigated using a PCR assay targeting the SSU rRNA of Blastocystis sp. An overall Blastocystis sp. prevalence of 19.4% (183/940) was found in farm animals, including cattle, sheep, water buffaloes, and chickens. Fecal samples of dogs, cats, and horses were negative. The highest prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was found in sheep (38.2%) among the farm animals. The SSU rRNA sequence analysis revealed two animalspecific subtypes, including ST10 in cattle and sheep and ST14 in water buffaloes. The zoonotic subtype ST7 was identified in chickens. Our results indicated a high prevalence of animal-specific subtypes in livestock and zoonotic subtype ST7 in chickens, highlighting the potential risk of chickens for zoonotic transmission of Blastocystis in the research area. This study is the first large-scale evaluation of Blastocystis in animal hosts in Turkey, and contributes to the molecular epidemiology and genetics of Blastocystis. Our results should be considered by authorities as an indication of the zoonotic importance of Blastocystis sp. and the need for surveillance in public health intervention programs.