101
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Vega L, Herrera G, Muñoz M, Patarroyo MA, Maloney JG, Santín M, Ramírez JD. Gut microbiota profiles in diarrheic patients with co-occurrence of Clostridioides difficile and Blastocystis. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248185. [PMID: 33725006 PMCID: PMC7963057 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis and Clostridioides difficile co-occurrence is considered a rare event since the colonization by Blastocystis is prevented under a decrease in beneficial bacteria in the microbiota when there is C. difficile infection (CDI). This scenario has been reported once, but no information on the gut microbiota profiling is available. The present study is motivated by knowing which members of the microbiota can be found in this rare scenario and how this co-occurrence may impact the abundance of other bacteria, eukaryotes or archaea present in the gut microbiota. This study aimed to describe the bacterial and eukaryotic communities using amplicon-based sequencing of the 16S- and 18S-rRNA regions of three patient groups: (1) Blastocystis and C. difficile infection (B+/C+, n = 31), (2) C. difficile infection only (B˗/C+, n = 44), and (3) without Blastocystis or C. difficile (B˗/C˗, n = 40). Blastocystis was subtyped using amplicon-based sequencing of the 18S-rRNA gene, revealing circulation of subtypes ST1 (43.4%), ST3 (35.85%) and ST5 (20.75%) among the study population. We found that B+/C+ patients had a higher abundance of some beneficial bacteria (such as butyrate producers or bacteria with anti-inflammatory properties) compared with non-Blastocystis-colonized patients, which may suggest a shift towards an increase in beneficial bacteria when Blastocystis colonizes patients with CDI. Regarding eukaryotic communities, statistical differences in the abundance of some eukaryotic genera between the study groups were not observed. Thus, this study provides preliminary descriptive information of a potential microbiota profiling of differential presence by Blastocystis and C. difficile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Vega
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Giovanny Herrera
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marina Muñoz
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuel A. Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Bogotá, Colombia
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jenny G. Maloney
- USDA ARS, Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, BARC, Beltsville, MD, United States of America
| | - Monica Santín
- USDA ARS, Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, BARC, Beltsville, MD, United States of America
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
- * E-mail:
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102
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Occurrence of Ten Protozoan Enteric Pathogens in Three Non-Human Primate Populations. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10030280. [PMID: 33801236 PMCID: PMC8001678 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10030280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-human primate populations act as potential reservoirs for human pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and parasites, which can lead to zoonotic infections. Furthermore, intestinal microorganisms may be pathogenic organisms to both non-human primates and humans. It is, therefore, essential to study the prevalence of these infectious agents in captive and wild non-human primates. This study aimed at showing the prevalence of the most frequently encountered human enteric protozoa in non-human primate populations based on qPCR detection. The three populations studied were common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in Senegal and gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) in the Republic of the Congo and in the Beauval Zoo (France). Blastocystis spp. were mainly found, with an occurrence close to 100%, followed by Balantidiumcoli (23.7%), Giardiaintestinalis (7.9%), Encephalitozoonintestinalis (1.3%) and Dientamoebafragilis (0.2%). None of the following protozoa were detected: Entamoebahistolytica, Enterocytozoonbieneusi, Cryptosporidiumparvum, C. hominis, Cyclosporacayetanensis or Cystoisosporabelli. As chimpanzees and gorillas are genetically close to humans, it is important to monitor them frequently against different pathogens to protect these endangered species and to assess potential zoonotic transmissions to humans.
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103
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Deng L, Wojciech L, Gascoigne NRJ, Peng G, Tan KSW. New insights into the interactions between Blastocystis, the gut microbiota, and host immunity. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009253. [PMID: 33630979 PMCID: PMC7906322 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The human gut microbiota is a diverse and complex ecosystem that is involved in beneficial physiological functions as well as disease pathogenesis. Blastocystis is a common protistan parasite and is increasingly recognized as an important component of the gut microbiota. The correlations between Blastocystis and other communities of intestinal microbiota have been investigated, and, to a lesser extent, the role of this parasite in maintaining the host immunological homeostasis. Despite recent studies suggesting that Blastocystis decreases the abundance of beneficial bacteria, most reports indicate that Blastocystis is a common component of the healthy gut microbiome. This review covers recent finding on the potential interactions between Blastocystis and the gut microbiota communities and its roles in regulating host immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Deng
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Healthy Aging Programme and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lukasz Wojciech
- Immunology Programme and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nicholas R. J. Gascoigne
- Immunology Programme and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Guangneng Peng
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Kevin S. W. Tan
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Healthy Aging Programme and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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104
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Zou Y, Yang WB, Zou FC, Lin RQ, Zhu XQ, Hou JL. Molecular detection and subtype distribution of Blastocystis in farmed pigs in southern China. Microb Pathog 2021; 151:104751. [PMID: 33482261 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystis is one of the most common causative agents of intestinal diseases, which can cause enteric diseases in animals and humans. However, limited data is available on the prevalence or subtypes of Blastocystis infections in farmed pigs in southern China. In this study, a total of 396 fecal samples were collected from farmed pigs in three provinces in southern China in 2016, and screened for Blastocystis by PCR amplification of the small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene fragment. One hundred and seventy (42.93%) of the examined fecal samples were detected Blastocystis-positive, and two known zoonotic subtypes ST1 and ST5 were identified, with ST5 being the predominate subtype. Moreover, gender, age and region were considered as risk factors that associated with Blastocystis infection in farmed pigs. The present study revealed the prevalence and subtypes of Blastocystis infections in farmed pigs in southern China, which provided essential data for the control of Blastocystis infections in pigs, other animals and humans in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
| | - Wen-Bin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China
| | - Feng-Cai Zou
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Higher Education of Yunnan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, 650201, PR China
| | - Rui-Qing Lin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510642, PR China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Higher Education of Yunnan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, 650201, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province, 030801, PR China
| | - Jun-Ling Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
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105
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Blastocystis sp. Prevalence and Subtypes Distribution amongst Syrian Refugee Communities Living in North Lebanon. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9010184. [PMID: 33467077 PMCID: PMC7830609 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular data concerning the prevalence and subtype (ST) distribution of the intestinal parasite Blastocystis sp. remain scarce in the Middle East. Accordingly, we performed the first molecular epidemiological survey ever conducted in the Syrian population. A total of 306 stool samples were collected from Syrian refugees living in 26 informal tented settlements (ITS) subjected or not to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions in North Lebanon, then screened for the presence of Blastocystis sp. by real-time polymerase chain reaction followed by subtyping. The overall prevalence of the parasite was shown to reach 63.7%. Blastocystis sp. colonization was not significantly associated with gender, age, symptomatic status, abdominal pain or diarrhea. In contrast, WASH intervention status of ITS was identified as a risk factor for infection. Among a total of 164 subtyped isolates, ST3 was predominant, followed by ST1, ST2, and ST10. No particular ST was reported to be associated with age, gender, symptomatic status, digestive disorders, or WASH intervention status of ITS. Intra-ST diversity of ST1 to ST3 was low suggesting large-scale anthroponotic transmission. Moreover, comparative analysis of ST1 to ST3 genotypes revealed that the circulation of the parasite between Syrian refugees and the host population was likely limited.
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106
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The Prevalence of Blastocystis Infection in Pediatric Patients with Malignancy: A Single-Center Study in Ahvaz, Iran. ARCHIVES OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2021. [DOI: 10.5812/pedinfect.104068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: Blastocystis spp. is known as one of the few intestinal parasites, prevalent in more than 5% and 30 - 60% of the population in industrialized and developing countries, respectively. In this respect, immunocompromised individuals, such as patients undergoing chemotherapy or those with malignancies, are at risk of the clinical symptoms of Blastocystis infection; however, the given condition is often self-limiting in healthy individuals. Objectives: The current study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of Blastocystis infection in children with malignancies receiving chemo drugs. Methods: The current descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 52 stool specimens collected from patients with cancer admitted to the Oncology Ward of Shahid Baqaei 2 Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran, for six months. A standardized questionnaire was filled out for all cases. Each specimen was also prepared using direct smear, the Lugol iodine staining, and the formalin-ether condensation method. Results: Blastocystis spp. was detected in 21.1% of the cases among them, 11.5% demonstrated gastrointestinal symptoms; therefore, a significant relationship was observed between Blastocystis infection and gastrointestinal symptoms. Conclusion: Patients undergoing chemotherapy should be screened for opportunistic parasitic infections such as Blastocystis to avoid potentially life-threatening outcomes. Besides, further studies are required to identify the subtypes of Blastocystis.
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107
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Robles-Cabrera MX, Maguiña JL, Gonzales-Huerta L, Panduro-Correa V, Dámaso-Mata B, Pecho-Silva S, Navarro-Solsol AC, Rabaan AA, Rodríguez-Morales AJ, Arteaga-Livias K. Blastocystis species and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Peruvian Adults Attended in a Public Hospital. Infect Chemother 2021; 53:374-380. [PMID: 34216131 PMCID: PMC8258296 DOI: 10.3947/ic.2021.0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of Blastocystis sp. in gastrointestinal symptoms reported by adult patients in a Peruvian hospital. A case-control 3:1 study was performed at the outpatient clinic. Direct stool examinations were done. One hundred sixty patients were included, 40 cases and 120 controls. Positivity to Blastocystis sp. was associated with dyspepsia (P <0.001), bloating (P <0.001) and abdominal pain (P = 0.03) in patients attending our hospital outpatient clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jorge L Maguiña
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Perú
| | - Luis Gonzales-Huerta
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vicky Panduro-Correa
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán, Huánuco, Perú.,Hospital Regional Hermilio Valdizán Medrano, Huánuco, Perú
| | - Bernardo Dámaso-Mata
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán, Huánuco, Perú.,Hospital II Huánuco, EsSalud. Huánuco, Perú
| | - Samuel Pecho-Silva
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Perú
| | | | - Ali A Rabaan
- Molecular Diagnostic laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alfonso J Rodríguez-Morales
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Perú.,Grupo de Investigacion Biomedicina, Faculty of Medicine, Fundacion Universitaria Autónoma de las Americas, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia
| | - Kovy Arteaga-Livias
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán, Huánuco, Perú.,Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Perú.,Hospital II Huánuco, EsSalud. Huánuco, Perú.
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108
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Ning CQ, Hu ZH, Chen JH, Ai L, Tian LG. Epidemiology of Blastocystis infection from 1990 to 2019 in China. Infect Dis Poverty 2020; 9:168. [PMID: 33380335 PMCID: PMC7772921 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-020-00779-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Blastocystis is ubiquitous presence in animals and humans worldwide and has a high level genetic diversity. The aim of this study was to conduct a summary of Blastocystis prevalence, subtypes (STs) in humans and animals in China and depict their distribution. Methods We searched for the articles related to epidemiology of Blastocystis in humans and animals throughout China which published from January 1, 1990, to July 31, 2019 in the following databases: PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang database. The keywords were Blastocystis and one of the following ones: STs, subtypes, distribution, epidemiology, prevalence, infection, molecular, geographic, intestinal parasites, genetic diversity and characterization. Results In recent years, various molecular epidemiological studies have been carried out in some provinces/regions of China to identify subtypes of Blastocystis. Infants and young children, school students, hospitalized diarrhea patients, HIV/AIDS patients, tuberculosis patients, and cancer patients as respondents had been included. ST1–ST7 and ST12 were the main subtypes in Chinese population. Moreover, surveys of Blastocystis infection in animal were also conducted in some provinces of China. A variety of animals were investigated including pigs, cattle, sheep, yak, giant panda, and crested ibis (Nipponia nippon) with the main subtypes of ST1–ST8, ST10, ST12–ST14. Conclusions In recent years, some provinces/regions in China have conducted various molecular epidemiological studies to identify the Blastocystis subtypes. It is important to focus on new subtypes and mixed subtypes of infection, while increasing data on ribosomal alleles. We encourage the scientific community to start research on humans and surrounding animals (including domestic and wild animals) to better understand the possibility of Blastocystis transmission between humans and animals. We call for action among researchers studying intestinal parasitic diseases (Blastocystis), start drawing the subtype of Blastocystis and increase the subtype related to its clinical symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Qun Ning
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Parasitology and Vector Biology, MOH of China, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research On Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, 20025, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhu-Hua Hu
- Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, 330038, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Hu Chen
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Parasitology and Vector Biology, MOH of China, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research On Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, 20025, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Ai
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Parasitology and Vector Biology, MOH of China, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research On Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, 20025, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Guang Tian
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory for Parasitology and Vector Biology, MOH of China, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research On Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, 20025, People's Republic of China.
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109
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Maleev VV, Tokmalaev AK, Kozhevnikova GM, Tsvetkova NA, Polovinkina NA, Golub VP, Maksimova MS, Barysheva IV, Konnov VV, Kharlamova TV. [Current view on Blastocystis species: clinical forms, diagnosis and treatment]. TERAPEVT ARKH 2020; 92:86-90. [PMID: 33720611 DOI: 10.26442/00403660.2020.11.000816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The symptomatic form of Blastocystis spp. infection not only with mild diarrhea or dysentery-like syndrome, but also with the development of severe ulcerative necrotic lesions of the intestine. Meanwhile, the pathogenicity of these microorganisms should not be exaggerated, due to majority asymptomatic cases or infection transmission with minor impaired bowel function.
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Affiliation(s)
- V V Maleev
- Central Research Institute of Epidemiology
| | | | | | | | | | - V P Golub
- People's Friendship University of Russia
| | - M S Maksimova
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
| | | | - V V Konnov
- People's Friendship University of Russia
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110
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Aykur M, Karakavuk E, Karakavuk M, Akıl M, Can H, Döşkaya M, Gürüz Y, Dağcı H. Inhibitory effect of Tunceli garlic (Allium tuncelianum) on blastocystis subtype 3 grown in vitro. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2020.1857725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Aykur
- Department of Parasitology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey
- Department of Parasitology, Gaziosmanpaşa University Faculty of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey
| | - Emrah Karakavuk
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Munzur University Faculty of Health Sciences, Tunceli, Turkey
| | - Muhammet Karakavuk
- Department of Parasitology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Mesut Akıl
- Department of Parasitology, Medeniyet University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Hüseyin Can
- Department of Biology, Molecular Biology Section, Ege University Faculty of Science, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Mert Döşkaya
- Department of Parasitology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Yüksel Gürüz
- Department of Parasitology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Hande Dağcı
- Department of Parasitology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey
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111
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Angelici MC, Walochnik J, Calderaro A, Saxinger L, Dacks JB. Free-living amoebae and other neglected protistan pathogens: Health emergency signals? Eur J Protistol 2020; 77:125760. [PMID: 33340850 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2020.125760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Protistan parasites have an undisputed global health impact. However, outside of a few key exceptions, e.g. the agent of malaria, most of these infectious agents are neglected as important health threats. The Symposium entitled "Free-living amoebae and neglected pathogenic protozoa: health emergency signals?" held at the European Congress of Protistology in Rome, July 2019, brought together researchers addressing scientific and clinical questions about some of these fascinating organisms. Topics presented included the molecular basis of pathogenicity in Acanthamoeba; genomics of Naegleria fowleri; and epidemiology of poorly diagnosed enteric protistan species, including Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Blastocystis, Dientamoeba. The Symposium aim was to excite the audience about the opportunities and challenges of research in these underexplored organisms and to underline the public health implications of currently under-appreciated protistan infections. The major take home message is that any knowledge that we gain about these organisms will allow us to better address them, in terms of monitoring and treatment, as sources of future health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Adriana Calderaro
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Lynora Saxinger
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada
| | - Joel B Dacks
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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112
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Ascuña-Durand K, Salazar-Sánchez RS, Castillo-Neyra R, Ballón-Echegaray J. Relative Frequency of Blastocystis Subtypes 1, 2, and 3 in Urban and Periurban Human Populations of Arequipa, Peru. Trop Med Infect Dis 2020; 5:178. [PMID: 33261137 PMCID: PMC7709661 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed5040178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis is one of the most common protozoa found in the human gut and are genetically diverse and widely distributed around the world. Nonspecific and inconsistent symptoms have been associated with this protozoon; thus, its clinical importance remains controversial. Our aim was to estimate the relative frequency of Blastocystis subtypes 1, 2, and 3, which are the predominant subtypes reported in South America, based on conserved regions of SSU rDNA sequences and determine the factors associated with them. A total of 116 Blastocystis-positive stool samples were processed using conventional PCR with Blastocystis-specific primers. We identified subtype 1 (10.3%), subtype 2 (7.8%), subtype 3 (25.0%), and mixed subtype infections (8.7%). However, we could not identify any Blastocystis subtypes in 48.3% of the samples; therefore, it is likely that other subtypes were present in the area. No association was found between any gastrointestinal symptom and single or mixed Blastocystis subtypes. We found a statistically significant association between Blastocystis subtype 2 and irritable bowel syndrome (OR = 17.8, 95% CI = 1.5-408.4, p = 0.039); however, the number of samples with IBS was small (n= 4). There was no association between the Blastocystis subtypes and any epidemiological variable studied. In rural populations, we only identified subtype 1, while in urban and periurban populations, we identified subtypes 1, 2, and 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasandra Ascuña-Durand
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín, 04001 Arequipa, Peru;
| | - Renzo S. Salazar-Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín, 04001 Arequipa, Peru;
- Zoonotic Disease Research Laboratory, One Health Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, 4314 Lima, Peru;
| | - Ricardo Castillo-Neyra
- Zoonotic Disease Research Laboratory, One Health Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, 4314 Lima, Peru;
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jorge Ballón-Echegaray
- Zoonotic Disease Research Laboratory, One Health Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, 4314 Lima, Peru;
- Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín, Santa Catalina 117, 04001 Arequipa, Peru
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113
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Khorshidvand Z, Khazaei S, Amiri M, Taherkhani H, Mirzaei A. Worldwide prevalence of emerging parasite Blastocystis in immunocompromised patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Microb Pathog 2020; 152:104615. [PMID: 33246090 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blastocystis is one of the most common pathogens of the human intestine, caused by an emerging parasite, which can lead to severe symptoms and even death in immunocompromised patients. We aimed to determine the global prevalence of Blastocystosis infection in people with immunodeficiency. A systematic literature search was conducted on Web of Science, Scopus, Google scholar, Science Direct and MEDLINE databases to select all observational studies reporting the prevalence of Blastocystosis infection in Worldwide, based on different diagnostic methods in immunocompromised patients of any age and published from inception to February 2019. Pooled estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using random effects models and in addition, the I2 statistic was calculated. The geographic distribution of studies was evaluated and the diagnosis of Blastocystis was compared by various techniques. Electronic databases were reviewed for Blastocystosis infection in HIV/AIDS, cancer and other immunocompromised patients, and meta-analyses were conducted to calculate the overall estimated prevalence. Total68 eligible studies were included. The estimated pooled prevalence rate of Blastocystosis infection in immunocompromised patients was overall 10% (95% CI, 7-13%; I2 96.04%) (P < 0.001), of whom 21% [18-25] were in Australia, 12% [4-24] in America, 11% [6-17] in Europe and 10% [5-15], 7% [3-13] in Asia and Africa, respectively. It was calculated that the estimated pooled prevalence rate of Blastocystosis infection in immunocompromised patients was overall 10% and the prevalence estimates ranged from 0.44 to 72.39. Also, overall the prevalence of parasites co-infection in immunocompromised patients was detected as 0.024%. Our finding showed that immunocompromised people show a high prevalence of Blastocystosis infection compared to the control population. Adequate information on the prevalence rate is still missing from many countries. However, current information underscore that Blastocystis should not be neglected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Khorshidvand
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Salman Khazaei
- Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - MohamadReza Amiri
- Department of medical Library and Information Science, Faculty of Paramedicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Heshmatollah Taherkhani
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Asad Mirzaei
- Department of Parasitology, School of Allied Medical Science, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran; Zoonotic Diseases ResearchCenter, Ilam University of Medical sciences, Ilam, Iran.
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Jerez Puebla LE, Núñez-Fernández FA, Fraga Nodarse J, Atencio Millán I, Cruz Rodríguez I, Martínez Silva I, Ayllón Valdés L, Robertson LJ. Diagnosis of intestinal protozoan infections in patients in Cuba by microscopy and molecular methods: advantages and disadvantages. J Microbiol Methods 2020; 179:106102. [PMID: 33188802 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2020.106102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Microscopy is the gold standard for diagnosis of intestinal parasitic diseases in many countries, including Cuba, although molecular approaches often have higher sensitivity as well as other advantages. Fecal samples from 133 patients were analyzed by light microscopy and also real-time multiplex qPCR targeting Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., and Entamoeba histolytica, and, separately, Dientamoeba fragilis. Microscopy revealed G. duodenalis occurred most commonly (17 patients), followed by Blastocystis spp. (12 patients). In a few patients, Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar, Cryptosporidium spp., and Cyclospora cayetanensis were identified. Molecular analysis identified 4 more G. duodenalis infections and 2 more Cryptosporidium spp. infections; concordance between microscopy and PCR showed almost perfect agreement for G. duodenalis (κ = 0.88) and substantial agreement for Cryptosporidium (κ = 0.74). PCR indicated that E. dispar, rather than E. histolytica, had been identified by microscopy. Additionally, 16 D. fragilis infections were detected using molecular methods. Although both microscopy and molecular techniques have a place in parasitology diagnostics, for parasites such as D. fragilis, where microscopy can underestimate occurrence, molecular techniques may be preferable, and also essential for distinguishing between morphologically similar microorganisms such as E. histolytica and E. dispar. Although in resource-constrained countries such as Cuba, microscopy is extremely important as a diagnostic tool for intestinal parasites, inclusion of molecular techniques could be invaluable for selected protozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Enrique Jerez Puebla
- Departament de Parasitología, Instituto "Pedro Kourí", Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6½ e/Autopista Nacional y Carretera Central, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Fidel A Núñez-Fernández
- Departament de Parasitología, Instituto "Pedro Kourí", Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6½ e/Autopista Nacional y Carretera Central, La Habana, Cuba; Latin-American School of Medical Science, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Jorge Fraga Nodarse
- Departament de Parasitología, Instituto "Pedro Kourí", Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6½ e/Autopista Nacional y Carretera Central, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Iraís Atencio Millán
- Departament de Parasitología, Instituto "Pedro Kourí", Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6½ e/Autopista Nacional y Carretera Central, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Iredys Cruz Rodríguez
- Departament de Parasitología, Instituto "Pedro Kourí", Autopista Novia del Mediodía Km 6½ e/Autopista Nacional y Carretera Central, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Isabel Martínez Silva
- Paediatric Hospital "William Soler", Avenida 100 y Perla, Altahabana, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Lucía Ayllón Valdés
- Paediatric Hospital "William Soler", Avenida 100 y Perla, Altahabana, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Lucy J Robertson
- Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
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115
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Castañeda S, Muñoz M, Villamizar X, Hernández PC, Vásquez LR, Tito RY, Ramírez JD. Microbiota characterization in Blastocystis-colonized and Blastocystis-free school-age children from Colombia. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:521. [PMID: 33066814 PMCID: PMC7565366 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04392-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blastocystis is a protist that lives in the intestinal tract of a variety of hosts, including humans. It is still unclear how Blastocystis causes disease, which presents an ongoing challenge for researchers. Despite the controversial findings on the association between Blastocystis and clinical digestive manifestations, there is currently no consensus as to whether this protozoan actually behaves as a pathogen in humans. Furthermore, the relationship between Blastocystis and the intestinal microbiota composition is not yet clear. For that reason, the aim of this study was to identify if colonization by Blastocystis is related to changes in the diversity and relative abundance of bacterial communities, compared with those of Blastocystis-free individuals in a group of Colombian children. METHODS We took stool samples from 57 school-aged children attending a daycare institution in Popayán (Southwest Colombia). Whole DNA was extracted and examined by 16S-rRNA amplicon-based sequencing. Blastocystis was detected by real time PCR and other intestinal parasites were detected by microscopy. We evaluated if Blastocystis was associated with host variables and the diversity and abundance of microbial communities. RESULTS The composition of the intestinal bacterial community was not significantly different between Blastocystis-free and Blastocystis-colonized children. Despite this, we observed a higher microbial richness in the intestines of children colonized by Blastocystis, which could, therefore, be considered a benefit to intestinal health. The phylum Firmicutes was the predominant taxonomic unit in both groups analyzed. In Blastocystis-free individuals, there was a higher proportion of Bacteroidetes; similarly, in children colonized by Blastocystis, there was a higher relative abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria; however, no statistically significant differences were found between the comparison groups. CONCLUSIONS The presence of Blastocystis showed a decrease in Bacteroides, and an increase in the relative abundance of the genus Faecalibacterium. It was also evident that the presence of Blastocystis was unrelated to dysbiosis at the intestinal level; on the contrary, its presence did not show statistically differences in the intestinal microbiota composition. Nevertheless, we believe that Blastocystis plays a role in the ecology of the intestinal microbiota through its interaction with other microbial components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Castañeda
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
- Maestría en Informática Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marina Muñoz
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Ximena Villamizar
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Paula C Hernández
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Vicerrectoría de Investigaciones, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Luis Reinel Vásquez
- Centro de Estudios en Microbiología y Parasitología (CEMPA), Departamento de Medicina Interna, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Cauca, Popayán, Colombia
| | - Raúl Yhossef Tito
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
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Rostami M, Fasihi-Harandi M, Shafiei R, Aspatwar A, Derakhshan FK, Raeghi S. Genetic diversity analysis of Blastocystis subtypes and their distribution among the domestic animals and pigeons in northwest of Iran. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 86:104591. [PMID: 33045364 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystis is a unicellular, anaerobic, eukaryotic protist, a common parasite found in the intestinal tracts of animals and humans. During the last few years, the host fecal DNA analysis by nucleic acid-based method has led to significant advances in Blastocystis diagnostics and enabled subtypes (STs). The zoonotic transmission of Blastocystis to humans is not well understood, therefore the present study was conducted to identify Blastocystis subtypes in Iran from different animal hosts from northwest of Iran. A total of 427 fresh fecal specimens were collected from cattle, sheep, poultry and pigeon (40,150,132,105 respectively). To detect the Blastocystis sp., each fecal specimen was examined microscopically. Total DNA from the samples that were positive for Blastocystis sp. was isolated, and the barcoding region of the small subunit of ribosomal rRNA (18S rRNA) was amplified and sequenced. Subsequently, sequence analyses, genetic diversity indices and evolutionary relationships of Blastocystis subtype populations were carried out. In total, 14.98% of the analyzed samples were positive for Blastocystis sp. and the subtypes detected were ST3,7,10 and 14. Among these, the ST10 was the main subtype that was found only in the cattle, sheep and poultry and the zoonotic subtype ST3 was present only from cattle. Our study shows the presence of Blastocystis subtypes in the sheep in north west of Iran and also demonstrated that the genetic approaches are crucial to understand the host specify of subtypes and the mode of infection. The study suggests that the genetic approaches will help us to understand the host specificity of subtypes and their role in infection if they are obtained from human and animals from the same geographical locations. Therefore, it is important to study the zoonotic aspects of this parasite with large number of samples from different groups of animals and from different geographical locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Rostami
- Student Research committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Majid Fasihi-Harandi
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Reza Shafiei
- Vector-borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Ashok Aspatwar
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
| | | | - Saber Raeghi
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran.
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117
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Lhotská Z, Jirků M, Hložková O, Brožová K, Jirsová D, Stensvold CR, Kolísko M, Jirků Pomajbíková K. A Study on the Prevalence and Subtype Diversity of the Intestinal Protist Blastocystis sp. in a Gut-Healthy Human Population in the Czech Republic. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:544335. [PMID: 33123491 PMCID: PMC7573152 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.544335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a common intestinal protist colonizing the human intestine the prevalence of which varies across non-industrialized and industrialized countries. Its role in the human gut ecosystem remains unclear due to persisting gaps in knowledge of epidemiology and factors affecting gut colonization. Here, we aimed to expand the knowledge of the epidemiology of Blastocystis sp. in the gut-healthy humans in one of the industrialized European countries, including the distribution of its subtypes, the correlation between its occurrence and several factors such as lifestyle, contact with animals, age, and sex. A total of 288 stool samples were obtained from asymptomatic individuals over the entire age-range and 136 samples from animals with which the volunteers were in frequent contact. All samples were examined in parallel by PCR and xenic in vitro culture. Blastocystis sp. was detected in samples from both human and non-human hosts. In humans, the overall prevalence was 24% and eight subtypes were found; in animals, the prevalence was 10%, and only five subtypes were detected. A higher incidence of Blastocystis sp. was observed in individuals (i) traveling outside Europe, (ii) in frequent contact with livestock, and (iii) over 50 years of age. We found no effect on gender on Blastocystis sp. colonization. Summary This study provides data on the prevalence and diversity of the gut protist Blastocystis sp. and its subtypes in a gut-healthy human population with emphasis on several factors such as contact with animals, lifestyle, age, and gender.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Lhotská
- Biology Center, Institute of Parasitology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Milan Jirků
- Biology Center, Institute of Parasitology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Oldřiška Hložková
- Biology Center, Institute of Parasitology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Kristýna Brožová
- Biology Center, Institute of Parasitology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Dagmar Jirsová
- Biology Center, Institute of Parasitology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | | | - Martin Kolísko
- Biology Center, Institute of Parasitology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Kateřina Jirků Pomajbíková
- Biology Center, Institute of Parasitology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
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118
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Ma L, Zhang Y, Qiao H, Li S, Wang H, Zhang N, Zhang X. Cockroach as a Vector of Blastocystis sp. is Risk for Golden Monkeys in Zoo. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2020; 58:583-587. [PMID: 33202512 PMCID: PMC7672233 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2020.58.5.583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a kind of protozoa living in the intestinal tract of human and animals, which will cause intestinal diseases such as diarrhea, abdominal distension and vomiting. This paper was aimed to understand the infection of Blastocystis sp. In golden monkeys and the transmission path in North China. Thirty-seven feces samples from golden monkeys and 116 cockroach samples from Shijiazhuang Zoo were collected from July to October 2019 for PCR analysis of Blastocystis sp. Genetic diversity analysis was further conducted on the samples with positive PCR results. The results showed that the infection rate was 48.7% (18/37) in golden monkeys and 82.8% (96/116) in cockroaches, respectively. The genetic evolution analysis based on small subunit ribosomal RNA demonstrated that three subtypes (ST) of Blastocystis sp. including ST1, ST2, and ST3 existed in the intestinal tract of golden monkeys, while only ST2 was detected in the intestinal tract of cockroaches. This paper may provide supports for the quarantine and control of Blastocystis sp. for the zoo in Northern China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Ma
- College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yongbin Zhang
- Shijiazhuang Municipal Administration Center of Zoo, Shijiazhuang 050200, Hebei Province, China
| | - Haixia Qiao
- College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, Hebei Province, China
| | - Shuai Li
- College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, Hebei Province, China
| | - Heqin Wang
- College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, Hebei Province, China
| | - Ningning Zhang
- College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, Hebei Province, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City 271000, Shandong Province, China
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119
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Hublin JSY, Maloney JG, Santin M. Blastocystis in domesticated and wild mammals and birds. Res Vet Sci 2020; 135:260-282. [PMID: 33046256 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystis is a ubiquitous parasite that infects a broad range of vertebrate hosts including humans and domestic and wild animals. While human infections have been occasionally associated with gastrointestinal illnesses and/or urticaria, animal infections are not usually associated with disease. However, from a public health perspective, most subtypes isolated in humans have also been isolated from animals raising the question of the importance of animal reservoirs in the epidemiology of this parasite. The identification of Blastocystis in water supplies suggests water can be a potential vehicle in the transmission of this parasite not only for humans but also for animals. In addition, Blastocystis has been detected in retail fresh produce. Knowledge of this parasite has greatly expanded in the last two decades from simple microscopic observations to the application of molecular tools to explore Blastocystis taxonomy and epidemiology. This review provides a comprehensive overview of Blastocystis in animals highlighting the subtype diversity of this widespread and genetically diverse parasite in different animal groups. This information will be useful in understanding the current status of taxonomy, epidemiology, zoonotic potential, and public health importance of Blastocystis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine S Y Hublin
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705, United States
| | - Jenny G Maloney
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705, United States
| | - Monica Santin
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705, United States.
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120
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Deng Y, Zhang S, Ning C, Zhou Y, Teng X, Wu X, Chu Y, Yu Y, Chen J, Tian L, Wang W. Molecular Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Blastocystis sp. Infections Among General Populations in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2020; 13:1791-1801. [PMID: 33061712 PMCID: PMC7532910 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s269664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blastocystis is a common enteric parasite of controversial pathogenic roles in human diseases. Although the prevalence of Blastocystis infections has been investigated in a diverse range of populations, there is little knowledge on the molecular epidemiology and risk factors of Blastocystis infections among general populations in southeastern China. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 507 individuals were randomly selected in Yunnan province, China from July 2016 to March 2017. Stool specimens were sampled for detection of Blastocystis sp. using PCR assay, and the risk factors of Blastocystis infections were identified. Blastocystis isolates were subtyped, and the associations of Blastocystis infections and subtypes with clinical manifestations were examined. RESULTS The overall detection rate of Blastocystis sp. was 9.47% (95% CI: 7.13-12.44%). Toilet type (OR = 3.248, 95% CI: 1.245-8.473), anemia (OR = 2.601, 95% CI: 1.245-8.473) and type of daily drinking water (OR = 3.11, 95% CI: 1.557-6.213) were identified as risk factors of Blastocystis infections; however, Blastocystis infections showed no associations with clinical symptoms. Four subtypes (ST1 to ST4) were characterized in Blastocystis isolates, in which ST3 was predominant (4.73%, 95% CI: 3.2-6.94%), followed by ST1 (3.16%, 95% CI: 1.95-5.07%), ST4 (1.38%, 95% CI: 0.07-2.82%) and ST2 (0.2%, 95% CI: 0-1.11%). In addition, ST1 subtype infection was found to correlate with anemia (OR = 4.66, 95% CI: 1.631-14.314). CONCLUSIONS There is a high prevalence of Blastocystis infections among general populations in Yunnan province, southwestern China, and toilet type, anemia and type of daily drinking water are risk factors of Blastocystis infections. ST3 is the dominant subtype of Blastocystis sp. characterized, and ST1 correlates with anemia. Improving hygiene conditions, developing healthy lifestyles and intensifying health education programs are strongly recommended to reduce the prevalence and transmission potential of Blastocystis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Deng
- Key Laboratory of National Health Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi 214064, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Shunxian Zhang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of National Health Commission on Parasites and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Chaoqun Ning
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of National Health Commission on Parasites and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongkang Zhou
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuejiao Teng
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of National Health Commission on Parasites and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuping Wu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of National Health Commission on Parasites and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanhong Chu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of National Health Commission on Parasites and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingfang Yu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of National Health Commission on Parasites and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaxu Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of National Health Commission on Parasites and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Liguang Tian
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of National Health Commission on Parasites and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Key Laboratory of National Health Commission on Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi 214064, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
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Russini V, Di Filippo MM, Fanelli R, Polidori M, Berrilli F, Di Cave D, Novelletto A, Calderini P. Characterization of prevalence and genetic subtypes of Blastocystis sp. in wild and domestic Suidae of central Italy aided by amplicon NGS. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2020; 22:100472. [PMID: 33308752 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Blastocystis spp. is a common single-celled intestinal symbiont, comprising several genetic subtypes (ST) and transmissible by animal-to-animal, human-to-human, animal-to-human and, possibly, human-to-animal routes. This work was designed to explore the presence of Blastocystis in sympatric domestic and wild suids and their ability to carry zoonotic STs, in a condition of widespread opportunity to come in contact with the microorganism through their shared water and food resources, and other carriers. We sampled 42 and 37 stool samples from wild boars and domestic pigs, respectively. STs were first identified by PCR followed by Sanger sequencing. Sequences represented in double-band PCR products or in Sanger chromatograms displaying multiple peaks, were resolved by next generation sequencing (NGS). Twenty-six (61.9%) wild boar and 26 (70.2%) pig samples were PCR-positive, respectively. ST3, ST5 and ST15 were found in 3.8%, 38.4% and 80.8% of the positive wild boars and 11.5%, 88.5%, 11.5% of the positive pigs, respectively. ST1 was found only in pigs (3.8%). STs 5 and 15 were common in both groups of animals, but in reversed proportions, suggesting preferential colonization. We found significantly different ST distributions among wild boars and domestic pigs. This might indicate that lifestyle differences between the two populations influence their risk for contracting certain subtypes, or that ST5 and ST15 can colonize preferentially wild or domestic animals. Based on the STs described here, wild boars and domestic pigs can act as reservoirs with zoonotic potential. The ability of suids to carry zoonotic STs appears to be higher when using NGS than Sanger sequencing, and resolution of complex sequencing profiles is imperative before excluding the presence of STs of human concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Russini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Lazio e Toscana, sezione di Rieti, Italy
| | | | - Rita Fanelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Lazio e Toscana, sezione di Rieti, Italy
| | - Miriam Polidori
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Lazio e Toscana, sezione di Rieti, Italy
| | - Federica Berrilli
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - David Di Cave
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Pietro Calderini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Lazio e Toscana, sezione di Rieti, Italy
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Alzate JF, Toro-Londoño M, Cabarcas F, Garcia-Montoya G, Galvan-Diaz A. Contrasting microbiota profiles observed in children carrying either Blastocystis spp. or the commensal amoebas Entamoeba coli or Endolimax nana. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15354. [PMID: 32948808 PMCID: PMC7501860 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72286-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown how intestinal parasites can modulate gut microbiota. This observation is not surprising since the human intestinal lumen, like any other niche, is a battlefield of microbial competition, and Eukaryotes can affect bacterial populations. Intestinal pathogenic protist has been associated with reshaping the microbial community structure; however, the interactions between the colonic bacterial communities and parasites like Blastocystis spp., Entamoeba coli, and Endolimax nana have been poorly studied. In this work, we studied the distal intestinal bacterial microbiota of 49 children attending 7 public daycare centers in Medellin, Colombia, and compared the bacterial microbiota structure in the presence or absence of the protists Blastocystis spp., E. coli, and E. nana. Parasite colonization was associated with an increase in bacterial richness. Moreover, Blastocystis spp. presented a positive relationship with Prevotella, since this bacterium was selectively enriched in children carrying it. Remarkably, the E. coli colonized children showed a microbial profile that was closer to uninfected controls, although some bacterial taxa displayed to be enriched. This is the case for Akkermansia, which showed to be favored in E. coli colonized individuals, while notably reduced in the Blastocystis spp. parasitized group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan F Alzate
- Departamento de Microbiología Y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
- Facultad de Medicina, Centro Nacional de Secuenciación genómica - CNSG, Sede de Investigación Universitaria - SIU, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
| | - Miguel Toro-Londoño
- Facultad de Medicina, Centro Nacional de Secuenciación genómica - CNSG, Sede de Investigación Universitaria - SIU, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Felipe Cabarcas
- Facultad de Medicina, Centro Nacional de Secuenciación genómica - CNSG, Sede de Investigación Universitaria - SIU, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Grupo Sistemic, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Gisela Garcia-Montoya
- Departamento de Microbiología Y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Ana Galvan-Diaz
- Grupo de Microbiología Ambiental, Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
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Khaled S, Gantois N, Ly AT, Senghor S, Even G, Dautel E, Dejager R, Sawant M, Baydoun M, Benamrouz-Vanneste S, Chabé M, Ndiaye S, Schacht AM, Certad G, Riveau G, Viscogliosi E. Prevalence and Subtype Distribution of Blastocystis sp. in Senegalese School Children. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8091408. [PMID: 32932661 PMCID: PMC7564003 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8091408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is an enteric protozoan that frequently colonizes humans and many animals. Despite impacting on human health, data on the prevalence and subtype (ST) distribution of Blastocystis sp. remain sparse in Africa. Accordingly, we performed the first multicenter and largest epidemiological survey ever conducted on Blastocystis sp. for this continent. A total of 731 stool samples collected from healthy school children living in 10 villages of the northwestern region of Senegal were tested for the presence of Blastocystis sp. by real-time polymerase chain reaction followed by subtyping of positive samples. Considerable variation in prevalence between villages (51.7 to 100%) was evident with the overall prevalence being 80.4%. Mixed infections were identified in 23% of positive individuals. Among 453 school children with a single infection, ST2 was predominant, followed by ST1, ST3, ST7, ST10, and ST14; this is the first report of ST10 and ST14 in humans. Genetic polymorphisms were evident at the intra-ST level with the identification of numerous ST1 to ST3 genotypes. ST1 showed the greatest intra-ST diversity followed by ST2 and ST3. The prevalence and distribution of STs and genotypes varied among target villages, pointing to several potential infection sources, including human-to-human, zoonotic, and waterborne transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma Khaled
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (S.K.); (N.G.); (E.D.); (R.D.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (S.B.-V.); (M.C.); (A.-M.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Nausicaa Gantois
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (S.K.); (N.G.); (E.D.); (R.D.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (S.B.-V.); (M.C.); (A.-M.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Amadou Tidjani Ly
- Biomedical Research Center Espoir Pour La Santé (BRC-EPLS), BP 226 Saint-Louis, Senegal; (A.T.L.); (S.S.)
| | - Simon Senghor
- Biomedical Research Center Espoir Pour La Santé (BRC-EPLS), BP 226 Saint-Louis, Senegal; (A.T.L.); (S.S.)
| | - Gaël Even
- Gènes Diffusion, F-59501 Douai, France;
- PEGASE-Biosciences (Plateforme d’Expertises Génomiques Appliquées aux Sciences Expérimentales), Institut Pasteur de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Ellena Dautel
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (S.K.); (N.G.); (E.D.); (R.D.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (S.B.-V.); (M.C.); (A.-M.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Romane Dejager
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (S.K.); (N.G.); (E.D.); (R.D.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (S.B.-V.); (M.C.); (A.-M.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Manasi Sawant
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (S.K.); (N.G.); (E.D.); (R.D.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (S.B.-V.); (M.C.); (A.-M.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Martha Baydoun
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (S.K.); (N.G.); (E.D.); (R.D.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (S.B.-V.); (M.C.); (A.-M.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Sadia Benamrouz-Vanneste
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (S.K.); (N.G.); (E.D.); (R.D.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (S.B.-V.); (M.C.); (A.-M.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biodiversité, Institut Catholique de Lille, Faculté de Gestion Economie et Sciences, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Magali Chabé
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (S.K.); (N.G.); (E.D.); (R.D.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (S.B.-V.); (M.C.); (A.-M.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Seynabou Ndiaye
- Région Médicale de Saint-Louis, MSAS, BP 226 Saint-Louis, Senegal;
| | - Anne-Marie Schacht
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (S.K.); (N.G.); (E.D.); (R.D.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (S.B.-V.); (M.C.); (A.-M.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
- Biomedical Research Center Espoir Pour La Santé (BRC-EPLS), BP 226 Saint-Louis, Senegal; (A.T.L.); (S.S.)
| | - Gabriela Certad
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (S.K.); (N.G.); (E.D.); (R.D.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (S.B.-V.); (M.C.); (A.-M.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
- Délégation à la Recherche Clinique et à l’Innovation, Groupement des Hôpitaux de l’Institut Catholique de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Gilles Riveau
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (S.K.); (N.G.); (E.D.); (R.D.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (S.B.-V.); (M.C.); (A.-M.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
- Biomedical Research Center Espoir Pour La Santé (BRC-EPLS), BP 226 Saint-Louis, Senegal; (A.T.L.); (S.S.)
| | - Eric Viscogliosi
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (S.K.); (N.G.); (E.D.); (R.D.); (M.S.); (M.B.); (S.B.-V.); (M.C.); (A.-M.S.); (G.C.); (G.R.)
- Correspondence:
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Martínez-Ocaña J, Maravilla P, Olivo-Díaz A. Interaction between human mucins and parasite glycoproteins: the role of lectins and glycosidases in colonization by intestinal protozoa. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2020; 62:e64. [PMID: 32901761 PMCID: PMC7477959 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946202062064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 08/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Intestinal mucins are the first line of defense against microorganisms. Although knowledge about the mechanisms involved in the establishment of intestinal protozoa is limited, there is evidence that these parasites produce lectin-like molecules and glycosidases, that exert both, constitutive and secretory functions, promoting the establishment of these microorganisms. In the present review, we analyse the main interactions between mucins of the host intestine and the four main protozoan parasites in humans and their implications in intestinal colonization. There are lectin-like molecules that contain complex oligosaccharide structures and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), mannose and sialic acid as main components, which are excreted/secreted by Giardia intestinalis, and recognized by the host using mannose-binding lectins (MBL). Entamoeba histolytica and Cryptosporidium spp. express the lectin galactose/N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, which facilitates their adhesion to cells. In Cryptosporidium, the glycoproteins gp30, gp40/15 and gp900 and the glycoprotein lectin CpClec are involved in protozoan adhesion to intestinal cells, forming an adhesion-attack complex. G. intestinalis and E. histolytica can also produce glycosidases such as β-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase, α-d-glucosidase, β-d-galactosidase, β-l-fucosidase, α-N-acetyl-d-galactosaminidase and β-mannosidase. In Blastocystis, α-D-mannose, α-D-glucose, GlcNAc, α-D-fucose, chitin and sialic acid that have been identified on their surface. Fucosidases, hexosaminidases and polygalacturonases, which may be involved in the mucin degradation process, have also been described in the Blastocystis secretoma. Similarly, symbiotic coexistence with the intestinal microbiota promotes the survival of parasites facilitating cell invasion and nutrients obtention. Furthermore, it is necessary to identify and characterize more glycosidases, which have been only partially described by in silico analyses of the parasite genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Martínez-Ocaña
- Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González", Departamento de Ecología de Agentes Patógenos, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Pablo Maravilla
- Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González", Subdirección de Investigación, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Angélica Olivo-Díaz
- Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González", Departamento de Biología Molecular e Histocompatibilidad, Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González", Ciudad de México, Mexico
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Haghighi L, Talebnia SE, Mikaeili F, Asgari Q, Gholizadeh F, Zomorodian K. Prevalence and subtype identification of Blastocystis isolated from human in Shiraz city, southern Iran. CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY AND GLOBAL HEALTH 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cegh.2020.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Delshad A, Saraei M, Alizadeh SA, Niaraki SR, Alipour M, Hosseinbigi B, Bozorgomid A, Hajialilo E. Distribution and molecular analysis of Blastocystis subtypes from gastrointestinal symptomatic and asymptomatic patients in Iran. Afr Health Sci 2020; 20:1179-1189. [PMID: 33402964 PMCID: PMC7751524 DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v20i3.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Blastocystis is a common intestinal parasite of human and animal hosts. The parasite has 17 subtypes, and among those at least nine subtypes (ST1-ST9) are found in human hosts. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of different subtypes of Blastocystis spp. among the patients referred to Velayat hospital of Qazvin province, Iran. METHODS Overall, 864 stool samples were examined by using formalin-ethyl acetate concentration method and Trichrome staining. All specimens were cultured in clotted fetal bovine medium. Later, DNA extraction and PCR amplification of 18S ribosomal RNA gene region was conducted and phylogenetic tree constructed. RESULTS The results revealed 7.9% (68/864) of the study population were infected with Blastocystis. Intestinal symptoms were observed in 61% (36/59) of individuals positive for Blastocystis, with abdominal pain in 58% (21/36) of cases which was more frequent than other intestinal signs. No significant relationship was observed among the study variables. By molecular and phylogenetic analysis, three subtypes ST1 (45%), ST2 (30%) and ST3 (23%) of parasite were identified. CONCLUSION This study showed ST1 subtype was the predominant subtype among the positive specimens, meanwhile the highest haplotype and nucleotide diversity were clarified in ST3 subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Delshad
- Student Research Committee, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Mehrzad Saraei
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non- Communicable Disease, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Safar Ali Alizadeh
- Medical Microbiology Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
- Department of Microbiology, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | | | - Mahmood Alipour
- Department of Social Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Bahram Hosseinbigi
- Medical Microbiology Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Arezoo Bozorgomid
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Elham Hajialilo
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non- Communicable Disease, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
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Rudzińska M, Kowalewska B, Szostakowska B, Grzybek M, Sikorska K, Świątalska A. First Report on the Occurrence and Subtypes of Blastocystis in Pigs in Poland Using Sequence-Tagged-Site PCR and Barcode Region Sequencing. Pathogens 2020; 9:E595. [PMID: 32708299 PMCID: PMC7400023 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9070595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis is an enteric microorganism commonly found in humans and animals worldwide. Its pathogenic role in humans and transmission patterns has not been fully explained. However, nine subtypes (ST1-8, ST12) are considered as potentially zoonotic. Studies from various regions of the world show that pigs are mainly infected with ST5. Although pigs are important farmed animals in Poland, the question of Blastocystis infection in these animals has not yet been investigated. Herein, 149 pig stool samples from 10 Polish pig farms were analyzed using sequence-tagged-site PCR and barcode region sequencing. The percentage of samples in which Blastocystis was identified using each method separately was similar: 38.25% and 37.58%, respectively. However, the percentage of positive results obtained by combining both methods was 46.97%, which means that, depending on the method used, the number of undetected samples varied between 8.72% and 9.39%. This shows the methodological limitations of up-to-date molecular approaches commonly used in Blastocystis research. A moderate infection rate (44.4-50%) observed in different pig age groups with a vital predominance of ST5 (94.28%) in every age group shows that pigs are a likely natural host of ST5. A small percentage of mixed infections, namely ST5/ST1 (5.26%), ST5/ST3 (1.75%), and ST3/ST1 (1.75%), was observed only in animals of older age, suggesting that ST3 and ST1 can be acquired by pigs during contact with humans. This study provides the first data on the prevalence and Blastocystis subtypes (STs) distribution in pigs in Poland. The results also highlight the need for the development of new methods capable of detecting highly genetically diverse Blastocystis isolates and mixed infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Rudzińska
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Epidemiology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland; (B.K.); (K.S.)
| | - Beata Kowalewska
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Epidemiology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland; (B.K.); (K.S.)
| | - Beata Szostakowska
- Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland; (B.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Maciej Grzybek
- Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland; (B.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Katarzyna Sikorska
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Epidemiology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland; (B.K.); (K.S.)
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Zhu W, Wei Z, Li Q, Lin Y, Yang H, Li W. Prevalence and subtype diversity of Blastocystis in human and nonhuman primates in North China. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2719-2725. [PMID: 32524268 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06761-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystis is of public health concern due to its global distribution in diverse animals including humans. Here, fecal specimens sampled from human and nonhuman primates were examined for Blastocystis by PCR and sequence analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. Among age cohorts, the parasite was positive only for three of 126 (2.4%) adults admitted to a hospital in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, with a less common human subtype (ST), ST5, determined. Blastocystis was identified in 7.0% of nonhuman primates (NHPs), giving an infection rate of 6.8% (4/59) to zoo NHPs in Harbin and 7.1% (9/126) to lab NHPs in Beijing. No significant prevalence differences by macaque species, age, gender, and sample source were observed. Among the subtypes found in NHPs, seven belonged to ST1, three to ST2, one to ST3, and the remaining two to mixed ST1/ST3 and ST2/ST3. Although the data here showed no direct evidence linking human infections to Blastocystis of NHP origin, individuals might acquire colonization of ST5 from livestock sources judged by occurrence of this subtype also in cattle in Harbin and pigs and sheep in unspecified cities of Heilongjiang as noted in previous reports. In addition, given the nonrigid (but sometimes, perhaps cryptic) host specificity of ST1, ST2, and ST3 and their dominant role in human affections globally as discussed in a previous NHP report by Alfellani et al. (Parasitology 140:966-971, 2013a), precautions should be taken to minimize the possible transmission of those subtypes from NHPs to humans in North China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weining Zhu
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Ziyan Wei
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Qiao Li
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yongchao Lin
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Hang Yang
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Wei Li
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, 600 Changjiang Road, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, China.
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Ma L, Qiao H, Wang H, Li S, Zhai P, Huang J, Guo Y. Molecular prevalence and subtypes of Blastocystis sp. in primates in northern China. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 67:2789-2796. [PMID: 32445593 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a common enteric protist that colonizes humans and a wide range of animals. Although some studies have reported incidences of Blastocystis sp. in humans and animals in China, there are limited data available concerning the prevalence among people and non-human primates. The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence, subtype distribution and genetic characteristics of Blastocystis sp. in primates, and to investigate the potential for zoonotic transmission between human and non-human primates. A total of 185 faecal samples from non-human primates and 1,118 samples from human volunteers were collected in Hebei province. The overall prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in non-human primates was 32.97% (61/185) based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the barcode region of the SSU rRNA gene. Rates of prevalence were highest among Cercopithecus neglectus (100%, 5/5) and were absent in Cebus apella and Colobus guereza. The prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in humans was 34.88% (390/1,118), and the highest rates were 41.24% in children three years of age. There was a higher detection rate in humans with diarrhoea (53.68%). Five potentially zoonotic subtypes (ST1, ST2, ST3, ST5 and ST9) were identified; among these, ST1 and ST2 were more prevalent than others in non-human primates. Similarly, two subtypes (ST2 and ST5) were detected in humans and ST2 was also the most prevalent. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the prevalence and subtype composition of Blastocystis sp. in Hebei province, and the first study concerning the relationship of Blastocystis sp. among primates in China. The findings of the study will improve our understanding of the genetic diversity and public health potential of Blastocystis sp. enteric infections in addition to providing a profile of subtype characteristics of Blastocystis sp. in primates of northern China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Ma
- College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Haixiav Qiao
- College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Heqin Wang
- College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Shuai Li
- College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Pupu Zhai
- College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Hebei Children's Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yinghui Guo
- Hebei Children's Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
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Bahrami F, Babaei E, Badirzadeh A, Riabi TR, Abdoli A. Blastocystis, urticaria, and skin disorders: review of the current evidences. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 39:1027-1042. [PMID: 31873864 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-019-03793-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystis is one of the most common intestinal protozoan parasites worldwide, which is linked to cutaneous lesions and urticaria. In a setting of systematic review, the data on the association of Blastocystis infection with cutaneous lesions were searched in order to summarize the main clinical symptoms, diagnostic methods, treatment, and outcome of the patients. The search identified 28 eligible articles, including 12 cross-sectional studies and 16 case reports/case series (including 23 cases). A diverse spectrum of skin symptoms, mainly urticaria, rash, and itching, was reported from the studies. Of the 23 infected cases with the skin symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms were reported from the 16 cases, whereas 7 cases with urticaria had asymptomatic infection. The most frequent subtypes were ST1, ST2, and ST3, respectively. Metronidazole, paromomycin, and tinidazole were the most prescribed drugs in patients with single Blastocystis infection. Notably, urticaria and other cutaneous symptoms of all treated patients were resolved after treatment. In conclusion, this study indicates that Blastocystis infection can be a neglected cause of urticaria and skin disorders. Since the treatment of Blastocystis infection is simple, screening and treatment of this infection should be considered in patients with urticaria and other skin disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fares Bahrami
- Zoonoses Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Erfan Babaei
- Department of Immunology & Hematology, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Alireza Badirzadeh
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tahereh Rezaei Riabi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Abdoli
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran.
- Zoonoses Research Center, School of Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, 74148-46199, Ostad Motahari Ave, Jahrom, Iran.
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Molecular identification and subtypes distribution of Blastocystis sp. isolated from children and adolescent with cancer in Iran: evaluation of possible risk factors and clinical features. Acta Parasitol 2020; 65:462-473. [PMID: 32124201 DOI: 10.2478/s11686-020-00186-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to determine the molecular characterization and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. isolated from cancer children and adolescents in Shiraz, Fars province, southwestern Iran. METHODS Overall, 200 fecal samples obtained from cancer children and adolescents under 18 years old (107 males and 93 females) and checked by microscopy, culture, and molecular methods (PCR). Possible etiological factors and clinical characteristics of Blastocystis infection were also evaluated and compared between Blastocystis infected and non-infected patients. RESULTS Thirteen of 200 (6.5%) stool samples were positive for Blastocystis by microscopy. While 21 of 200 (10.5%) were positive by culture, and 24 of 200 (12%) were positive by PCR. Out of 24 positive samples tested by PCR and sequencing, ST3 was reported as the most common subtype (nine samples, 37.5%), followed by ST2 (eight samples, 33.3%), ST1 (five samples, 20.9%), and ST7 (two samples, 8.3%). The prevalence of Blastocystis infection in males was significantly higher than females (p = 0.024). Also, Blastocystis was more prevalent in patients who had received at least eight chemotherapy cycles than fewer (p = 0.002). However, no associations were found between Blastocystis-positive rate and age, residence, type of cancers, or contact with animals. Also, there was no significant difference between frequency of Blastocystis subtypes in symptomatic and asymptomatic cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS Various controlled epidemiologic and topographic studies need to confirm or reject these possible associations with Blastocystis infection. The data from this study are an invaluable addition to the growing body of research studies on Blastocystis infection in cancer patients.
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Mirjalali H, Latifi A, Taghipour A, Yadegar A, Hatami B, Sadeghi A, Ehsani MJ, Zali MR. Association between Blastocystis and body mass index in healthy subjects; a theoretical pilot study. J Diabetes Metab Disord 2020; 19:129-134. [PMID: 32550162 PMCID: PMC7270364 DOI: 10.1007/s40200-019-00483-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blastocystis is a prevalent protozoan of the gut lumen with worldwide distribution. Recent studies showed that this microorganism may alter both richness and diversity of the gut microbiota. In the current study we assessed the dietary intakes in two Blastocystis-positive and Blastocystis-negative groups to evaluate the impact of this protozoan on the body mass index (BMI) and the dietary intakes. METHODS In total, ninety-three participants consisted of 17 and 76 Blastocystis-positive and Blastocystis-negative subjects, respectively, were included in this study. Positive cases of Blastocystis had been confirmed by microscopy and culture medium. Moreover, a standard FFQ was filled out for all participants and independent t-test was employed to evaluate the correlation between Blastocystis and the dietary intakes. RESULTS From participants, 21/93 (22.58%) and 72/93 (77.42%) were male and female, respectively. The mean age ± SD among Blastocystis-positive and Blastocystis-negative individuals was 39.41 ± 14.60 years and 37.37 ± 13.16 years, respectively. Furthermore, Blastocystis-positive participants had lower weight (67.84 ± 12.29 kg) in comparison to Blastocystis-negative individuals (69.80 ± 14.99 kg). Indeed, BMI of Blastocystis-positive subjects was 25.46 ± 4.66 and lower than Blastocystis-negative subjects 25.89 ± 5.01; (P value = 0.745). CONCLUSIONS Our findings showed that BMI in Blastocystis-positive subjects was lower than Blastocystis-negative persons. Blastocystis probably affects the dietary intakes and energy metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Mirjalali
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Asal Latifi
- Faculty of Nutrition Sciences & Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Taghipour
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Yadegar
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behzad Hatami
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Sadeghi
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Javad Ehsani
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Zali
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Development and Evaluation of Modified Cryopreservation for Long-Term Storage of Blastocystis Subtypes 1-3 and 6. Acta Parasitol 2020; 65:535-540. [PMID: 31919797 DOI: 10.2478/s11686-019-00157-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blastocystis is a protozoan parasite living in the intestine of humans and a wide range of animals. Although Blastocystis grows in several cultivation media, axenification and serial cultivations for long time are the main challenges of the researchers. Therefore, the long-term storage of subtypes/strains of Blastocystis using cryopreservation provides a suitable source of this parasite for the physiological, biochemical, and biological studies. METHODS In the current study, seven xenic isolates including two separated isolates from ST1-3 and one isolate from ST6 were cryopreserved using a standard method with minor modifications. After 3 months, all isolates were recovered and cultivated in DMEM medium. RESULTS The findings of the method showed all seven isolates were successfully recovered in DMEM medium. In addition, all isolates remained viable after several sub-cultures. CONCLUSIONS It seems that cryopreservation is a simple method that can provide a suitable condition for the long-term storage of Blastocystis.
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Li J, Yuan Y, Jiang Y, Wang W, Chao L, Sun R, Li J, Karim MR, Qi M. Molecular identification and subtyping of Blastocystis sp. in laboratory rats in China. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 27:35. [PMID: 32410727 PMCID: PMC7227369 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2020035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a ubiquitous protist that has been frequently reported in humans and animals worldwide. A total of 355 fecal samples of experimental rats were collected from four laboratory rearing facilities in China, and Blastocystis sp. was detected by PCR amplification of the partial small subunit ribosomal (SSU) rRNA gene. Twenty-nine (8.2%, 29/355) samples were positive for Blastocystis sp., with the highest infection rate (20.7%, 24/116) in rats of the Zhengzhou1, followed by that in the Zhengzhou2 (5.0%, 2/40), Shenyang (3.0%, 3/100) and Wuhan (0) rearing facilities. Among the three rat strains, Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats had higher infection rates (11.3%, 17/151) compared to Wistar rats (8.7%, 9/104) and spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats (3.0%, 3/100). Two Blastocystis sp. subtypes (ST4 and ST7) were identified. ST4 was the predominant subtype detected in 26 samples (89.7%). A phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the sequences of ST4 and ST7 obtained in this study were clustered with their reference subtypes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Blastocystis sp. in experimental rats in China. Pathogen infections in laboratory animals need to be monitored due to fecal-oral transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqiang Li
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, 450046 Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Yueyue Yuan
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, 450046 Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Yuxi Jiang
- College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, 843300 Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Wen Wang
- College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, 843300 Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Liqin Chao
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, 450046 Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Ruiqin Sun
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, 450046 Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Jun Li
- Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, 450046 Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Md Robiul Karim
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, 1706 Gazipur, Bangladesh
| | - Meng Qi
- College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, 843300 Xinjiang, PR China
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135
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Maloney JG, Molokin A, da Cunha MJR, Cury MC, Santin M. Blastocystis subtype distribution in domestic and captive wild bird species from Brazil using next generation amplicon sequencing. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2020; 9:e00138. [PMID: 32021915 PMCID: PMC6995250 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2020.e00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis is a food and water borne intestinal parasite commonly identified in humans and many other animals worldwide. Of the nine potentially zoonotic subtypes of Blastocystis, seven have been reported in bird species. However molecular studies of Blastocystis subtype diversity in birds are limited. In this study, fecal samples from 109 domestic and captive wild birds from Minas Gerais, Brazil were tested for the presence of Blastocystis subtypes using PCR and next generation amplicon sequencing of a fragment of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. Birds from 11 orders and 38 species from both local markets and bird conservation facilities were sampled. Blastocystis was present in 14.7% of samples, and eight subtypes, six previously reported (ST5, ST6, ST7, ST10, ST14, ST24) and two novel subtypes (named ST27 and ST28), were identified. The most commonly identified subtypes were ST7 and ST6 identified in 10 (62.5%) and 6 (37.5%) of 16 Blastocystis positive samples. At least one of the three zoonotic subtypes identified (ST5, ST6, and ST7) was found in 81.3% of Blastocystis positive samples. Infection with multiple Blastocystis subtypes was common and identified in 62.5% of positive samples. This study is the first to use next generation amplicon sequencing to characterize Blastocystis subtype diversity in birds. The findings presented here confirm that birds may serve as reservoirs of zoonotic subtypes of Blastocystis and that the role of birds in transmission of Blastocystis to humans requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny G. Maloney
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Aleksey Molokin
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Maria Júlia Rodrigues da Cunha
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA
- Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Laboratório de Parasitologia, Av. Pará, 1720, Campus Umuarama, 38400-902 Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Caixa Postal 250, 70040-020 Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Márcia Cristina Cury
- Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Laboratório de Parasitologia, Av. Pará, 1720, Campus Umuarama, 38400-902 Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Monica Santin
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA
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Khosravi M, Mirsamadi ES, Mirjalali H, Zali MR. Isolation and Functions of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Parasites: The Promise of a New Era in Immunotherapy, Vaccination, and Diagnosis. Int J Nanomedicine 2020; 15:2957-2969. [PMID: 32425527 PMCID: PMC7196212 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s250993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental and epidemiological evidence shows that parasites, particularly helminths, play a central role in balancing the host immunity. It was demonstrated that parasites can modulate immune responses via their excretory/secretory (ES) and some specific proteins. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-scale particles that are released from eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. EVs in parasitological studies have been mostly employed for immunotherapy of autoimmune diseases, vaccination, and diagnosis. EVs can carry virulence factors and play a central role in the development of parasites in host cells. These molecules can manipulate the immune responses through transcriptional changes. Moreover, EVs derived from helminths modulate the immune system via provoking anti-inflammatory cytokines. On the other hand, EVs from parasite protozoa can induce efficient immunity, that makes them useful for probable next-generation vaccines. In addition, it seems that EVs from parasites may provide new diagnostic approaches for parasitic infections. In the current study, we reviewed isolation methods, functions, and applications of parasite's EVs in immunotherapy, vaccination, and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojdeh Khosravi
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Elnaz Sadat Mirsamadi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirjalali
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Zali
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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137
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Gantois N, Lamot A, Seesao Y, Creusy C, Li LL, Monchy S, Benamrouz-Vanneste S, Karpouzopoulos J, Bourgain JL, Rault C, Demaret F, Baydoun M, Chabé M, Fréalle E, Aliouat-Denis CM, Gay M, Certad G, Viscogliosi E. First Report on the Prevalence and Subtype Distribution of Blastocystis sp. in Edible Marine Fish and Marine Mammals: A Large Scale-Study Conducted in Atlantic Northeast and on the Coasts of Northern France. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8030460. [PMID: 32213897 PMCID: PMC7144014 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8030460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis is frequently identified in humans and animal hosts and exhibits a large genetic diversity with the identification of 17 subtypes (STs). Despite its zoonotic potential, its prevalence and ST distribution in edible marine fish and marine mammals remain unknown. A large-scale survey was thus conducted by screening 345 fish caught in Atlantic Northeast and 29 marine mammals stranded on the coasts of northern France for the presence of the parasite using real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction PCR. The prevalence of the parasite was about 3.5% in marine fish. These animals were mostly colonized by poikilotherm-derived isolates not identified in humans and corresponding to potential new STs, indicating that fish are natural hosts of Blastocystis. Marine fishes are also carriers of human STs and represent a likely limited source of zoonotic transmission. 13.8% of the marine mammals tested were colonized and 6 different STs were identified including 3 potential new STs. The risk of zoonotic transmission through marine mammals is insignificant due to the lack of repeated contact with humans. The present survey represents the first data regarding the prevalence and ST distribution of Blastocystis in marine fish and marine mammals and provides new insights into its genetic diversity, host range and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nausicaa Gantois
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (N.G.); (A.L.); (S.B.-V.); (M.B.); (M.C.); (E.F.); (C.-M.A.-D.); (G.C.)
| | - Angélique Lamot
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (N.G.); (A.L.); (S.B.-V.); (M.B.); (M.C.); (E.F.); (C.-M.A.-D.); (G.C.)
| | - Yuwalee Seesao
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (Anses), Laboratory for Food Safety, F-62200 Boulogne-sur-mer, France; (Y.S.); (L.-L.L.); (M.G.)
| | - Colette Creusy
- Service d’Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologiques, Groupement des Hôpitaux de l’Institut Catholique de Lille (GHICL), F-59000 Lille, France;
| | - Luen-Luen Li
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (Anses), Laboratory for Food Safety, F-62200 Boulogne-sur-mer, France; (Y.S.); (L.-L.L.); (M.G.)
- Univ. Littoral Côte d’Opale, CNRS, Univ. Lille, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences, F-62930 Wimereux, France;
| | - Sébastien Monchy
- Univ. Littoral Côte d’Opale, CNRS, Univ. Lille, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences, F-62930 Wimereux, France;
| | - Sadia Benamrouz-Vanneste
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (N.G.); (A.L.); (S.B.-V.); (M.B.); (M.C.); (E.F.); (C.-M.A.-D.); (G.C.)
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biodiversité, Faculté de Gestion Economie et Sciences, Institut Catholique de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Jacky Karpouzopoulos
- Coordination Mammalogique du Nord de la France, Groupe Mammifères Marins, F-62850 Alembon, France; (J.K.); (J.-L.B.); (C.R.)
| | - Jean-Luc Bourgain
- Coordination Mammalogique du Nord de la France, Groupe Mammifères Marins, F-62850 Alembon, France; (J.K.); (J.-L.B.); (C.R.)
| | - Célia Rault
- Coordination Mammalogique du Nord de la France, Groupe Mammifères Marins, F-62850 Alembon, France; (J.K.); (J.-L.B.); (C.R.)
| | - Fabien Demaret
- Observatoire PELAGIS - UMS 3462, La Rochelle Université/CNRS, F-17000 La Rochelle, France;
| | - Martha Baydoun
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (N.G.); (A.L.); (S.B.-V.); (M.B.); (M.C.); (E.F.); (C.-M.A.-D.); (G.C.)
| | - Magali Chabé
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (N.G.); (A.L.); (S.B.-V.); (M.B.); (M.C.); (E.F.); (C.-M.A.-D.); (G.C.)
| | - Emilie Fréalle
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (N.G.); (A.L.); (S.B.-V.); (M.B.); (M.C.); (E.F.); (C.-M.A.-D.); (G.C.)
| | - Cécile-Marie Aliouat-Denis
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (N.G.); (A.L.); (S.B.-V.); (M.B.); (M.C.); (E.F.); (C.-M.A.-D.); (G.C.)
| | - Mélanie Gay
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (Anses), Laboratory for Food Safety, F-62200 Boulogne-sur-mer, France; (Y.S.); (L.-L.L.); (M.G.)
| | - Gabriela Certad
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (N.G.); (A.L.); (S.B.-V.); (M.B.); (M.C.); (E.F.); (C.-M.A.-D.); (G.C.)
- Délégation à la Recherche Clinique et à l’Innovation, Groupement des Hôpitaux de l’Institut Catholique de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Eric Viscogliosi
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 – UMR 9017 – CIIL – Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France; (N.G.); (A.L.); (S.B.-V.); (M.B.); (M.C.); (E.F.); (C.-M.A.-D.); (G.C.)
- Correspondence:
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Li TS, Zou Y, Ma YT, Ma YY, Chen H, Liang XX, Cong W, Sun XL, Zhu XQ. Molecular characterization of Eimeria spp. and Blastocystis in rabbits in Shandong Province, China. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:1547-1551. [PMID: 32198626 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06652-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Eimeria spp. and Blastocystis are the common parasites that parasitize the intestinal tract of rabbits, which can seriously threaten the health of rabbits and lead to economic losses to the rabbit industry. However, information about the prevalence and transmission of these two parasites in rabbits is limited in China. The objective of this study was to survey the prevalence of Eimeria spp. and Blastocystis in rabbits in Shandong Province. A total of 616 rabbit fecal samples were collected from two cities (Rizhao and Weihai) in Shandong Province, eastern China, and Eimeria spp. and Blastocystis were identified by polymerase chain reaction based on species-specific markers. The prevalence of Eimeria spp. was 20% (123/616) and the Blastocystis prevalence was 0.97% (6/616). Five different Eimeria species (Eimeria intestinalis, E. perforans, E. magna, E. media, and E. irresidua) and the ST4 subtype of Blastocystis were identified in rabbits by sequence analysis. This is the first report of Blastocystis prevalence and subtype ST4 in rabbits in Shandong Province. The findings provide baseline data for the prevention and control of Eimeria spp. and Blastocystis in rabbits in Shandong Province, China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao-Shan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China.,Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Pharmaceutical Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye-Ting Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xia-Xia Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Cong
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, 250100, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Lin Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China.
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Higuera A, Villamizar X, Herrera G, Giraldo JC, Vasquez-A LR, Urbano P, Villalobos O, Tovar C, Ramírez JD. Molecular detection and genotyping of intestinal protozoa from different biogeographical regions of Colombia. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8554. [PMID: 32195042 PMCID: PMC7067185 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Intestinal parasitic protozoa represent a serious problem of public health particularly in developing countries. Protozoa such as Blastocystis, Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica and Cryptosporidium spp. are associated with diarrheal symptoms. In Colombia, there is little region-specific data on the frequency and circulating genotypes/species of these microorganisms. Therefore, the main objective of our study was to employ molecular detection and genotyping of G. intestinalis and Blastocystis, Cryptosporidium and Entamoeba spp. in samples from different biogeographical regions of Colombia. Methods We collected 649 human fecal samples from five biogeographical regions of Colombia: the Amazon, Andean, Caribbean, Orinoco and Pacific regions. Blastocystis, G. intestinalis, Cryptosporidium spp. and Entamoeba complex were detected by microscopy and conventional PCR. Molecular genotyping was conducted to identify Blastocystis subtypes (STs) (18s), G. intestinalis assemblages (triose phosphate isomerase and glutamate dehydrogenase) and Cryptosporidium species (18s). Genetic diversity indices were determined using dnasp.5. Results We detected G. intestinalis in 45.4% (n = 280) of samples, Blastocystis in 54.5% (n = 336) of samples, Cryptosporidium spp. in 7.3% (n = 45) of samples, Entamoeba dispar in 1.5% (n = 9) of samples, and Entamoeba moshkovskii in 0.32% (n = 2) of samples. Blastocystis STs 1–4, 8 and 9 and G. intestinalis assemblages AII, BIII, BIV, D and G were identified. The following Cryptosporidium species were identified: C. hominis, C. parvum, C. bovis, C. andersoni, C. muris, C. ubiquitum and C. felis. The Caribbean region had the highest frequency for each of the microorganisms evaluated (91.9% for G. duodenalis, 97.3% for Blastocystis, 10.8% for Cryptosporidium spp., 13.5% for E. dispar and 2.7% for E. moshkovskii). The Orinoco region had a high frequency of Blastocystis (97.2%) and the Andean region had a high frequency of G. intestinalis (69.4%). High and active transmission was apparent in several regions of the country, implying that mechanisms for prevention and control of intestinal parasitosis in different parts of the country must be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Higuera
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Ximena Villamizar
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Giovanny Herrera
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia
| | | | - Luis Reinel Vasquez-A
- Centro de Estudios en Microbiología y Parasitología (CEMPA), Departamento de Medicina Interna, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Cauca, Popayan, Colombia
| | - Plutarco Urbano
- Grupo de Investigaciones Biológicas de la Orinoquia, Unitrópico, Yopal, Colombia
| | - Oswaldo Villalobos
- Hospital Local Santa María de Mompox, Programas Especiales (Lepra y TB), Mompox, Bolivar, Colombia
| | - Catalina Tovar
- Grupo de Enfermedades Tropicales y Resistencia Bacteriana, Universidad del Sinú, Monteria, Colombia
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia
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140
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Prevalence and Molecular Subtyping of Blastocystis from Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Chronic Urticaria in Iran. Acta Parasitol 2020; 65:90-96. [PMID: 31602552 DOI: 10.2478/s11686-019-00131-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blastocystis is a parasite that colonizes in the human intestine. Its clinical features include diarrhea, abdominal pain, or urticarial and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Spite of being significant genetic diversity and numerous subtypes within the genus there were no associations between its subtypes and symptomatology. MATERIALS AND METHODS Aim of this project was subtyping of the protozoa in 184 Iranian people with history of IBS/IBD (n = 74) or chronic urticaria (n = 59) and individuals referred to general clinic (n = 51). Microscopic and molecular examinations used for identifying and subtyping of Blastocystis. RESULTS Overall, frequency of the parasite was 24.46% while, 29.41% of people who referred to general clinic, 20.27%, and 25.42% of IBS/IBD and urticarial cases were infected, respectively. Subtyping result showed that 28.89% of all people were infected with Blastocystis sp. while the prevalence of ST3, ST2 and ST1 were 22.22%, 22.22%, and 17.78%, respectively. Blastocystis sp., was identified in most IBS/IBD cases (46.7%) followed with ST2 and ST3 (13.3 and 13.3, respectively). Whereas, in chronic urticaria group ST2(33.3%) was the major subtype and most individuals in control group were infected with ST3 (33.3%). Pearson's Chi Square test showed no significant differences between the parasite or subtype prevalence and diseases (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Given significant factors have effect on clinical signs including host or parasite genetics, microbiota, as well as environmental factors, it seems that further studies are needed to find out different markers of host susceptibility to diverse parasite genotypes in patients with irritable bowel syndrome or urticaria.
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141
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Betts EL, Gentekaki E, Tsaousis AD. Exploring Micro-Eukaryotic Diversity in the Gut: Co-occurrence of Blastocystis Subtypes and Other Protists in Zoo Animals. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:288. [PMID: 32161577 PMCID: PMC7052370 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis is a genetically diverse microbial eukaryote thriving in the gut of humans and other animals. While Blastocystis has been linked with gastrointestinal disorders, its pathogenicity remains controversial. Previous reports have suggested that one out of six humans could be carrying Blastocystis in their gut, while the numbers could be even higher in animals. Most studies on Blastocystis are either exclusively targeting the organism itself and/or the associated prokaryotic microbiome, while co-occurrence of other microbial eukaryotes has been mainly ignored. Herein, we aimed to explore presence and genetic diversity of Blastocystis along with the commonly occurring eukaryotes Cryptosporidium, Eimeria, Entamoeba and Giardia in the gut of asymptomatic animals from two conservation parks in the United Kingdom. Building upon a previous study, a total of 231 fecal samples were collected from 38 vertebrates, which included 12 carnivorous and 26 non-carnivorous species. None of the animals examined herein showed gastrointestinal symptoms. The barcoding region of the small subunit ribosomal RNA was used for subtyping of Blastocystis. Overall, 47% of animal species were positive for Blastocystis. Twenty six percent of samples carried more than one subtypes, including the newly identified hosts Scottish wildcat, bongo and lynx. Fifty three percent of samples carried at least another microbial eukaryote. Herewith, we discuss potential implications of these findings and the increasingly blurred definition of microbial parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Betts
- Laboratory of Molecular and Evolutionary Parasitology, RAPID Group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Eleni Gentekaki
- School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.,Gut Microbiome Research Group, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand
| | - Anastasios D Tsaousis
- Laboratory of Molecular and Evolutionary Parasitology, RAPID Group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
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Chai Y, Deng L, Liu H, Yao J, Zhong Z, Fu H, Shen L, Zhou Z, Deng J, Hu Y, Peng G. First subtyping of Blastocystis sp. from pet rodents in southwestern China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2020; 11:143-148. [PMID: 32071861 PMCID: PMC7011001 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a common eukaryotic parasite, which infects humans as well as various other animals. To date, epidemiological data regarding the detection rate and distribution of Blastocystis sp. subtypes in pet rodents are lacking in China; the present study aims to fill this gap. A total of 503 fecal samples collected from pets in different locations in southwestern China were screened for the presence of Blastocystis sp. using a nested PCR amplification of SSU rRNA method. Forty-two samples (8.35%) tested positive for Blastocystis sp. colonization. Two subtypes of Blastocystis sp. were identified based on nucleotide sequence homology and phylogenetic analysis: Blastocystis ST4 was present in 41 samples, and Blastocystis ST17 was found in 1 sample. Our results revealed robust host preference of Blastocystis ST4 and confirmed that Blastocystis ST17 can also parasitize rodents. This is the first survey of Blastocystis sp. from pet rodent in southwestern of China and that 503 rodents were surveyed. Forty-two samples (8.35%) tested positive for Blastocystis sp. colonization. Forty-one isolates were identified as subtype ST4 and one as ST17. Subtype ST4 shows a robust host preference for rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijun Chai
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Lei Deng
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Haifeng Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Jingxin Yao
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Zhijun Zhong
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Hualin Fu
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Liuhong Shen
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Ziyao Zhou
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Junliang Deng
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Yanchun Hu
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Guangneng Peng
- The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
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Zanetti ADS, Malheiros AF, de Matos TA, Longhi FG, Moreira LM, Silva SL, Castrillon SKI, Ferreira SMB, Ignotti E, Espinosa OA. Prevalence of Blastocystis sp. infection in several hosts in Brazil: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:30. [PMID: 31937366 PMCID: PMC6961275 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-3900-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blastocystis sp. affects a wide variety of animals and is the most common protozoan in human fecal samples with potential pandemic distribution. In the present study, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to determine the prevalence and distribution of Blastocystis sp. in different classes of hosts in Brazil. METHODS Studies that analyzed hosts of various classes, including humans, domestic animals, wild animals or captive animals, were considered. The pooled prevalence of Blastocystis sp. infection was estimated by random effects models. RESULTS For humans, similar prevalence rates were found for males (31.0%, 95% CI: 17.0-45.0%; weight 10%) and females (28.0%, 95% CI: 16.0-41.0%; weight 10%); the state of Mato Grosso do Sul showed the highest prevalence, with 41.0% positivity (95% CI: 36.0-46.0%; weight 2.9%). The prevalence among immunocompromised patients was 5.0% (95% CI: 3.0-7.0%; weight 10%), and the most common cause of immunosuppression was hemodialysis, with 23.0% (95% CI: 17.0-29.0%; weight 12.4%). Among classifications according to interaction with humans, wild and domestic animals presented values of 19.0% (95% CI: 7.0-31.0%; weight 42.6%) and 17.0% (95% CI: 13.0-21.0%; weight 29.6%), respectively. Among these animals, mammals (39.0%, 95% CI: 21.0-56.0%; weight 47.3%) and birds (18.0%, 95% CI: 10.0-27.0%; weight 39.3%) exhibited the highest prevalence. Phylogenetic analysis of Blastocystis sp. revealed greater genetic diversity for clades of subtypes (STs) ST1, ST2 and ST3. CONCLUSIONS The overall prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in the Brazilian human population was 24%, which reflects the reality in the South, Southeast and Midwest regions, where prevalence rates of up to 40% were found. Among animals, mammals and birds exhibited the highest prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andernice Dos Santos Zanetti
- Post-Graduation Program in Environmental Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, State University of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT), Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Antonio Francisco Malheiros
- Post-Graduation Program in Environmental Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, State University of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT), Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Tatiane Amorim de Matos
- Post-Graduation Program in Environmental Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, State University of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT), Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Gulin Longhi
- The Brazilian Centre for Evidence-based Healthcare: A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciana Melhorança Moreira
- Faculty of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, State University of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT), Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Samuel Laudelino Silva
- Faculty of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, State University of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT), Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Solange Kimie Ikeda Castrillon
- Post-Graduation Program in Environmental Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, State University of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT), Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Silvana Margarida Benevides Ferreira
- The Brazilian Centre for Evidence-based Healthcare: A Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Post-Graduation Program in Nursing, Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Eliane Ignotti
- Post-Graduation Program in Environmental Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, State University of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT), Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil.,Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, State University of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT), Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Omar Ariel Espinosa
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, State University of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT), Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil.
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Greige S, Rivoal K, Osman M, Safadi DE, Dabboussi F, Hage RE, Viscogliosi E, Hamze M, Chemaly M. Prevalence and genetic diversity of Campylobacter spp. in the production chain of broiler chickens in Lebanon and its association with the intestinal protozoan Blastocystis sp. Poult Sci 2020; 98:5883-5891. [PMID: 31134283 DOI: 10.3382/ps/pez286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni is recognized as the most common foodborne pathogen associated with human gastroenteritis worldwide. Broilers are frequently infected by the bacteria and are considered the main source of exposure to humans. However, despite its public health impact, no recent data are currently available in Lebanon about Campylobacter spp. in poultry and human population. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and genetic diversity of Campylobacter spp. in 227 ceca and on 227 carcasses of broiler chickens collected in Lebanese slaughterhouses. Overall, the prevalence of Campylobacter was shown to reach 67.0% in ceca and 17.2% on carcasses of Lebanese poultry. The only 2 Campylobacter species identified were C. jejuni and C. coli, with a slightly higher prevalence of C. coli in ceca and of C. jejuni on carcasses. A high level of genetic diversity was reported among the 51 C. jejuni isolates selected, since 25 distinct profiles were identified according to the comparative genomic fingerprinting typing method based on a subset of 40 genes using the 90% similarity threshold. Predominant clusters observed in Lebanese poultry isolates were also frequently found among French human clinical cases, highlighting that broiler chickens represent a potential reservoir for human campylobacteriosis. In addition, a significantly higher prevalence of Campylobacter spp. was found in slaughterhouse workers than in a cohort of hospitalized patients with no contact with poultry, confirming that contaminated broiler chickens in slaughterhouse appeared to be a non-negligible source of Campylobacter spp. transmission. Interestingly, a significant association between Campylobacter spp. and Blastocystis sp. has been observed. This correlation suggested that the presence of Campylobacter spp. would be favored when Blastocystis sp. is present and, similarly, the absence of one would favor the absence of the other. This is the first large-scale investigation focusing on the impact of Campylobacter spp. in broiler chickens in Lebanon and confirmed the need to implement prevention and control measures in the poultry production to reduce the burden of campylobacteriosis in the human population.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Greige
- Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 - UMR 8204 - CIIL - Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France.,Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé Environnement (LMSE), Ecole Doctorale des Sciences et de Technologie, Faculté de Santé Publique, Université Libanaise, Tripoli, Liban.,ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, 22440 Ploufragan, France
| | - K Rivoal
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, 22440 Ploufragan, France
| | - M Osman
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé Environnement (LMSE), Ecole Doctorale des Sciences et de Technologie, Faculté de Santé Publique, Université Libanaise, Tripoli, Liban
| | - D El Safadi
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé Environnement (LMSE), Ecole Doctorale des Sciences et de Technologie, Faculté de Santé Publique, Université Libanaise, Tripoli, Liban
| | - F Dabboussi
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé Environnement (LMSE), Ecole Doctorale des Sciences et de Technologie, Faculté de Santé Publique, Université Libanaise, Tripoli, Liban
| | - R El Hage
- Institut de Recherche Agronomique Libanais (IRAL), Laboratoire de Microbiologie Alimentaire, Station de Fanar, Jdeideh El-Metn, Lebanon
| | - E Viscogliosi
- Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 - UMR 8204 - CIIL - Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - M Hamze
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé Environnement (LMSE), Ecole Doctorale des Sciences et de Technologie, Faculté de Santé Publique, Université Libanaise, Tripoli, Liban
| | - M Chemaly
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, 22440 Ploufragan, France
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145
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Molecular Detection and Subtyping of Blastocystis Detected in Wild Boars ( Sus scrofa) in South Korea. J Wildl Dis 2020; 56:662-666. [PMID: 31917638 DOI: 10.7589/2019-04-092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystis is a genus of parasitic protozoans that live in humans, mammals, and birds and which has been widely studied due to its low host specificity. Limited data are available, however, regarding its presence in wildlife, particularly in South Korea. Contact between wild boars (Sus scrofa) and livestock or humans has steadily increased as wild boars venture down from the mountains to farms and residential areas. In this study, we examined the status and subtypes (STs) of Blastocystis in wild boars in South Korea and confirmed its zoonotic potential. From March 2016 to November 2018, we collected 433 fecal samples throughout the country from trapped or road-killed wild boars. The 18S rRNA gene was used for molecular identification and subtyping and the proportion of PCR-positive samples was 10.4%. We then assessed positive samples for associations with sex, region, and seasonal infection; however, no statistical significance was observed for any variable other than season. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that all sequences belonged to subtype 5 and had 99.5-99.9% identity with sequences obtained from Japanese cattle (Bos taurus) and 97.1% identity with sequences obtained from Chinese. Subtype 5 has been implicated in zoonoses, indicating that Korean wild boars could transmit Blastocystis to humans and other livestock. Our results, in accordance with the One Health concept, strongly support continued interest and efforts by public health and disease control organizations toward transmission prevention.
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Gabrielli S, Furzi F, Fontanelli Sulekova L, Taliani G, Mattiucci S. Occurrence of Blastocystis-subtypes in patients from Italy revealed association of ST3 with a healthy gut microbiota. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2020; 9:e00134. [PMID: 32258445 PMCID: PMC7096745 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2020.e00134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
An epidemiological survey on Blastocystis was carried out enrolling a total of 2524 subjects referred to the Umberto I Academic Hospital in Rome, for the routine parasitological exams, during 2017–2018. The studied population included a sample of immunocompromised individuals (N = 130) followed at the same hospital. DNA sequencing of the small subunit rRNA gene (SSU rDNA) locus was performed on samples positive to the coproparasitological analysis to molecular characterize the Blastocystis-subtypes. Microscopical analysis detected Blastocystis in 192/2524 (7.6%) of the enrolled subjects. It was the organism most frequently identified in the analysed faecal samples diagnosed in single infection (5.6%) or in co-infection with other enteric protozoa (2%). Furthermore, it was found mainly in immunocompromised patients (22.3%) compared to immunocompetent ones (6.8%). As expected, ST3 was the most occurring subtype identified in 40% of the subjects, followed by ST1 (29%), ST2 (16%), ST4 (12%), and ST7 (3%). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the 16S rDNA was performed on a sub-sample of Blastocystis-ST3-carriers, homogenous by age and gender, as well as on Blastocystis-free subjects, to profile and compare their gut bacterial composition. A higher bacterial diversity was found in ST3-Blastocystis-carriers, which exhibited a high abundance of Prevotella, Methanobrevibacter and Ruminococcus while, a high percentage of Bacteroides was found in Blastocystis-free subjects. This study evidenced the presence of Blastocystis in 7.6% of faecal samples in Italy and a high circulation of the protist among immunocompromised patients (22.3%). Molecular characterization of positive samples evidenced the occurrence of five different subtypes, including zoonotic ST such as the ST7, highlighting the risk of transmission from animals. Study of the gut microbiota composition confirms previous evidences according to which, the colonisation by Blastocystis would be linked with an eubiotic gut characterized by potentially beneficial species such as Prevotella and Ruminococcus, rather than with a dysbiotic state, with a high abundance of Enterobacteriaceae, and corroborated the role of the protist as “an old friend” of the human gut. Microscopical analysis detected Blastocystis in 7.6% subjects in Italy. Molecular methods allowed the identification of 5 STs (ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST7). ST3 resulted the most frequent subtype. NGS of the 16S rDNA gene was performed in Blastocystis-ST3-carriers. Blastocystis-ST3 resulted correlated to an eubiotic gut characterized by potentially beneficial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Gabrielli
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza-University of Rome", Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Diagnostic Parasitology laboratory, Academic Hospital "Policlinico Umberto I", Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Furzi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza-University of Rome", Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Gloria Taliani
- Department of Translation and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza University of Rome", 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Simonetta Mattiucci
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza-University of Rome", Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Diagnostic Parasitology laboratory, Academic Hospital "Policlinico Umberto I", Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Corresponding author at: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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Prevalence and subtypes of Blastocystis sp. infection in zoo animals in three cities in China. Parasitol Res 2019; 119:465-471. [PMID: 31845021 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06571-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystis is a highly prevalent eukaryotic parasite of many animals and humans worldwide. It can compromise the gastrointestinal tract and cause gastrointestinal symptoms, constituting a serious threat to human health and animal growth. Many animals are potential sources of Blastocystis infection in humans. However, limited data are available regarding the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis infection among zoo animals in China. Therefore, the present study examined the prevalence and subtypes of Blastocystis in zoo animals in Hangzhou, Dalian, and Suzhou cities, China. Of 450 fecal samples from zoo animals, 27 (6.0%) were PCR-positive for Blastocystis, with 7.7% (8/104), 11.3% (7/62), 16.7% (3/18), 1.8% (2/114), 6.3% (1/16), 9.5% (2/21), and 3.6% (4/109) in artiodactyla, aves, rodentia, nonhuman primates, perissodactyla, marsupialia, and carnivora, respectively. Significant differences in the prevalence of Blastocystis were found among different animal groups (P < 0.05). Sequence analysis showed 7 known subtypes (ST2, ST4, ST5, ST7, ST8, ST10, and ST14) of Blastocystis in the present study, with ST10 (10/27) as the predominant subtype in all three of the examined zoos. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Blastocystis infection in Damaliscus dorcas, Cervus elaphus, Macropus rufogriseus, Grus japonensis, Trichoglossus haematodus, Panthera tigris ssp. tigris (white), Panthera tigris ssp. altaica, Lycaon pictus, Suricata suricatta, and Dolichotis patagonum in China. These results demonstrate the presence of Blastocystis infection in zoo animals and provided baseline data for preventing and controlling Blastocystis infection in zoo animals and humans in China.
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Li J, Karim MR, Li D, Rahaman Sumon SM, Siddiki SF, Rume FI, Sun R, Jia Y, Zhang L. Molecular characterization of Blastocystis sp. in captive wildlife in Bangladesh National Zoo: Non-human primates with high prevalence and zoonotic significance. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2019; 10:314-320. [PMID: 31867211 PMCID: PMC6906819 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 11/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is a protozoan parasite, commonly found in the gastrointestinal tracts of animals and humans globally. The parasitic species has wide genetic diversity. Currently the mammalian and avian isolates of the parasite are grouped into 17 well known subtypes (STs), of which ten (ST1-ST9, ST12) are reported in humans. To assess the genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp. in wildlife, a total of 200 fresh fecal samples were collected from 32 mammalian wildlife species in Bangladesh National Zoo. Blastocystis sp. was screened and subtyped by PCR amplification and sequencing of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. The minimum prevalence of Blastocystis sp. infection was 15.5% (31/200) in zoo animals. Eight out of 32 wildlife animal species (25.0%) were infected with Blastocystis sp. Among them, the occurrence of Blastocystis sp. was higher in non-human primates (NHPs) (31.8%) than that in herbivores (4.9%) and carnivores (0). Nucleotide sequence analysis of the SSU rRNA gene revealed seven different Blastocystis sp. subtypes, such as ST1, ST2, ST3, ST10, ST11, ST13 and ST14 in the wild animals. ST3 was the dominant subtype (41.9%, 13/31) being detected in NHPs. Of the 31 Blastocystis sp. isolates from the wild animals, 24 (77.4%) isolates belonged to the most common subtypes (ST1 to ST3) found in humans. This is the first molecular study of Blastocystis sp. in wild animals in Bangladesh. This study highlights the remarkable genetic diversity in Blastocystis sp. isolates from zoo animals and provides the first molecular evidence from spotted deer, gayal and grey langur. Due to circulation of large percentage of potentially zoonotic subtypes in the wild animals, there is a higher risk of zoonotic transmission of Blastocystis sp. in the zoo keepers and visitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqiang Li
- Academy of Chinese Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Md. Robiul Karim
- Department of Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, 1706, Bangladesh
| | - Dongfang Li
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | | | - S.H.M. Faruk Siddiki
- Department of Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, 1706, Bangladesh
| | - Farzana Islam Rume
- Department of Microbiology and Public Health, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Barishal, 8210, Bangladesh
| | - Ruiqin Sun
- Academy of Chinese Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Yaquan Jia
- Academy of Chinese Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
| | - Longxian Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, China
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Rojas-Velázquez L, Maloney JG, Molokin A, Morán P, Serrano-Vázquez A, González E, Pérez-Juárez H, Ximénez C, Santin M. Use of next-generation amplicon sequencing to study Blastocystis genetic diversity in a rural human population from Mexico. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:566. [PMID: 31775832 PMCID: PMC6882168 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3814-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The intestinal parasite Blastocystis is found in humans and animals around the world. It is spread through the consumption of contaminated food and water and has been associated with a variety of intestinal symptoms. Blastocystis is one of the most common intestinal parasites in humans, yet its prevalence and distribution in humans in North America is not well characterized. METHODS Next-generation amplicon sequencing of a region of the Blastocystis SSU rRNA gene was applied to DNA extracted from fecal specimens obtained from 182 inhabitants of a rural population in Mexico to characterize Blastocystis prevalence, subtype distribution, and intra-host subtype diversity in humans. RESULTS Of the 182 samples tested in this study, 68.1% (124) contained one or more Blastocystis subtypes. Subtype 3 was the most common subtype observed and was found in 81.5% of the positive samples. Subtype 1, 16.9% of the positive samples, and subtype 2, 17.7% of the positive samples, were also found in this population. Mixed infections were observed in 13.7% of the positive samples. In this population, the odds of having Blastocystis increased in adulthood (> 15 years; OR: 1.72, P < 0.0001), and the odds of having subtype 1 increased in the presence of farm animals (OR: 1.51, P = 0.03). The odds of having subtype 1, subtype 2, or a mixed infection decreased in the presence of cement flooring (OR: - 1.61, P = 0.005; OR: - 1.14, P = 0.03; OR: - 1.48, P = 0.02) possibly indicating socioeconomic factors are involved in the risk of acquiring one of these subtypes. CONCLUSIONS These data contribute to our understanding of the epidemiology of Blastocystis infection in humans and can be used to shape future studies which aim to better characterize the transmission pathways and health outcomes of Blastocystis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Rojas-Velázquez
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.,Unidad de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jenny G Maloney
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Aleksey Molokin
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Patricia Morán
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Angélica Serrano-Vázquez
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Enrique González
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Horacio Pérez-Juárez
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.,Unidad de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Cecilia Ximénez
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Monica Santin
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA.
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150
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Silva MDRA, Melo GB, Malta FM, Abdala E, Costa SF, Pierrotti LC, Gonçalves EM, Castilho VL, Chieffi PP, Gryschek RC, Paula FM. Subtypes of Blastocystis sp. isolated in fecal samples from transplant candidates in São Paulo, Brazil. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2019; 8:e00128. [PMID: 31886425 PMCID: PMC6920191 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2019.e00128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. is an intestinal protozoan commonly found in fecal samples of many animal species, including humans, but poorly studied in transplant candidates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and molecular identification of Blastocystis sp. in fecal samples from transplant candidates. A polymerase chain reaction was performed using specific primers for Blastocystis ribosomal DNA. The DNA sequences obtained were aligned and compared with other sequences from the GenBank and MLST databases. The analyzed samples showed a positivity of 16% (24 of 150) for Blastocystis sp. The highest occurrence was observed in renal transplant candidates (31.4%), followed by hepatic transplant candidates (10.4%) and candidates for bone marrow transplantation (5.9%). Subtype (ST) 3 (45.8%) was the most prevalent among the isolates, followed by ST1 (37.5%), ST2 (12.5%), and ST7 (4.2%). This is the first study of molecular identification Blastocystis sp. in transplant candidates. Our results confirmed that ST3 was the most common subtype in transplant candidates and reinforce the importance of new studies to investigate of Blastocystis sp. in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria do Rosário A. Silva
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia da Esquistossomose (LIM-06), Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gessica B. Melo
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia da Esquistossomose (LIM-06), Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda M. Malta
- Laboratório de Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia Tropical (LIM-07), Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Edson Abdala
- Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Silvia F. Costa
- Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ligia C. Pierrotti
- Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elenice M.N. Gonçalves
- Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vera L.P. Castilho
- Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro P. Chieffi
- Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo C.B. Gryschek
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia da Esquistossomose (LIM-06), Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabiana M. Paula
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia da Esquistossomose (LIM-06), Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Corresponding author.
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