title: Detection of Blastocystis sp. in pigs in Aragon (Spain).
abstract: Infection by Blastocystis sp. has been detected for the first time in pigs in Spain. Detection was carried out by the ethyl acetate-formalin concentration method and direct microscopy. Vacuolated cells of Blastocystis sp. were found in stool samples from 27 of 360 pigs examined (7.5%). The protozoan was present on nine of 17 pig farms studied (53%). Infected pigs ranged from 1 month old to adults, but the organism was most frequent in 1-2 month old (18.4%) and 2-6 month old pigs (15.4%). No correlation was found between Blastocystis sp. infection and occurrence of diarrhoea in pigs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology, Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quilez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clavel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Acedo
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Causape
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D016844:Blastocystis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016776:Blastocystis Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology