title: Molecular survey of Blastocystis sp. from humans and associated animals in an Indonesian community with poor hygiene.
abstract: Blastocystis sp. is a common parasite found in human and animal fecal samples. Currently, human Blastocystis isolates are classified into nine subtypes (STs) based on the phylogeny of their small subunit ribosomal RNA genes (SSU rDNAs). Since eight of the nine STs, except for ST9, have been reported in both humans and animals, these parasites are considered to be potentially zoonotic STs. To evaluate whether zoonotic transmissions play a main role in the lifecycle of Blastocystis, STs derived from humans, domestic pigs, domestic chickens, and wild rodents in a community with poor hygiene in Sumba Island, Indonesia were surveyed. Although fecal cross-contaminations between humans and animals were likely common at the investigation site, the confirmed major Blastocystis STs, which were detected as intense bands on gels following PCR targeting of the SSU rDNA, were different in each host species. STs 1-3 were found in resident children, while ST5, ST7, and ST4 were found in domestic pigs and chickens, and in wild rodents, respectively. Faint bands of STs 1, 2, and 7 were detected in samples from pigs, while no minor STs were observed in samples from the other host species. The distinct distributions of the major STs among the host animals examined, including humans, indicate host specificity in the lifecycle of Blastocystis. Considering the coprophagous nature of pigs, the presence of minor STs observed only in pigs could be explained by the mechanical passage of contaminated fecal materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, Nara Women's University, Kitauoya-Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan. Electronic address: h.yoshikawa@cc.nara-wu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tokoro
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan.
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arayama
authors.affiliation: Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology, Jakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Puji B S
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Asih
authors.affiliation: Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology, Jakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Ismail E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Rozi
authors.affiliation: Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology, Jakarta, Indonesia; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan Km 10, Makassar 90245, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Din
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Syafruddin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016844:Blastocystis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016776:Blastocystis Infections / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D002645:Chickens / Q000469:parasitology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D058507:Host Specificity; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007214:Indonesia; D012377:Rodentia / Q000469:parasitology; D013552:Swine / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal
keywords: Blastocystis sp.; Host specificity; Molecular epidemiology; Subtype; Zoonotic transmission