Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of the Zoonotic Enteric Protozoans <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and <i>Blastocystis</i> from Pallas’s Squirrels (Callosciurus erythraeus) in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Aya Masuda, Minami Wada, Haruka Saho, Kako Tokunaga, Yuto Kikuchi, Fumiaki Yamasaki, Jun Matsumoto
Abstract
in the feces of Pallas's squirrels inhabiting Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. These pathogens persist in the environment and contaminate soils and water, which may potentially infect humans. Because Pallas's squirrels in Kanagawa Prefecture are found in urban areas, where they are in close contact with human populations, continued monitoring of zoonotic diseases among squirrel populations will be important for evaluating the significance of wildlife in pathogen transmission.
Topics & Concepts
Enterocytozoon bieneusiBiologyInternal transcribed spacerCryptosporidiumRibosomal RNAGenotypeFecesMolecular epidemiologyRibosomal DNAPolymerase chain reactionZoologyMicrosporidiosisVirologyNested polymerase chain reactionZoonosis18S ribosomal RNASequence analysisDisease reservoirGeneMicrobiologyDNA sequencingSpacer DNAVeterinary medicineRibotypingParasitic Infections and DiagnosticsYersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites researchPaleopathology and ancient diseases