Occurrence and genotypic identification of Blastocystis sp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Giardia duodenalis in dairy cattle in Heilongjiang Province, China
Junxia Duan, Huikai Qin, Mengqing Sun, Yin Fu, Jiashu Lang, Aihui Zhang, Ziyang Qin, Zhenxuan Guo, Huiyan Xu, Xiaoying Li, Chun‐Ren Wang, Longxian Zhang
Abstract
Blastocystis sp. , Enterocytozoon bieneusi , and Giardia duodenalis are three common zoonotic intestinal parasites, and cattle are important hosts of these three intestinal protozoa. In this study, 1632 fecal samples were collected from dairy farms in Heilongjiang Province, China, and screened for Blastocystis sp. , E. bieneusi, and G. duodenalis using polymerase chain reaction. Of these, 149 (9.13%) were positive for three zoonotic pathogens, including 104 (6.40%), 22 (1.35%), and 23 (1.41%) for Blastocystis sp., E. bieneusi , and G. duodenalis , respectively. Based on partial SSU rRNA gene sequencing analysis, 104 positive samples of Blastocystis sp. were found, and a total of nine known subtypes were identified, including ST10 (61), ST3 (18), ST14 (6), ST26 (7), ST24 (3), ST25 (2), ST1 (2), ST5 (2), and ST21 (1). Among these, three subtypes (ST1, ST3, and ST5) were recognized as zoonotic subtypes, and two subtypes (ST10 and ST14) were specific to animals. All 23 Giardia duodenalis -positive samples belonged to assemblage E ( n = 23) based on sequenced beta-giardin ( bg ) and triosephosphate isomerase ( tpi ) genes. Three known genotypes of E. bieneusi , namely J ( n = 9), I ( n = 6), and BEB4 ( n = 7), were identified by sequence analysis of the internal transcriptional spacer region gene. Our study provides basic data for prevention and control in Heilongjiang Province; however, further research is required to better understand the prevalence and public health significance of these pathogens in the Heilongjiang region. • The prevalence of the three parasites was 9.10% in the Heilongjiang region. • Prevalence: Blastocystis 6.40%, E. bieneusi 1.35%, G. duodenalis 1.41%. • Nine Blastocystis subtypes were found, including three zoonotic subtypes. • Three E. bieneusi genotypes and one G. duodenalis assemblage were identified.