Multicentric Study on Enteric Protists Occurrence in Zoological Parks in Portugal

Parasitic infections of the gastrointestinal tract of domestic animals play a major role in the transmission of disease, which in turn may result in financial and productive losses. Notwithstanding, studies on the burden and distribution of diarrheagenic protists in zoological gardens are still insu...

ver descrição completa

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Mega, João, Moreira, Rafaela, Moreira, Guilherme, Silva-Loureiro, Ana, Gomes da Silva, Priscilla, Istrate, Claudia, Santos-Silva, Sérgio, Rivero-Juarez, Antonio, Carmena, David, Mesquita, João R
Formato: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Recursos:Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Repositorio:Repisalud
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repisalud.isciii.es:20.500.12105/26537
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/26537
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Balantioides coli
Blastocystis sp.
Cryptosporidium spp.
Eimeria spp.
Giardia spp.
Portugal
Zoo
Animals
Animals, Zoo
Balantidium
Blastocystis
Cryptosporidium
Eimeria
Feces
Giardia
Parks, Recreational
Phylogeny
Prevalence
Descrição
Resumo:Parasitic infections of the gastrointestinal tract of domestic animals play a major role in the transmission of disease, which in turn may result in financial and productive losses. Notwithstanding, studies on the burden and distribution of diarrheagenic protists in zoological gardens are still insufficient. Given the close animal-animal and animal-human interaction in these settings, Public Health concerns under the One Health context are raised. Using molecular detection tools and phylogenetic analysis, the goal of this study was to assess the occurrence of four potentially zoonotic protists-Balantioides coli, Blastocystis sp., Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp.-in animals residing in zoological parks in Portugal. Occurrence of Eimeria spp. was also assessed because of its veterinary relevance. Although Blastocystis sp. represents most of the positive samples obtained (11.6%; 95% CI: 0.08-0.17), all parasites were detected (B. coli (2.9%; 95% CI: 0.01-0.06), and Cryptosporidium spp., Eimeria spp. and Giardia spp. presented the same prevalence (0.5%; 95% CI: 0.00-0.03)). We also describe the first molecular detection of B. coli in a collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu), of Blastocystis sp. in three different python species, and G. muris in a central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), suggesting the broadening of the host range for these parasites.