AUTHOR=Qi Tongsheng , Zheng Wangli , Guo Liangting , Sun Yali , Li Jixu , Kang Ming 

TITLE=First description of Blastocystis sp. and Entamoeba sp. infecting zoo animals in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau area, China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1212617

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2023.1212617

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>Protozoan parasites are a well-known threat to human health, particularly for people working at or visiting zoos, and potentially cause zoonotic diseases in humans. Captive wildlife may be potential reservoirs for human infection with protozoan parasites. Therefore, focusing on zoonotic protozoan infections in zoo animals is critical. However, there is no report on this topic in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau region. In this study, a total of 167 and 103 fecal samples were collected from 12 animal species from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wildlife Park in winter and summer, respectively, to detection the prevalence of infections and subtype distribution with <italic>Entamoeba</italic> sp., <italic>Cryptosporidium</italic> sp., <italic>Giardia duodenalis</italic>, <italic>Enteromicrosporidia bieneusi</italic> sp., <italic>Blastocystis</italic> sp. by PCR assay. The results showed that a total of 21 fecal samples collected in winter, including from 2 white-lipped deer, 8 Sika deer, 6 blue sheep, 2 wolves and 3 bears, were positive for <italic>Entamoeba</italic>, with a 12.6% (21/167) positive rate. However, 4.9% (5/103) of animals in summer were positive for <italic>Entamoeba</italic>, including 1 snow leopard, 1 tiger, 1 Tibetan argali and 2 mouflon. Moreover, 1 white-lipped deer and 1 bear were found to be positive for <italic>Blastocystis</italic> sp., one zoonotic STs (ST10) was identified and found in white-lipped deer. We found no effect on season on <italic>Blastocystis</italic> sp. and <italic>Entamoeba</italic> sp. colonization. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first description of <italic>Blastocystis</italic> sp. and <italic>Entamoeba</italic> sp. infecting zoo animals in the plateau area. The findings provide the latest data on <italic>Entamoeba</italic> sp. and <italic>Blastocystis</italic> sp. in zoo animals in China.</p>