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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Environmental Microbial & Food Safety Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #411653

Research Project: Detection and Characterization of Zoonotic and Emerging Parasites Affecting Food Safety and Public Health

Location: Environmental Microbial & Food Safety Laboratory

Title: Blastocystis occurrence and subtype diversity in European wild boar (Sus scrofa) from the Iberian Peninsula

Author
item KÖSTER, PAMELA - National Center For Microbiology, The Institute Of Health Carlos Iii
item FIGUEIREDO, ANA - University Of Aveiro (UA)
item Maloney, Jenny
item DASHTI, ALEJANDRO - National Center For Microbiology, The Institute Of Health Carlos Iii
item BAILO, BEGOÑA - National Center For Microbiology, The Institute Of Health Carlos Iii
item TORRES, RITA - University Of Aveiro (UA)
item FONSECA, CARLOS - University Of Aveiro (UA)
item MYSTERUD, ATLE - University Of Oslo
item HABELA, MIGUEL - University Of Extremadura
item RIVERO-JUAREZ, ANTONIO - Cordoba University
item SERRANO, EMMANUEL - Autonomous University Of Barcelona
item ARNAL, MARIA C - University Of Zaragoza
item FERNÁNDEZ DE LUCO, DANIEL - University Of Zaragoza
item ARMANTEROS, JOSE - Collaborator
item BALSEIRO, ANA - University Of Leon
item CARDONA, GUILLERMO - Collaborator
item CARVALHO, JOÃO - University Of Aveiro (UA)
item HIPOLÍTO, DÁRIO - University Of Aveiro (UA)
item FERNANDES, JOANA - University Of Aveiro (UA)
item PALMEIRA, JOSMAN - University Of Aveiro (UA)
item CALERO-BERNAL, RAFAEL - Complutense University Of Madrid (UCM)
item GONZÁLEZ-BARRIO, DAVID - National Center For Microbiology, The Institute Of Health Carlos Iii
item Santin-Duran, Monica
item CARMENA, DAVID - National Center For Microbiology, The Institute Of Health Carlos Iii

Submitted to: Veterinary Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/3/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The ongoing increase of wild boar populations has fostered human-wildlife conflicts, including the transmission of emerging pathogens with zoonotic importance. Blastocystis is a ubiquitous parasite that can cause gastrointestinal illnesses and is observed in humans and animals worldwide. The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of Blastocystis is poorly understood. Thus, we have investigated the occurrence and subtype diversity of Blastocystis in free-ranging wild boars from the Iberian Peninsula using conventional molecular techniques. A total of 459 wild boar faecal samples were collected across Spain (n = 360) and Portugal (n = 99) between 2014 and 2021. Blastocystis was present in 15.3% (70/459) of the wild boars analyzed, and its occurrence was significantly higher in Portugal (34.3%, 34/99) than in Spain (10.0%, 36/360). Seven Blastocystis subtypes (ST5, ST10b, ST13–ST15, ST24b, and ST43) were detected among the surveyed wild boar populations, with greater variability detected in Portuguese samples. ST5 was identified in all Blastocystis-positive animals, whereas 11.4% of them presented mixed subtype infections. Our results demonstrate that Blastocystis ST5 is particularly adapted to infect wild boars. The additional finding of zoonotic STs reinforces the role of wild boars as spreaders of zoonotic infections with a public health significance.This information will be useful to other scientists, veterinarians, and public health agencies to better understand transmission, zoonotic potential, and public health importance of Blastocystis.

Technical Abstract: The ongoing increase of wild boar populations across Europe has fostered human-wildlife conflicts, including the transmission of emerging pathogens with zoonotic importance. Blastocystis is a ubiquitous, faecal-oral transmitted protist that can cause gastrointestinal illnesses and is observed in humans and animals worldwide. The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of Blastocystis is insufficiently understood. Thus, we have investigated the occurrence and subtype diversity of Blastocystis in free-ranging wild boars from the Iberian Peninsula using conventional PCR and next-generation amplicon sequencing of a fragment of the ssu RNA gene. A total of 459 wild boar faecal samples were collected across Spain (n = 360) and Portugal (n = 99) between 2014 and 2021. Blastocystis was present in 15.3% (70/459; 95% CI: 12.1–18.9) of the wild boars analysed, and its occurrence was significantly higher in Portugal (34.3%, 34/99; 95% CI: 25.1–44.6) than in Spain (10.0%, 36/360; 95% CI: 7.1–13.6). Seven Blastocystis subtypes (ST5, ST10b, ST13–15, ST24b, and ST43) were detected among the surveyed wild boar populations, with greater variability detected in Portuguese samples. ST5 was identified in all Blastocystis-positive animals, whereas 11.4% of them harboured ST mixed infections. Our results demonstrate that Blastocystis ST5 is particularly adapted to infect wild boars. The additional finding of zoonotic STs reinforces the role of wild boars as spreaders of zoonotic infections with a public health significance.