Molecular Characterization of Blastocystis from Beef Cattle in Northeastern China

• Published in: Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.) Vol. 21; no. 12; p. 955
• Main Authors: Wang, Xin, Xue, Nian-Yu, Qin, Li-Ting, Liu, Yuan-Yuan, Wang, Hao-Xian, Zhao, Quan, Ni, Hong-Bo, Lyu, Chuang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-12-2021
• Subjects: Animals; Blastocystis - genetics; Blastocystis Infections - epidemiology; Blastocystis Infections - veterinary; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; China - epidemiology; Feces; Phylogeny; Prevalence; China; beef cattle; prevalence; Blastocystis; China; subtyping
• ISSN: 1557-7759
• DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2021.0056

is a common unicellular protist that lives in the intestines of humans and animals.
infection and subtypes in cattle have been reported in several regions. However, the information of
infection in cattle in China is still largely scant. To assess the prevalence and subtype distribution of
in beef cattle in China, 803 fecal samples were collected from beef cattle farms in four cities of Northeast China, and were subjected to an analysis based on small subunit rRNA gene fragment. The overall prevalence of
in beef cattle was 2.11% (17/803), with 2.15% in preweaning calves, 1.9% in postweaning calves, and 3.85% in breeding cattle, but absence in adult cattle (
 > 0.05). Moreover, five
subtypes were identified (ST10, ST21, ST23, ST25, and ST26), among which ST10 and ST26 subtypes were dominant subtypes in beef cattle. Mixed infections were detected in three specimens (ST10/ST25, ST10/ST23/ST25, and ST10/ST26). This is the first report showing
infection in beef cattle in Northeast China. In addition, a variety of
subtypes are reported in cattle in China for the first time. These results will benefit for better understanding the epidemiology and public health implications of