The First Case of Diarrhoea in Tibetan Sheep, Ovis aries, Caused by Balantidium coli in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area, China
10.3347/kjp.2018.56.6.603
- Author:
Ying Na JIAN
1
;
Ge Ping WANG
;
Xiu Ping LI
;
Xue Yong ZHANG
;
Li Qing MA
Author Information
1. State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Qinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining City, 810016, Qinghai Province, P. R. China. maliq67@hotmail.com
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Balantidium coli;
sheep;
morphological characteristics;
molecular method;
Qinghai Tibetan Plateau;
China
- MeSH:
Balantidium;
China;
Cilia;
Haplorhini;
Host Specificity;
Humans;
Macronucleus;
Sheep;
Sheep, Domestic;
Swine;
Trophozoites;
Vacuoles
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2018;56(6):603-607
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
This study was carried out to determine the pathogen-causing diarrhoea in sheep Ovis aries in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area, China. A trophozoite was identified as species of ciliate alveolates infecting the sheep based on morphological characteristics examined by microscope. It was mostly spherical, colourless and transparent, with many vesicles. Macronucleus and contractile vacuoles could not be distinguished. Size of the trophozoite was 80–180×70–150 μm and its surface was covered with cilia. Molecular analysis based on sequences of 18S rRNA and ITS genes confirmed the ciliate species as Balantidium coli. According to the literature, there have been many epidemiological investigations of B. coli infection in pigs, monkeys and humans. To our knowledge, this was the first report of B. coli infections in sheep in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area of China, or eleswhere around the world. Importantly, the sheep case was rare but raised our concern that B. coli may spread across species and expand its host range.
