Molecular Detection and Genetic Diversity of Blastocystis in Korean Dogs
10.3347/kjp.2022.60.4.289
- Author:
Sangsu SUH
1
;
Haeseung LEE
;
Min-Goo SEO
;
Kyoo-Tae KIM
;
Kyung-Yeon EO
;
Young-Sam KWON
;
Sang-Joon PARK
;
Oh-Deog KWON
;
Tae-Hwan KIM
;
Dongmi KWAK
Author Information
1. College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2022;60(4):289-293
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Blastocystis is a genus of unicellular heterokont parasites belonging to a group of organisms known as Stramenopiles, which includes algae, diatoms, and water molds. Blastocystis includes several species that habitat in the gastrointestinal tracts of organisms as diverse as humans, farm animals, birds, rodents, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and cockroaches. It is important to public health and distributed globally, but its prevalence in dogs in Korea has not been reported to date. Here, we collected 787 canine fecal samples and assessed Blastocystis infection by age, sex, region, season, and diarrhea symptoms. We determined Blastocystis subtypes using phylogenetic analyses based on 18S rRNA gene sequences. We identified, 10 Blastocystis positive samples (1.3%). A higher proportion of infected dogs was asymptomatic; however, infection rates did not significantly differ according to region, age, sex, and season. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Blastocystis sp. identified belonged to 4 subtypes (STs), ST1, ST5, ST10, and ST14, thus revealed the genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp. in dogs Korean. This is first report on the presence of Blastocystis sp. in dogs Korean. This study revealed a lower infection rate than expected and differed from previous studies in STs. Further studies are warranted to observe the national infection status of Blastocystis in dogs and the genetic characteristics of this genus.
