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Infectivity of different genotypes of human Blastocystis hominis isolates in chickens and rats
Aya Iguchi1, Akiko Ebisu, Satiko Nagata
1Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Nara Women's University, Kitauoya-Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan.
Abstract:
Most Blastocystis hominis isolates from humans are believed to be potentially zoonotic. This is because B. hominis isolates found in a variety of other host species have been found to have identical or relatively similar genotypes to those found in human isolates. However, the transmission of human B. hominis isolates to other animals has not been confirmed experimentally. In this study, the infectivity associated with several unique human Blastocystis genotypes (subtypes 2, 3, 4 and 7) was therefore investigated by infecting chickens and rats with two isolates of each subtype experimentally. The results showed that one isolate of subtype 4 and one isolate of subtype 7 was capable of infecting both chickens and rats, while two isolates of subtype 2, another isolate of subtype 4, and another isolate of subtype 7 could only infect chickens. Conversely, two isolates of subtype 3 failed to infect either of the animals. These results confirmed that several genotypes from human isolates could infect chickens and/or rats, indicating that chickens and rats are suitable experimental animal models for studying the zoonotic potential of human Blastocystis isolates.
Insights
Human Blastocystis hominis subtypes can infect chickens and rats, confirming zoonotic potential. This study used chickens and rats as models to investigate Blastocystis transmission between humans and animals.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Zoonotic Diseases
- Molecular Epidemiology
Background:
- Blastocystis hominis is a common intestinal protist found in humans.
- Human Blastocystis hominis isolates share genotypes with isolates from other animals, suggesting zoonotic potential.
- Experimental confirmation of human Blastocystis hominis transmission to animals is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate the infectivity of human Blastocystis hominis genotypes in animal models.
- To determine the zoonotic potential of specific human Blastocystis hominis subtypes (2, 3, 4, and 7).
Main Methods:
- Infection of chickens and rats with two isolates of human Blastocystis hominis subtypes 2, 3, 4, and 7.
- Monitoring infectivity in chickens and rats for each subtype.
Main Results:
- Subtypes 4 and 7 isolates infected both chickens and rats.
- Subtypes 2 and some subtype 4 and 7 isolates infected only chickens.
- Subtype 3 isolates did not infect chickens or rats.
Conclusions:
- Specific human Blastocystis hominis genotypes can infect chickens and rats.
- Chickens and rats serve as suitable experimental models for studying Blastocystis hominis zoonotic potential.
- Findings support the zoonotic transmission of Blastocystis hominis.
