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Published on: February 28, 2015
New Haplotypes of Blastocystis sp. Identified in Faeces from Various Animal Groups in Algeria
Asma Guilane1,2, Ikram Haleche2,3, Fadila Tazerouti1
1Laboratory of Biodiversity and Environment: Interactions, Genome, Biology Faculty, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria.
Purpose:
Blastocystis sp. is a single-celled, anaerobic, parasitic protozoan commonly found in the intestinal tract of animals and humans globally. Genetic analysis has revealed significant diversity within its species, leading to the identification of at least 40 subtypes (ST1-ST40). This study aimed to identify and differentiate Blastocystis in faeces samples from various animal hosts in Algeria.
Methods:
A total of 403 fecal samples, collected from both domestic and zoo animals, were subjected to PCR amplification and sequencing of Blastocystis-specific small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-RNA) gene.
Results:
The overall prevalence of Blastocystis in animals was found to be 38.9%. Through comprehensive phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses, we identified four distinct subtypes (ST1 in both domestic and zoo animals, and ST3, ST4, and ST5 exclusively in zoo animals), encompassing nine different haplotypes, including five that appear original to Algeria.
Conclusion:
This study represents the first epidemiological molecular investigation of Blastocystis sp. in animals in Algeria.
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