High prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in farmed sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Northern China

IntroductionBlastocystis sp. is a widespread intestinal protist, that threatens the health of humans and animals. However, epidemiological data on Blastocystis sp. in sika deer are still scarce in China and globally. This study aimed to reveal the infection rate, and subtype distribution of Blastocy...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhen-Qiu Gao, Yang Gao, Hong-Di Zhuang, Guang-Rong Bao, Jing Liu, Jian-Ming Li, Nian-Yu Xue, Hong-Wei Cao, Shuo Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1562814/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850266316610469888
author Zhen-Qiu Gao
Yang Gao
Yang Gao
Hong-Di Zhuang
Guang-Rong Bao
Jing Liu
Jian-Ming Li
Nian-Yu Xue
Hong-Wei Cao
Shuo Liu
author_facet Zhen-Qiu Gao
Yang Gao
Yang Gao
Hong-Di Zhuang
Guang-Rong Bao
Jing Liu
Jian-Ming Li
Nian-Yu Xue
Hong-Wei Cao
Shuo Liu
author_sort Zhen-Qiu Gao
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionBlastocystis sp. is a widespread intestinal protist, that threatens the health of humans and animals. However, epidemiological data on Blastocystis sp. in sika deer are still scarce in China and globally. This study aimed to reveal the infection rate, and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in farmed sika deer across China.MethodsA total of 466 fresh fecal samples were collected from farmed sika deer in northern China. A 600 bp fragment of the SSU rRNA was amplified to detect the presence of Blastocystis sp. in samples.ResultsThe results revealed an overall infection rate of Blastocystis sp. at 65.02% (303/466). The highest infection rate was found in Shandong (98%, 49/50), followed by Heilongjiang (95.51%, 85/89), while the lowest infection rate was found in Jilin (36.31%, 61/168). Additionally, within the seasonal group, the infection rate was significantly higher in autumn (69.04%) than in summer (43.06%). In the age group, although the infection rate in young animals (68.38%) was higher than in adults (63.90%), no statistical difference was observed. Ten subtypes were identified from 303 Blastocystis sp.-positive samples, including ST1, ST5, ST10, ST14, ST21, ST23, ST24, ST26, ST30 and ST42. Among these, ST10 was the dominant subtype with an infection rate of 43.23% (131/303), and ST1 and ST5 were zoonotic subtypes. Notably, this study is the first to report the presence of ST42 in sika deer.DiscussionThese findings suggest that sika deer may be a potential source of human Blastocystis sp. infection. In addition, this study reveals the high infection rate of Blastocystis sp. in farmed sika deer and reports for the first time the presence of ST42 subtype, providing valuable data for the epidemiological study of Blastocystis sp. in sika deer.
format Article
id doaj-art-c20f7dd2391b4deaa2e221992fa38dbe
institution OA Journals
issn 2297-1769
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Veterinary Science
spelling doaj-art-c20f7dd2391b4deaa2e221992fa38dbe2025-08-20T01:54:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-04-011210.3389/fvets.2025.15628141562814High prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in farmed sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Northern ChinaZhen-Qiu Gao0Yang Gao1Yang Gao2Hong-Di Zhuang3Guang-Rong Bao4Jing Liu5Jian-Ming Li6Nian-Yu Xue7Hong-Wei Cao8Shuo Liu9School of Pharmacy, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Shuangyang, Jilin Province, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Shuangyang, Jilin Province, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, ChinaIntroductionBlastocystis sp. is a widespread intestinal protist, that threatens the health of humans and animals. However, epidemiological data on Blastocystis sp. in sika deer are still scarce in China and globally. This study aimed to reveal the infection rate, and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in farmed sika deer across China.MethodsA total of 466 fresh fecal samples were collected from farmed sika deer in northern China. A 600 bp fragment of the SSU rRNA was amplified to detect the presence of Blastocystis sp. in samples.ResultsThe results revealed an overall infection rate of Blastocystis sp. at 65.02% (303/466). The highest infection rate was found in Shandong (98%, 49/50), followed by Heilongjiang (95.51%, 85/89), while the lowest infection rate was found in Jilin (36.31%, 61/168). Additionally, within the seasonal group, the infection rate was significantly higher in autumn (69.04%) than in summer (43.06%). In the age group, although the infection rate in young animals (68.38%) was higher than in adults (63.90%), no statistical difference was observed. Ten subtypes were identified from 303 Blastocystis sp.-positive samples, including ST1, ST5, ST10, ST14, ST21, ST23, ST24, ST26, ST30 and ST42. Among these, ST10 was the dominant subtype with an infection rate of 43.23% (131/303), and ST1 and ST5 were zoonotic subtypes. Notably, this study is the first to report the presence of ST42 in sika deer.DiscussionThese findings suggest that sika deer may be a potential source of human Blastocystis sp. infection. In addition, this study reveals the high infection rate of Blastocystis sp. in farmed sika deer and reports for the first time the presence of ST42 subtype, providing valuable data for the epidemiological study of Blastocystis sp. in sika deer.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1562814/fullBlastocystis sp.sika deerprevalencezoonoticChina
spellingShingle Zhen-Qiu Gao
Yang Gao
Yang Gao
Hong-Di Zhuang
Guang-Rong Bao
Jing Liu
Jian-Ming Li
Nian-Yu Xue
Hong-Wei Cao
Shuo Liu
High prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in farmed sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Northern China
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Blastocystis sp.
sika deer
prevalence
zoonotic
China
title High prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in farmed sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Northern China
title_full High prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in farmed sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Northern China
title_fullStr High prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in farmed sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Northern China
title_full_unstemmed High prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in farmed sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Northern China
title_short High prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in farmed sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Northern China
title_sort high prevalence of blastocystis sp in farmed sika deer cervus nippon in northern china
topic Blastocystis sp.
sika deer
prevalence
zoonotic
China
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1562814/full
work_keys_str_mv AT zhenqiugao highprevalenceofblastocystisspinfarmedsikadeercervusnipponinnorthernchina
AT yanggao highprevalenceofblastocystisspinfarmedsikadeercervusnipponinnorthernchina
AT yanggao highprevalenceofblastocystisspinfarmedsikadeercervusnipponinnorthernchina
AT hongdizhuang highprevalenceofblastocystisspinfarmedsikadeercervusnipponinnorthernchina
AT guangrongbao highprevalenceofblastocystisspinfarmedsikadeercervusnipponinnorthernchina
AT jingliu highprevalenceofblastocystisspinfarmedsikadeercervusnipponinnorthernchina
AT jianmingli highprevalenceofblastocystisspinfarmedsikadeercervusnipponinnorthernchina
AT nianyuxue highprevalenceofblastocystisspinfarmedsikadeercervusnipponinnorthernchina
AT hongweicao highprevalenceofblastocystisspinfarmedsikadeercervusnipponinnorthernchina
AT shuoliu highprevalenceofblastocystisspinfarmedsikadeercervusnipponinnorthernchina