First Report on the Frequency and Subtype Distribution of <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. in Extensively Reared Holstein-Friesian Cattle from Terceira Island, Azores Archipelago, Portugal
This study is the first to report <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. in dairy cattle from Terceira Island, part of the Azores Archipelago. <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. is an enteric protozoan with high genetic diversity and is associated with both zoonotic and non-zoonotic subtypes (STs). Th...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/2/186 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832589369292095488 |
|---|---|
| author | Sara Gomes-Gonçalves Alexandra Silva Guilherme Moreira Nausicaa Gantois Rubén Garcia Dominguez Eric Viscogliosi Magali Chabé João R. Mesquita |
| author_facet | Sara Gomes-Gonçalves Alexandra Silva Guilherme Moreira Nausicaa Gantois Rubén Garcia Dominguez Eric Viscogliosi Magali Chabé João R. Mesquita |
| author_sort | Sara Gomes-Gonçalves |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study is the first to report <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. in dairy cattle from Terceira Island, part of the Azores Archipelago. <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. is an enteric protozoan with high genetic diversity and is associated with both zoonotic and non-zoonotic subtypes (STs). The present survey aimed to fill the gap in knowledge regarding the occurrence and genetic characterization of <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. isolates in Holstein-Friesian cattle in this geographical area. A total of 116 stool samples were thus collected from dairy cows, and <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. DNA was detected using qPCR. The results revealed a 14.7% occurrence rate (17/116), with seven STs identified including ST3, ST5, ST7, ST10, ST14, ST25, and ST42, with variable frequency. Some of these STs (ST5, ST7, ST10, and ST14) are potentially zoonotic, underscoring their potential public health significance. However, the low frequency of <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. in this animal cohort possibly attributed to the extensive grazing system practiced on Terceira Island and the limited presence of zoonotic isolates, suggests a minimal risk of transmission from cattle to humans. This study highlights the importance of further research on the transmission dynamics of <i>Blastocystis</i> sp., particularly in regions with varying farming practices, to better understand its epidemiology and zoonotic potential. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f768207b72c04796bdd5a22ae766bd6b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-f768207b72c04796bdd5a22ae766bd6b2025-01-24T13:17:58ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-01-0115218610.3390/ani15020186First Report on the Frequency and Subtype Distribution of <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. in Extensively Reared Holstein-Friesian Cattle from Terceira Island, Azores Archipelago, PortugalSara Gomes-Gonçalves0Alexandra Silva1Guilherme Moreira2Nausicaa Gantois3Rubén Garcia Dominguez4Eric Viscogliosi5Magali Chabé6João R. Mesquita7ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalCentro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, CSIC, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Sevilla, SpainCentro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, CSIC, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Sevilla, SpainCNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, FranceCNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019–UMR 9017–CIIL–Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, FranceICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalThis study is the first to report <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. in dairy cattle from Terceira Island, part of the Azores Archipelago. <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. is an enteric protozoan with high genetic diversity and is associated with both zoonotic and non-zoonotic subtypes (STs). The present survey aimed to fill the gap in knowledge regarding the occurrence and genetic characterization of <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. isolates in Holstein-Friesian cattle in this geographical area. A total of 116 stool samples were thus collected from dairy cows, and <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. DNA was detected using qPCR. The results revealed a 14.7% occurrence rate (17/116), with seven STs identified including ST3, ST5, ST7, ST10, ST14, ST25, and ST42, with variable frequency. Some of these STs (ST5, ST7, ST10, and ST14) are potentially zoonotic, underscoring their potential public health significance. However, the low frequency of <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. in this animal cohort possibly attributed to the extensive grazing system practiced on Terceira Island and the limited presence of zoonotic isolates, suggests a minimal risk of transmission from cattle to humans. This study highlights the importance of further research on the transmission dynamics of <i>Blastocystis</i> sp., particularly in regions with varying farming practices, to better understand its epidemiology and zoonotic potential.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/2/186<i>Blastocystis</i> qPCRzoonotic subtypesdiary cows |
| spellingShingle | Sara Gomes-Gonçalves Alexandra Silva Guilherme Moreira Nausicaa Gantois Rubén Garcia Dominguez Eric Viscogliosi Magali Chabé João R. Mesquita First Report on the Frequency and Subtype Distribution of <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. in Extensively Reared Holstein-Friesian Cattle from Terceira Island, Azores Archipelago, Portugal Animals <i>Blastocystis</i> qPCR zoonotic subtypes diary cows |
| title | First Report on the Frequency and Subtype Distribution of <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. in Extensively Reared Holstein-Friesian Cattle from Terceira Island, Azores Archipelago, Portugal |
| title_full | First Report on the Frequency and Subtype Distribution of <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. in Extensively Reared Holstein-Friesian Cattle from Terceira Island, Azores Archipelago, Portugal |
| title_fullStr | First Report on the Frequency and Subtype Distribution of <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. in Extensively Reared Holstein-Friesian Cattle from Terceira Island, Azores Archipelago, Portugal |
| title_full_unstemmed | First Report on the Frequency and Subtype Distribution of <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. in Extensively Reared Holstein-Friesian Cattle from Terceira Island, Azores Archipelago, Portugal |
| title_short | First Report on the Frequency and Subtype Distribution of <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. in Extensively Reared Holstein-Friesian Cattle from Terceira Island, Azores Archipelago, Portugal |
| title_sort | first report on the frequency and subtype distribution of i blastocystis i sp in extensively reared holstein friesian cattle from terceira island azores archipelago portugal |
| topic | <i>Blastocystis</i> qPCR zoonotic subtypes diary cows |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/2/186 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saragomesgoncalves firstreportonthefrequencyandsubtypedistributionofiblastocystisispinextensivelyrearedholsteinfriesiancattlefromterceiraislandazoresarchipelagoportugal AT alexandrasilva firstreportonthefrequencyandsubtypedistributionofiblastocystisispinextensivelyrearedholsteinfriesiancattlefromterceiraislandazoresarchipelagoportugal AT guilhermemoreira firstreportonthefrequencyandsubtypedistributionofiblastocystisispinextensivelyrearedholsteinfriesiancattlefromterceiraislandazoresarchipelagoportugal AT nausicaagantois firstreportonthefrequencyandsubtypedistributionofiblastocystisispinextensivelyrearedholsteinfriesiancattlefromterceiraislandazoresarchipelagoportugal AT rubengarciadominguez firstreportonthefrequencyandsubtypedistributionofiblastocystisispinextensivelyrearedholsteinfriesiancattlefromterceiraislandazoresarchipelagoportugal AT ericviscogliosi firstreportonthefrequencyandsubtypedistributionofiblastocystisispinextensivelyrearedholsteinfriesiancattlefromterceiraislandazoresarchipelagoportugal AT magalichabe firstreportonthefrequencyandsubtypedistributionofiblastocystisispinextensivelyrearedholsteinfriesiancattlefromterceiraislandazoresarchipelagoportugal AT joaormesquita firstreportonthefrequencyandsubtypedistributionofiblastocystisispinextensivelyrearedholsteinfriesiancattlefromterceiraislandazoresarchipelagoportugal |