Blastocystis occurrence and subtype diversity in wild European terrestrial mammals – The case of Białowieża Primeval Forest (NE Poland)

Abstract

Blastocystis cf. Blastocystis hominis is the most common unicellular parasite found in human and animal intestines. Little is known about the life cycle, transmission and mechanisms of pathogenesis for this parasite. The aim of this study was to obtain new data on the genetic diversity of Blastocystis in selected species of mammals found in the Białowieża Primeval Forest (BPF), Poland, the best preserved lowland forest in temperate Europe. 113 faecal samples were collected in the period 2018–2020 from seven species of wild mammals occurring within the Polish part of BPF and its surroundings. Blastocystis was detected by molecular amplification and sequencing the small subunit rRNA gene. The overall prevalence of Blastocystis in animals was 8.9%. A larger number of stool samples (90) were collected from European bison and only for this species was it possible to calculate the prevalence of infection (5.6%). The isolates obtained from European bison were classified as ST1, ST3, ST5, ST7. Blastocystis was also detected in the grey wolf ( Canis lupus ) (ST5), wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) (ST5) and red deer ( Cervus elaphus ) (ST1). In conclusion, for the first time we have demonstrated the presence of Blastocystis in wild European bison. Preliminary studies have shown that Blastocystis is present in at least 4 species of wild mammals in the BPF area and that it exhibits great genetic diversity.

Marked genetic diversity within Blastocystis in Australian wildlife revealed using a next generation sequencing–phylogenetic approach

“… Stensvold and Clark, 2020 ). Red deer have been reported to harbour ST4 ( Roberts et al, 2013 ; Betts et al, 2018 ) and ST10 ( Betts et al, 2018 ) in the UK, and ST1 in Poland ( Kaczmarek et al, 2021 ). Fallow deer have been recorded to harbour ST5 in Italy ( Gabrielli et al, 2021 ) and ST10 in China and Mauritius ( Alfellani et al, 2013 ; Zhao et al, 2017 ).…”

Blastocystisin the cervix of Polish women: a subtype found in a parenteral location is different to that found in the anus

“…A fragment of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was amplified using Bl18SPPF1 and BL18SR2PP primers (Poirier et al 2011). Further analysis (purifying PCR products, sequencing, phylogenetic analysis) was performed as previously described by us (Kaczmarek et al 2021). The sequences have been deposited with GenBank (accession numbers: XXXXX-XXXXX).…”

Epidemiology of Blastocystis Infection: A Review of Data from Poland in Relation to Other Reports

“…The diversity of food sources and environments these animals encounter during the winter months could lead to a higher likelihood of being exposed to different subtypes of Blastocystis . Perhaps this is the reason for the detection of ST1 and ST3 in the wild ruminants in Poland [ 75 ]. It is also worth mentioning that different subtypes of Blastocystis were found in Artiodactyla in Gdańsk Zoo (ST10, ST14) and in the Wrocław Zoo (ST1, ST2).…”