Molecular Epidemiology of Blastocystis in Confined Slow Lorises, Macaques, and Gibbons

Abstract

Blastocystis sp. is a common intestinal anaerobic parasite infecting non-human primates and many other animals. This taxon threatens the health of NHPs due to its high genetic diversity, impeding efforts to improve confined management and subsequent conservation practices. This study collected 100 and 154 fecal samples from captive macaques, gibbons, and slow lorises in the summer and winter, respectively. The Blastocystis infection, its gene subtypes, and its zoonotic potential based on small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) were analyzed. The prevalence of Blastocystis in the three primate genera was 57.79% (89/154) in the summer (2021) and 29.00% (29/100) in the winter (2020). Four zoonotic subtypes—ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4—were identified. ST2 was the most prevalent subtype, suggesting that these animals may serve as reservoirs for pathogens of human Blastocystis infections. The macaques showed a more significant variation in Blastocystis infection between seasons than gibbons and slow lorises. The slow lorises in small cages and enclosure areas were potentially more infected by Blastocystis in the summer, indicating that inappropriate captive management may have detrimental effects on their health.

Molecular prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis spp. among children who have diarrheia or are asymptomatic in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China

“…The five known Blastocystis subtypes (ST1 to ST4 and ST7) identified in this study are also prevalent in various animals in China [ 18 ]: ST1 in non-human primates, dogs, foxes, goats, sheep, pigs, cattle, civets, bears, and birds; ST2 in non-human primates, bears, and some captive wild animals; ST3 in non-human primates, goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, raccoon dogs, and rex rabbits; ST4 in rodents, bears, and whooper swans; and ST7 in chickens, whooper swans, and some birds [ 7 , 14 , 15 , 17 , 29 , 31 , 35 – 37 , 40 , 41 ]. These findings suggest the potential for zoonotic transmission of Blastocystis .…”

Slowly Making Sense: A Review of the Two-Step Venom System within Slow (Nycticebus spp.) and Pygmy Lorises (Xanthonycticebus spp.)

“…Slow lorises are no exception, with numerous endoparasite species found in wild and captive individuals such as Blastocystis spp. ( N. bengalensis in Dehong Wildlife Rescue Center in Yunnan, China [ 107 ]), Strongyloides spp. ( N. menagensis in Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo [ 108 ]) and Pterygodermatites nycticebi ( N. coucang , zoological garden in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan [ 109 ]).…”