Molecular identification of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Blastocystis from stray and household cats and cat owners in Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, and blastocystosis are among the most important parasitic diseases common between humans and cats. In addition, there are concerns about the possible transmission of zoonotic parasites from infected cats to humans. Hence, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Blastocystis sp. in stray and household cats and cat owners. Our study was performed on 132, 33, and 33 fecal samples of stray and household cats, as well as cat owners in Tehran, Iran. Cryptosporidium spp. was identified using a nested PCR targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rRNA) and sequencing the internal amplified fragments. Furthermore, to perform multilocus genotyping of G. duodenalis, the ß-giardin (bg), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), and triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) genes were amplified to assess the DNA of G. duodenalis in the fecal samples of cats and cat owners. In addition, Blastocystis was detected by targeting the SSU rRNA gene, and the subtypes of Blastocystis were determined via the sequencing of amplicons. Cryptosporidium felis and Cryptosporidium canis were detected in seven stray cats (5.3%) and one household cat (3%). The bg gene of G. duodenalis was amplified and successfully sequenced in two (1.5%) stray cats and revealed assemblages F and B of G. duodenalis. Sequencing and phylogenic analysis of SSU rRNA gene nucleotide sequences of Blastocystis detected ST5 and ST10 in stray cats (1.5%), ST1 in household cats (9.1%), and ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST7 in owners (30.3%). The low prevalence of Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Blastocystis in cats and the presence of species/assemblages/subtypes with limited zoonotic potential indicate that cats had a minor role in their owners' infection in the investigated population. However, the presence of zoonotic protozoa in cats suggests the necessity of special attention to high-risk individuals during close contact with cats. Therefore, it is recommended that veterinarians, physicians, and urban managers plan to prevent, control, or treat these parasites to help the urban community live healthily alongside cats.

The detection and phylogenetic characterization of Cryptosporidium, Cystoisospora, and Giardia duodenalis of cats in South Korea

“…The information on G. duodenalis infection in cats is limited, and it has been reported only in certain regions of South Korea: with 3.8% in Jeju (Kwak and Seo, 2020) and 30.7% in Daejeon . The G. duodenalis infection rate in this study was higher than 2.3% in the United States (Bouzid et al, 2015), 7% in Denmark (Enemark et al, 2020), 1.4-3.6% in China , and 1.5% in Iran (Karimi et al, 2023). However, it was lower than Brazil at 9.0% (de Oliveira et al, 2021), Australia at 10.1% (Yang et al, 2015), and Turkey at 8.0% (Onder et al, 2021).…”

“…The housing environment of companion animals contributes to the prevalence of parasitic infection (Appelbee et al, 2005). Previous studies have reported a higher rate of C. felis infection in stray and shelter cats than in companion cats, although companions also show parasitic infection (Itoh et al, 2013;Li et al, 2021;Taghipour et al, 2021;Karimi et al, 2023). The present results showed that the detection of protozoa parasites varies depending on the habitat of cats and that the low rate of companion cat infection with Cryptosporidium and Cystoisospora is consistent with the breeding style of companion cats with less outside access in South Korea (Kim et al, 2018).…”

Molecular Prevalence and Subtypes Distribution of Blastocystis spp. in Humans of Latin America: A Systematic Review

“…According to Nemati et al [ 11 ], the first three, ST1, ST2, and ST3, are the most frequent STs among human subjects in the Asian continent. Karimi et al [ 97 ] indicated that approximately 90% of the Blastocystis STs isolated from human fecal samples worldwide belonged to ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST4. Some studies in developing countries reported the following Blastocystis spp.…”

Molecular characterization and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in humans and domestic animals in Heilongjiang Province, China

“…These parasites are widespread and can infect humans, domestic animals, and wild animals. The cysts/oocysts of both parasites are shed in the feces of infected hosts and can be transmitted to new hosts via contaminated food, water, or direct contact with infected humans or animals [ 1 , 2 ]. Both protozoa have a monoxenous life cycle, a low infective dose, and a short prepatent period, which increase their potential for transmission in human and animal hosts [ 3 ].…”

“…Both protozoa have a monoxenous life cycle, a low infective dose, and a short prepatent period, which increase their potential for transmission in human and animal hosts [ 3 ]. Some families keep domestic animals in their yards and share public places with them, increasing the potential for zoonotic transmission [ 2 ].…”