The Role of Inhabited Animals With People in Human Transmission of Blastocystis sp.

Abstract

Blastocystis sp. is a common intestinal parasite worldwide that can cause infection in humans and animals. Blastocystis sp. has a high genetic diversity with 17 different subtypes (ST) identified to date. Since nine of these subtypes are common in both humans and animals, it has been proposed that animals may have a role in the transmission of Blastocystis sp. to human.
 The aim of this study is to investigate the epidemiological effect of animals on the human transmission of Blastocystis species by molecular methods for in our country.
 A total of 420 faecal samples were collected from the cattle, sheep, dogs, horses and chickens. Samples were stained with trichrome staining and cultivated by Jones's medium culture method. Blastocystis was detected in 53(12.6%) of 420. The samples were examined by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to identify nine common human subtypes.
 Subtypes were not detected in 33(62.3) of the 53 Blastocystis positive samples. Subtypes were detected in 20(37.7%) samples. The detected subtypes were as follows: ST5 in 4(7.5%) sheep, ST6 in 6(11.3%) chickens, ST7 in 11(20.7%) chickens, both ST6-ST7 were detected in one chicken).
 ST1, ST2, ST3 and ST4 - common subtypes in our country- were not detected in any animal. Sheep and chickens may be the source of human transmission of ST5, ST6 and ST7, the rare subtypes in our country. 
 As a result, humans rather than animals, seem to be the source of the human transmission of Blastocystis sp. in our country.