Subtype distribution of Blastocystis isolates from a variety of animals from New South Wales, Australia

Tamalee Roberts; Damien Stark; Jock Harkness; John Ellis

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.01.011

Subtype distribution of Blastocystis isolates from a variety of animals from New South Wales, Australia

Vet Parasitol. 2013 Sep 1;196(1-2):85-9. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.01.011. Epub 2013 Jan 23.

Authors

Tamalee Roberts¹, Damien Stark, Jock Harkness, John Ellis

Affiliation

¹ Department of Microbiology, SydPath, St. Vincent's Hospital, Victoria st, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia. troberts@stvincents.com.au

PMID: 23398989
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.01.011

Abstract

A total of 438 stool samples from 38 different species of animal from seven different locations were studied for the presence of Blastocystis. PCR analysis was completed on all samples and DNA sequence data from the rDNA were submitted to subtype allocation. There was a total of 80 (18%) sequences from 18 species, and nine different subtypes were identified - ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5, ST7, ST11, ST12 and ST13. This is the first report of Blastocystis from the eastern grey kangaroo, red kangaroo, wallaroo, snow leopard and ostrich. This study highlights the need for further investigation into the genetic diversity of Blastocystis which could help show the zoonotic potential of Blastocystis.

Keywords: Blastocystis; Kangaroo; Subtype.

MeSH terms

Animals
Birds*
Blastocystis / classification*
Blastocystis / isolation & purification*
Blastocystis Infections / epidemiology
Blastocystis Infections / parasitology
Blastocystis Infections / veterinary*
Feces / parasitology
Mammals*
New South Wales / epidemiology