The first survey and molecular identification of Entamoeba spp. in farm animals on Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China.

The research article focuses on a study conducted to understand the prevalence and distribution of Entamoeba spp., a group of globally distributed zoonotic parasites, among domestic animals in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China. The research found a high prevalence (97.9%) of Entamoeba infection among examined animals, with four species of Entamoeba identified.

Survey and Sample Collection

• The study was conducted through a survey where fecal samples were collected from seven species of domestic animals.
• The sampling covered various locations across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), a region known for animal husbandry and agriculture.
• A total of 528 fecal samples were collected for the study and later analyzed using PCR and sequencing analysis.

Prevalence of Entamoeba

• The overall prevalence of Entamoeba infection in all examined animals was quite high, recorded at 97.9%.
• Four different species of Entamoeba, namely E. bovis, E. moshkovskii, E. ecuadoriensis, and E. histolytica, were identified in the collected samples.
• The majority of the infected animals (94.2%) were found to harbor E. bovis.

Entamoeba Species and Genotypes

• Along with the four Entamoeba species, six Entamoeba genotypes, identified as ribosomal lineages (RL) 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 9, were also discovered through sequencing analysis.
• Among these species, two (E. moshkovskii and E. histolytica) are zoonotic species and were found in horses.
• E. ecuadoriensis and E. bovis, on the other hand, were found in horses and all species of the seven farm animals, respectively.

Distribution of Entamoeba

• The research also observed a specific pattern in the distribution of the six Entamoeba genotypes among the animals.
• This reveals not just the high prevalence of Entamoeba infection in livestock, but also its broad host range, and diversity in the region.