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Home / Equine Research Bank / Parasitol Res / Zoonotic potential of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia du...
Parasitology research2020; 119(3); 1101-1108; doi: 10.1007/s00436-020-06612-8

Zoonotic potential of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia duodenalis in horses and donkeys in northern China.

Abstract: Limited data are available on infection rates and genetic identity of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia duodenalis in horses and donkeys. In this study, 865 fecal specimens were collected from donkeys (n = 540) and horses (n = 325) in three provinces and autonomous regions in northern China during 2015-2019. Enterocytozoon bieneusi was detected and genotyped by PCR and sequence analyses of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and G. duodenalis was detected and genotyped by PCR and sequence analyses of the β-giardin, glutamate dehydrogenase, and triosephosphate isomerase genes. The overall infection rates of E. bieneusi and G. duodenalis were 21.9% (118/540) and 11.5% (62/540) in donkeys, and 7.4% (24/325) and 2.8% (9/325) in horses, respectively. These differences in infection rates of E. bieneusi and G. duodenalis between donkeys and horses were significant (χ = 30.9, df = 1, P < 0.0001; χ = 20.4, df = 1, P < 0.0001, respectively). By age, the 28.9% infection rate of E. bieneusi in donkeys under 6 months was significantly higher than that in animals over 6 months (6.0%; χ = 35.2, df = 1, P < 0.0001). In contrast, donkeys of 6-12 months had higher infection rate (35.9%) of G. duodenalis than donkeys under 6 months (9.9%; χ = 22.1, df = 1, P < 0.0001) and over 12 months (8.7%; χ = 17.3, df = 1, P  12 months had significantly higher infection rate (31.1%) of E. bieneusi than horses under 6 months (3.4%; χ = 29.4, df = 1, P < 0.0001) and 6-12 months (3.8%; χ = 26.1, df = 1, P < 0.0001). Twenty genotypes of E. bieneusi were detected, including six known ones and 14 new genotypes. Among them, nine genotypes in 45% E. bieneusi-positive specimens belonged to the zoonotic group 1. Similarly, three G. duodenalis assemblages were detected, including A (in 2 horses and 30 donkeys), B (in 6 horses and 29 donkeys), and E (in 1 horse); three donkeys had coinfections of assemblages A and B. The assemblage A isolates identified all belong to the sub-assemblage AI. These results indicate that unlike in other farm animals, there is a common occurrence of zoonotic E. bieneusi and G. duodenalis genotypes in horses and donkeys.
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Publication Date: 2020-01-31 PubMed ID: 32006227DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06612-8Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article examines the infection rates and genetic types of two zoonotic parasites, Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia duodenalis, in horses and donkeys in Northern China. It found that these parasites could potentially be transmitted to humans.

Methodology

  • The team of researchers collected 865 fecal samples from horses (325 samples) and donkeys (540 samples) across three provinces and autonomous regions in Northern China over a four-year period.
  • The parasites were detected and their genetic identity determined through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis of various genes specific to each parasite.

Results

  • The infection rates for E. bieneusi were 21.9% in donkeys and 7.4% in horses, while for G. duodenalis it was 11.5% in donkeys and 2.8% in horses.
  • There was a statistically significant difference in the infection rates of both parasites between donkeys and horses.
  • Across age groups, young donkeys (under 6 months) showed significantly higher infection rates for E. bieneusi compared to older animals. For G. duodenalis, donkeys aged between 6-12 months showed the highest infection rates.
  • In horses, older animals (over 12 months) had a higher infection rate of E. bieneusi than younger horses.
  • The study identified 20 genotypes of the E. bieneusi parasite, which included six known ones and 14 new genotypes, and three assemblages of G. duodenalis.
  • About 45% of the E. bieneusi-positive samples belonged to the zoonotic group 1, implying they can potentially infect humans. For G. duodenalis, assemblages A and B were found in both horses and donkeys. The assemblage A isolates were all from the sub-assemblage AI, which is also zoonotic.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that horses and donkeys in Northern China show common occurrence of Zoonotic E. bieneusi and G. duodenalis genotypes.
  • These results indicate the potential risk of transmission of these parasites to humans, making it an area of concern in public health.
  • The discoveries of the new genotypes of E. bieneusi also expand our existing knowledge about the genetic diversity of this parasite.

Cite This Article

APA
Li F, Wang R, Guo Y, Li N, Feng Y, Xiao L. (2020). Zoonotic potential of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia duodenalis in horses and donkeys in northern China. Parasitol Res, 119(3), 1101-1108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06612-8

Publication

Parasitology research
ISSN: 1432-1955
NlmUniqueID: 8703571
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 119
Issue: 3
Pages: 1101-1108

Researcher Affiliations

Li, Falei
  • Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
  • Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
Wang, Rui
  • State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Resource and Environmental, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
Guo, Yaqiong
  • Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
  • Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
Li, Na
  • Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
  • Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
Feng, Yaoyu
  • Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou, 510642, China. yyfeng@scau.edu.cn.
  • Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China. yyfeng@scau.edu.cn.
Xiao, Lihua
  • Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou, 510642, China. lxiao1961@gmail.com.
  • Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China. lxiao1961@gmail.com.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic / parasitology
  • China / epidemiology
  • Enterocytozoon / classification
  • Enterocytozoon / genetics
  • Enterocytozoon / physiology
  • Equidae / parasitology
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Genes, Protozoan / genetics
  • Genotype
  • Giardia lamblia / classification
  • Giardia lamblia / genetics
  • Giardia lamblia / physiology
  • Giardiasis / epidemiology
  • Giardiasis / parasitology
  • Giardiasis / veterinary
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Host Specificity
  • Microsporidiosis / epidemiology
  • Microsporidiosis / parasitology
  • Microsporidiosis / veterinary
  • Phylogeny
  • Prevalence
  • Zoonoses / transmission

Grant Funding

  • 31630078 / National Natural Science Foundation of China
  • 31820103014 / National Natural Science Foundation of China

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