First subtyping of Blastocystis sp. from pet rodents in southwestern China

Abstract Background Blastocystis sp. is an anaerobic protozoan that parasitizes many animal hosts and the human gastrointestinal tract, and its pathogenicity is controversial. Captive wildlife may be potential reservoirs for human infection with Blastocystis sp. The present study was performed to investigate the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in zoo animals in Sichuan Province, southwestern China. Methods A total of 420 fresh fecal samples were collected from 54 captive wildlife species in four zoos in southwestern China between June 2017 and September 2019. The prevalence and subtype (ST) genetic characteristics of Blastocystis sp. were determined by PCR amplification of the barcode region of the SSU rRNA gene and phylogenetic analysis. Results Overall, 15.7% (66/420) of the animal samples and 20.7% (14/54) of the species tested were shown to be infected with Blastocystis sp. The highest prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was found in Panzhihua Zoo (24.3%), which was significantly higher than that in Chengdu Zoo (6.9%), and Xichang Zoo (2.9%) (P < 0.05). There are also significant differences in the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. among different species (P < 0.05), and the highest of Blastocystis sp. prevalence was observed in white-cheeked gibbon, black great squirrel, and red giant flying squirrel (100%). Subtype analysis of Blastocystis sp. revealed nine subtypes, including six zoonotic STs (ST1-5, and ST8) and three animal-specific STs (ST10, ST14, and ST17), with ST17 as the predominant subtype (26/66) in Blastocystis sp.-positive isolates. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report on the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. among captive wildlife in zoos in southwestern China. This study highlights that these animals may serve as reservoirs for human Blastocystis sp. infections.

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Prevalence, Molecular Characterization and Risk Factors of Blastocystis sp. from Farmed Pigs in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China

Acta Parasitologica ◽

10.2478/s11686-020-00229-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 65 (4) ◽

pp. 1005-1010 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jian Qiang Han ◽

Zhao Li ◽

Yang Zou ◽

Li Hua Pu ◽

Xin Quan Zhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Molecular Characterization ◽

Yunnan Province ◽

Southwestern China ◽

Blastocystis Sp

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Reconstruction of maximum temperature on Zhegu Mountain, western Sichuan Plateau (China)

Climate Research ◽

10.3354/cr01606 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 81 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

M Keyimu ◽

Z Li ◽

Y Zhao ◽

Y Dong ◽

B Fu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tree Growth ◽

Ring Width ◽

Volcanic Eruptions ◽

Southwestern China ◽

Maximum Temperature ◽

Driving Mechanism ◽

Western Sichuan ◽

Relationship Analysis ◽

Decadal Scale ◽

Thermal Variability

Historical temperature reconstructions at high altitudes are still insufficient in southwestern China, which is considered one of the most sensitive areas to climate change in the world. Here we developed a tree ring-width chronology of Faxon fir Abies fargesii var. faxoniana at the upper timber line on Zhegu Mountain, Miyaluo Scenic Area, western Sichuan, China. The climate-tree growth relationship analysis indicated temperature as the dominant regulator on radial tree growth in this region. The reconstruction of aggregated maximum temperature (TMX) of autumn and winter for the period 1856-2016 was achieved with a linear regression model that accounted for 43.6% of the actual variability in the common time series (1954-2016). The reconstruction identified 4 warm periods and 3 cold periods. Similarities of warm and cold periods with previously published reconstructions from nearby sites indicated the reliability of our reconstruction. The significant positive correlation between TMX reconstruction and the Asian-Pacific Oscillation index and the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation index suggested a linkage between large-scale climate circulations and the thermal variability at a multi-decadal scale on the western Sichuan Plateau. We also found that solar activity exerted a strong influence on decadal temperature variability in this region. The cold periods were matched well with historical large volcanic eruptions. Our results strengthen the historical climatic information in southwestern China and contribute to further understanding the regional thermal variability as well as its driving mechanism.

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Leaf nutrient stoichiometry of plants in the phosphorus-enriched soils of the Lake Dianchi watershed, southwestern China

Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology ◽

10.3724/sp.j.1258.2011.00353 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 353-361 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Kai YAN ◽

Deng-Gao FU ◽

Feng HE ◽

Chang-Qun DUAN

Keyword(s):

Southwestern China ◽

Nutrient Stoichiometry ◽

Lake Dianchi

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THE CORRELATION OF THE PERMIAN–TRIASSIC TRANSITIONAL BEDS AND MASS EXTINCTION IN CONTINENTAL-MARINE SILICICLASTIC SETTINGS OF WESTERN GUIZHOU AND EASTERN YUNNAN, SOUTHWESTERN CHINA

10.1130/abs/2018am-318745 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Daoliang Chu ◽

◽

Jinnan Tong ◽

Michael J. Benton ◽

Haijun Song

Keyword(s):

Mass Extinction ◽

Southwestern China ◽

Western Guizhou

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USING FALLOUT RADIONUCLIDES TO IDENTIFY THE EROSIONAL IMPACT OF LAND USE IN SOUTHWESTERN CHINA

10.1130/abs/2019am-336686 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Paige N. Monyak ◽

◽

Sophia Maffie ◽

Alexandra Grande ◽

Emily A. Bermudez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Southwestern China ◽

Fallout Radionuclides

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Fifteen new species and a new country record of Labomimus Sharp from China, with a checklist of world species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4554.2.7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4554 (2) ◽

pp. 497 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

YU-QING ZHANG ◽

LI-ZHEN LI ◽

ZI-WEI YIN

Keyword(s):

Hong Kong ◽

New Species ◽

Southwestern China ◽

World Species ◽

Diagnostic Characters ◽

Northeastern India

The diversity of the ‘Pselaphodes complex’ of genera from Asia remains fragmentally documented. Herein we describe fifteen new species of the genus Labomimus Sharp from China: L. assingi sp. nov. and L. dilatatus sp. nov. from Shaanxi, L. longnan sp. nov. and L. minshanus sp. nov. from Gansu, L. chouwenii sp. nov. from Taiwan, L. yue sp. nov. from Guangdong, L. howaichuni sp. nov. from Hong Kong, L. jinfomontis sp. nov. from Chongqing, L. niger sp. nov. from Sichuan, L. maolan sp. nov. from Guizhou, L. corpulentus sp. nov., L. dulongensis sp. nov., and L. wuchaoi sp. nov. from Yunnan, and L. medogensis sp. nov. and L. qiujianyuae sp. nov. from Xizang. A little known species, L. torticornis (Champion), originally described from Assam, northeastern India, is newly recorded in Yunnan, southwestern China. Illustrations of the habitus and major diagnostic characters of all treated species are provided. A checklist and a distributional map of world species are given.

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