Prevalence and Subtypes of Blastocystis in Alpacas, Vicugna pacos in Shanxi Province, China

Blastocystis, an enteric protist, has been reported to be an important cause of protozoal gastrointestinal manifestations in humans and animals worldwide. Animals harboring certain Blastocystis subtypes (STs) may serve as a potential source of human infection. However, information about the prevalence and genetic diversity of Blastocystis in alpacas is limited. In the present study, a total of 366 fecal samples from alpacas in Shanxi Province, northern China, were examined for Blastocystis by PCR amplification of the small subunit rRNA gene, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The prevalence of Blastocystis in alpacas was 23.8%, and gender difference in the prevalence of Blastocystiswas observed. The most predominant Blastocystis ST was ST10, followed by ST14 and ST5. The detection of ST5, a potentially zoonotic genotype, indicates that alpacas harboring ST5 could be a potential source of human infection with Blastocystis. These data provide new insight into the prevalence and genetic diversity of Blastocystis in alpacas.

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Detection of Kobe-typeBabesia microtiassociated with Japanese human babesiosis in field rodents in central Taiwan and southeastern mainland China

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182008004356 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 135 (6) ◽

pp. 691-699 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

A. SAITO-ITO ◽

N. TAKADA ◽

F. ISHIGURO ◽

H. FUJITA ◽

Y. YANO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mainland China ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Human Infection ◽

Babesia Microti ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Microscopical Examination ◽

Small Subunit Rrna ◽

Central Taiwan ◽

Field Rodents ◽

Human Babesiosis

SUMMARYField rodent surveys forBabesiainfection were performed from 2002 to 2005 in the vicinities of human babesiosis occurrences in Taiwan and mainland China.Babesia microtiwas identified by microscopical examination and/or PCR in 1Rattus coxingaand 1Crocidura horsfieldiiin central Taiwan and in 13Niviventer confucianusand 1Apodemus agrariusin Zhejiang and Fujian Provinces of southeastern China. Of 15B. microtisamples detected by PCR, all except 1 were shown to be the Kobe-type, the aetiological small subunit rRNA gene-type of the first Japanese patient; the exception was also a Kobe-related type. The Kobe-type had been found in rodents only in a few places including the human infection occurrence place in Japan. The internal transcribed spacer 1 to 2 sequences of the Taiwanese and Chinese Kobe-types were very similar to each other but considerably different (approx. 94% pairwise identities) from that of the Japanese Kobe-type. A Taiwanese Kobe-type strain was serologically differentiated from the Kobe strain originating from the Japanese first patient. The distribution of the Kobe-type in the vicinities of human babesiosis occurrences in Taiwan and China as well as in Japan is suggestive of involvement of the Kobe-type in Asian human babesiosis.

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Quantitative Measure of Small-Subunit rRNA Gene Sequences of the Kingdom Korarchaeota

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.64.12.5064-5066.1998 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 64 (12) ◽

pp. 5064-5066 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Clifford F. Brunk ◽

Nicole Eis

Keyword(s):

Internal Standard ◽

Pcr Amplification ◽

Quantitative Measure ◽

Pcr Primers ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Ssu Rdna ◽

Rdna Sequence ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Small Subunit Rrna ◽

Rdna Sequences

ABSTRACT Comparative PCR amplification of small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene (rDNA) sequences indicates substantial preferential PCR amplification of pJP27 sequences with korarchaeote-specific PCR primers. The coamplification of a modified SSU rDNA sequence can be used as an internal standard to determine the amount of a specific SSU rDNA sequence.

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Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Cryptosporidium Infection in Java Sparrows (Lonchura oryzivora) in Northern China

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2017/2318476 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Qiu-Xia Yao ◽

Xiao-Xuan Zhang ◽

Kai Chen ◽

Jian-Gang Ma ◽

Wen-Bin Zheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pcr Amplification ◽

Northern China ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Ssu Rrna ◽

Ssu Rrna Gene ◽

Wide Range ◽

Baseline Information ◽

And Control

Cryptosporidiosis is a cosmopolitan parasitosis that affects a wide range of hosts including birds. As information concerning Cryptosporidium in birds is limited, the present study examined the prevalence and genotypes of Cryptosporidium in Java sparrows in Beijing and Shangqiu, northern China. Three hundred and fifty fecal samples were collected from Java sparrows (Lonchura oryzivora, 225 white Java sparrows and 125 gray Java sparrows) in Beijing and Shangqiu in October 2015, and the samples were examined by PCR amplification of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. The overall Cryptosporidium prevalence is 13.42% (47/350), with 16.44% (37/225) in white Java sparrows and 8.00% (10/125) in gray Java sparrows. Cryptosporidium prevalence was 9.82% (16/163) in Java sparrows from Beijing and 16.58% (31/187) in Java sparrows from Shangqiu. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in females and males was 40.63% (26/64) and 7.34% (21/286), respectively. The Cryptosporidium prevalence in Java sparrows of different ages varied from 10.47% to 16.33%. Sequence analysis of the SSU rRNA gene revealed that all the samples represented C. baileyi. This is the first report of Cryptosporidium in gray Java sparrows in China, which extend the host range for C. baileyi. These results provide baseline information for further studies of molecular epidemiology and control of Cryptosporidium infection in poultry in China.

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Genetic Diversity of Archaea in Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vent Environments

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/152.4.1285 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 152 (4) ◽

pp. 1285-1297 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ken Takai ◽

Koki Horikoshi

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Deep Sea ◽

Hydrothermal Vent ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Small Subunit Rrna ◽

Rdna Sequencing ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic

Abstract Molecular phylogenetic analysis of naturally occurring archaeal communities in deep-sea hydrothermal vent environments was carried out by PCR-mediated small subunit rRNA gene (SSU rDNA) sequencing. As determined through partial sequencing of rDNA clones amplified with archaea-specific primers, the archaeal populations in deep-sea hydrothermal vent environments showed a great genetic diversity, and most members of these populations appeared to be uncultivated and unidentified organisms. In the phylogenetic analysis, a number of rDNA sequences obtained from deep-sea hydrothermal vents were placed in deep lineages of the crenarchaeotic phylum prior to the divergence of cultivated thermophilic members of the crenarchaeota or between thermophilic members of the euryarchaeota and members of the methanogen-halophile clade. Whole cell in situ hybridization analysis suggested that some microorganisms of novel phylotypes predicted by molecular phylogenetic analysis were likely present in deep-sea hydrothermal vent environments. These findings expand our view of the genetic diversity of archaea in deep-sea hydrothermal vent environments and of the phylogenetic organization of archaea.

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Establishing mono-eukaryotic Histomonas meleagridis cultures from in vivo infection contaminated with Tetratrichomonas gallinarum and Blastocystis spp.

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182013000723 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 140 (10) ◽

pp. 1266-1274 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

ANH DAO NGUYEN PHAM ◽

JAN MAST ◽

JEROEN KOEN DE GUSSEM ◽

LARRY R. MCDOUGALD ◽

BRUNO MARIA GODDEERIS

Keyword(s):

Culture Media ◽

Pcr Amplification ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Small Subunit Rrna ◽

Morphological Evaluation ◽

Small Subunit Rrna Gene ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Successful Approach

SUMMARYThe necessity to easily establish Histomonas meleagridis cultures has been underlined extensively by many researchers in order to gain more insights in the biology of H. meleagridis. In addition the occurrence of different protozoa in the caeca of birds impedes, however, the isolation and propagation of H. meleagridis from field outbreaks. Therefore, in a kinetic study using transmission electron microscopy the deleterious effects of adventitious protozoa including Tetratrichomonas gallinarum and Blastocystis spp. on cultured H. meleagridis were examined. To overcome this issue, an easy and successful approach to establish the mono-eukaryotic H. meleagridis culture free of other host's protozoa is proposed. At 10 days post infection, liver lesions of H. meleagridis-infected birds were isolated and inoculated into culture media pre-incubated with caecal bacteria. After 48 h of incubation, presence of H. meleagridis in the cultures was confirmed through morphological evaluation. Additionally, TEM examination and analysis by PCR amplification of the small subunit rRNA gene could exclude the co-cultivation of T. gallinarum and Blastocystis spp. Furthermore, after successful propagation and maintenance of the cultured H. meleagridis, its pathogenicity was affirmed in an infection experiment in turkeys.

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Genetic Diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in Captive Reptiles

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.70.2.891-899.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 70 (2) ◽

pp. 891-899 ◽

Cited By ~ 94

Author(s):

Lihua Xiao ◽

Una M. Ryan ◽

Thaddeus K. Graczyk ◽

Josef Limor ◽

Lixia Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Cryptosporidium Parvum ◽

Fragment Length Polymorphism ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Small Subunit Rrna ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp ◽

Small Subunit Rrna Gene ◽

Different Types ◽

Restriction Fragment Length

ABSTRACT The genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium in reptiles was analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequence analysis of the small subunit rRNA gene. A total of 123 samples were analyzed, of which 48 snake samples, 24 lizard samples, and 3 tortoise samples were positive for Cryptosporidium. Nine different types of Cryptosporidium were found, including Cryptosporidium serpentis, Cryptosporidium desert monitor genotype, Cryptosporidium muris, Cryptosporidium parvum bovine and mouse genotypes, one C. serpentis-like parasite in a lizard, two new Cryptosporidium spp. in snakes, and one new Cryptosporidium sp. in tortoises. C. serpentis and the desert monitor genotype were the most common parasites and were found in both snakes and lizards, whereas the C. muris and C. parvum parasites detected were probably the result of ingestion of infected rodents. Sequence and biologic characterizations indicated that the desert monitor genotype was Cryptosporidium saurophilum. Two host-adapted C. serpentis genotypes were found in snakes and lizards.

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Genetic Diversity of Cryptosporidium parvum in Neonatal Dairy Calves in Xinjiang, China

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9090692 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 692

Author(s):

Yayun Wu ◽

Kuankuan Zhang ◽

Ying Zhang ◽

Bo Jing ◽

Yuancai Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Cryptosporidium Parvum ◽

Diarrheal Disease ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Dairy Calves ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Polymorphism Analysis ◽

Small Subunit Rrna ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

Glycoprotein Gene

Cryptosporidium parvum has been identified as a major cause of diarrhea and diarrhea-associated deaths in young children and neonatal calves. Infections can remain asymptomatic but may lead to malnutrition and persistent growth retardation. To assess the relationship between C. parvum genetic diversity and pathogenicity in neonatal dairy calves and determine the cause of diarrhea among these calves, 232 fecal samples from neonatal dairy calves on 12 farms in Xinjiang, China, were characterized for Cryptosporidium presence based on the small subunit rRNA gene. The Cryptosporidium prevalence was 38.4% (89/232), and three species were detected with restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, including C. parvum (the significantly dominant species), C. ryanae, and C. bovis. Cryptosporidium prevalence was significantly higher in neonatal dairy calves with diarrhea (52.6%, 51/97) than in calves without diarrhea (28.1%, 38/135). All C. parvum-positive samples were analyzed based on the 60 KDa glycoprotein gene, and IIdA15G1, IIdA20G1, IIdA14G1, and IIdA19G1 were successfully subtyped. These data indicate that C. parvum may be a major contributor to diarrheal disease in neonatal dairy calves, and C. parvum subtypes from neonatal dairy calves in Xinjiang exhibited high genetic diversity.

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Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing and Informatics as an Effective Tool to Establish the Composition of Bovine Piroplasm Populations in Endemic Regions

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9010021 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 21

Author(s):

Abdul Ghafar ◽

Anson V. Koehler ◽

Ross S. Hall ◽

Charles G. Gauci ◽

Robin B. Gasser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Next Generation Sequencing ◽

Water Buffalo ◽

Hypervariable Region ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Next Generation ◽

Small Subunit Rrna ◽

Tropical Theileriosis ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

Generation Sequencing

Protists of the genera Babesia and Theileria (piroplasms) cause some of the most prevalent and debilitating diseases for bovines worldwide. In this study, we established and used a next-generation sequencing-informatic approach to explore the composition of Babesia and Theileria populations in cattle and water buffalo in a country (Pakistan) endemic for these pathogens. We collected individual blood samples from cattle (n = 212) and water buffalo (n = 154), extracted genomic DNAs, PCR-amplified the V4 hypervariable region of 18S small subunit rRNA gene from piroplasms, sequenced amplicons using Illumina technology, and then analysed data using bioinformatic platforms. The results revealed piroplasms in 68.9% (252/366) samples, with overall occurrence being markedly higher in cattle (85.8%) than in water buffaloes (45.5%). Babesia (B.) occultans and Theileria (T.) lestoquardi-like species were recorded for the first time in Pakistan, and, overall, T. annulata was most commonly detected (65.8%) followed by B. bovis (7.1%), B. bigemina (4.4%), and T. orientalis (0.5%), with the genetic variability within B. bovis being pronounced. The occurrence and composition of piroplasm species varied markedly across different agro-ecological zones. The high detection of T. annulata in asymptomatic animals suggested a relatively high level of endemic stability of tropical theileriosis in the bovine population.

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Differences in Microbial Activity and Microbial Populations of Peat Associated with Suppression of Damping-Off Disease Caused by Pythium sylvaticum

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.00313-06 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 72 (10) ◽

pp. 6452-6460 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Paul J. Hunter ◽

Geoff M. Petch ◽

Leo A. Calvo-Bado ◽

Tim R. Pettitt ◽

Nick R. Parsons ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Activity ◽

Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Disease Suppression ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Damping Off ◽

Small Subunit Rrna ◽

Pythium Sylvaticum ◽

Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Microbial Groups

ABSTRACT The microbiological characteristics associated with disease-suppressive peats are unclear. We used a bioassay for Pythium sylvaticum-induced damping-off of cress seedlings to identify conducive and suppressive peats. Microbial activity in unconditioned peats was negatively correlated with the counts of P. sylvaticum at the end of the bioassay. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiling and clone library analyses of small-subunit rRNA gene sequences from two suppressive and two conducive peats differed in the bacterial profiles generated and the diversity of sequence populations. There were also significant differences between bacterial sequence populations from suppressive and conducive peats. The frequencies of a number of microbial groups, including the Rhizobium-Agrobacterium group (specifically sequences similar to those for the genera Ochrobactrum and Zoogloea) and the Acidobacteria, increased specifically in the suppressive peats, although no single bacterial group was associated with disease suppression. Fungal DGGE profiles varied little over the course of the bioassay; however, two bands associated specifically with suppressive samples were detected. Sequences from these bands corresponded to Basidiomycete yeast genera. Although the DGGE profiles were similar, fungal sequence diversity also increased during the bioassay. Sequences highly similar to those of Cryptococcus increased in relative abundance during the bioassay, particularly in the suppressive samples. This study highlights the importance of using complementary approaches to molecular profiling of complex populations and provides the first report that basidiomycetous yeasts may be associated with the suppression of Pythium-induced diseases in peats.

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