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BMC Veterinary Research Jun 2021Pentatrichomonas hominis inhabits the digestive tracts of several vertebrates, such as humans, monkeys, pigs, dogs, cats and rats. This protozoan was originally...
BACKGROUND
Pentatrichomonas hominis inhabits the digestive tracts of several vertebrates, such as humans, monkeys, pigs, dogs, cats and rats. This protozoan was originally considered a commensal of the digestive tract but has subsequently been identified as a potential zoonotic parasite and a causative agent of diarrhoea. Molecular techniques are considered more sensitive and specific to detect P. hominis. This study aimed to determine the presence and genetic diversity of P. hominis in animals in Thailand. A total of 403 faecal samples were collected from 119 cats, 55 dogs, 73 goats, 35 monkeys, 55 cattle and 66 pigs, and the presence of P. hominis was determined using the nested polymerase chain reaction method. Sequence analysis of small-subunit ribosomal RNA genes was used to determine the genotype of the organism.
RESULTS
Twenty-six samples (26/403, 6.45%) were positive for P. hominis. The highest prevalence was found in cats (21/119; 17.65%), followed by cattle (3/55; 5.45%) and dogs (2/55; 3.64%). Seven out of 26 nucleotides demonstrated 100% sequence identity with existing sequences; additionally, 16 novel sequence patterns were identified. All nucleotide sequences of P. hominis-positive samples were shown in the same branch with the previously described P. hominis sequences found in humans, dogs and goat.
CONCLUSION
This is the first study on P. hominis infections in animals in Thailand. Our findings revealed that the prevalence of P. hominis was significantly higher in cats than in cattle and dogs. Cats were the main reservoir host; however, P. hominis can infect several kinds of animals. Therefore, the proper waste management of animals is necessary to reduce and prevent infection in the community.
Topics: Animals; Cats; Cattle; Cercopithecidae; Dogs; Goats; Phylogeny; Prevalence; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Swine; Thailand; Trichomonadida
PubMed: 34078384
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02904-y -
Parasites & Vectors Feb 2018Global data regarding the molecular epidemiology of Blastocystis sp. and Pentatrichomonas hominis in sheep and goats are sparse. China has one of the largest sheep and...
BACKGROUND
Global data regarding the molecular epidemiology of Blastocystis sp. and Pentatrichomonas hominis in sheep and goats are sparse. China has one of the largest sheep and goat populations in the world. In this study we investigated the occurrence of Blastocystis sp. and P. hominis in domestic sheep and goats in China, and analyzed the genetic characterization of these two parasite species.
METHODS
In total, we collected fresh fecal samples from 832 sheep and 781 goats located on seven and ten farms, respectively, in the central eastern region of China. The corresponding sequences obtained in this study were subject to molecular analysis for subtype and allele identification of Blastocystis sp., and species and genotype confirmation of P. hominis.
RESULTS
The occurrence of Blastocystis sp. was 6.0% (50/832) in sheep and 0.3% (2/781) in goats. The most predominant subtype (ST) of Blastocystis sp. in sheep was ST10 (50.0%), followed by ST14 (20%), ST5 (16%), novel sequence 1 (6%), novel sequence 4 (4%), novel sequence 2 (2%) and novel sequence 3 (2%). However, only ST1 was observed in goats. No mixed infections with different subtypes were found in this study. The 18S alleles showed allele 2 (100%) for ST1; allele 115 (75%) for ST5; and no match allele for ST5 (25%), ST10 (100%), ST14 (100%), novel sequence 1 (100%), novel sequence 2 (100%), novel sequence 3 (100%), and novel sequence 4 (100%) on the Blastocystis subtype (18S) and Sequence Typing (MLST) database. For P. hominis, two goats (0.3%) and zero sheep (0%) were identified as positive in this study. The 18S rRNA gene sequences of two P. hominis isolates from goats displayed 100% identity to type CC1, found previously in dogs, monkeys and humans.
CONCLUSIONS
These results provide the detailed data on the occurrence and molecular epidemiology of Blastocystis sp. and P. hominis in sheep and goats in China. They also contribute to and expand our knowledge of the Blastocystis sp. and P. hominis epidemiology around the world.
Topics: Animals; Blastocystis; China; DNA, Protozoan; Feces; Genotype; Geography; Goats; Molecular Epidemiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Protozoan Infections, Animal; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; Sheep; Trichomonadida
PubMed: 29454366
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2671-5 -
Parasitology Research Feb 2016Pentatrichomonas hominis is an anaerobic amitochondrial flagellated protist that primarily colonizes the large intestines of a number of species, including cats, dogs,...
Pentatrichomonas hominis is an anaerobic amitochondrial flagellated protist that primarily colonizes the large intestines of a number of species, including cats, dogs, nonhuman primates, and humans. The prevalence of this parasite in dogs, monkeys, and humans is, however, poorly understood. In this study, a total of 362 fecal samples including 252 dogs, 60 monkeys, and 50 humans from northern China were collected for an epidemiological survey of P. hominis infection.The average prevalence of P. hominis infection determined by nested PCR was 27.38% (69/252), 4.00% (2/50), and 46.67% (28/60) in dogs, humans, and monkeys, respectively. The prevalence was significantly higher in 6-month-old dogs (41.53%) and children (7.69%) than in older dogs (14.39%) and adults (0%) (P < 0.05). Sequencing of amplicons revealed that four variable positions separated sequences into three types, called CC1-3. CC1 was the most prevalent in the study population. This study determined that P. hominis infection is common in dogs, monkeys, and humans, especially in children and young dogs. Given the infection prevalence, P. hominis may pose a risk of zoonotic and anthroponotic transmission.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Cats; Child; China; DNA, Protozoan; DNA, Ribosomal; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Feces; Haplorhini; Humans; Male; Monkey Diseases; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prevalence; Protozoan Infections; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Trichomonadida
PubMed: 26481488
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4773-8 -
Parasitology Research Dec 2023Pentatrichomonas hominis (P. hominis) is a zoonotic parasite that affects a wide range of hosts, causing gastrointestinal diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate...
Pentatrichomonas hominis (P. hominis) is a zoonotic parasite that affects a wide range of hosts, causing gastrointestinal diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of P. hominis among caged foxes and raccoon dogs and the effect of P. hominis on the gut microbiota in female foxes. A total of 893 fresh fecal samples were collected from the Hebei and Henan Provinces in China. P. hominis was screened based on 18S rRNA gene expression via nested PCR. The difference in the gut microbiota between nine P. hominis-positive and nine P. hominis-negative samples was investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The total prevalence of P. hominis infection in foxes and raccoon dogs was 31.7% (283/893). The prevalence rates of P. hominis infection were 28.2% (88/312) and 33.6% (195/581) in foxes and raccoon dogs, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all P. hominis strains detected in foxes and raccoon dogs in the present study were the zoonotic genotype CC1. Moreover, compared with those in the P. hominis-negative group, the diversity of the gut microbiota in the P. hominis-positive group was lower, and the abundance of Firmicutes and the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) in the P. hominis-positive group were lower than those in the P. hominis-negative group. We speculate that these differences may be due to indigestion and diarrhea in infected female foxes. Overall, the present study evaluated the prevalence of P. hominis in foxes and raccoon dogs in the Henan and Hebei Provinces and revealed that P. hominis infection interrupted the diversity of the gut microbiota in female foxes.
Topics: Animals; Female; Raccoon Dogs; Foxes; Prevalence; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Trichomonas; China
PubMed: 38155301
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08099-5 -
Parasitology Research Feb 2020The trichomonad species Tetratrichomonas buttreyi and Pentatrichomonas hominis have been reported in the bovine digestive tract in only a few studies, and the prevalence...
The trichomonad species Tetratrichomonas buttreyi and Pentatrichomonas hominis have been reported in the bovine digestive tract in only a few studies, and the prevalence and pathogenicity of these two protists in cattle herds remain unknown. In this study, the prevalence of T. buttreyi and P. hominis in yellow cattle, dairy cattle, and water buffalo in Anhui Province, China, was determined with a PCR analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA genes. The overall infection rates for T. buttreyi and P. hominis were 8.1% and 5.4%, respectively. Double infections were found in 15 (1.6%) samples from four farms. The prevalence of P. hominis in cattle with abnormal feces was significantly higher than that in cattle with normal feces (χ = 13.0, p < 0.01), and the prevalence of T. buttreyi in the northern region of Anhui Province was also significantly higher than that in the mid region (χ = 16.6, p < 0.01). Minor allelic variations were detected in the T. buttreyi isolates from cattle in this study, as in other hosts in previous studies. Morphological observations, together with the PCR analysis, demonstrated that the trichomonads isolated in this study were P. hominis. The presence of T. buttreyi and P. hominis indicated that cattle are natural hosts of these two trichomonads and could be a potential source of P. hominis infections in humans and other animal hosts.
Topics: Animals; Buffaloes; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; China; Feces; Gastrointestinal Tract; Humans; Prevalence; Protozoan Infections, Animal; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; Trichomonadida
PubMed: 31823007
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06550-0 -
Avian Diseases Mar 2023Intestinal health plays a major role in profitable and efficient turkey production. Blackhead disease (histomoniasis) is caused by , an anaerobic protozoan parasite....
Intestinal health plays a major role in profitable and efficient turkey production. Blackhead disease (histomoniasis) is caused by , an anaerobic protozoan parasite. disrupts intestinal integrity and may cause systemic infection. Some field outbreaks of blackhead disease are associated with low morbidity and mortality, while in some instances, it may cause severe morbidity and mortality. In the current study, a presumptive diagnosis of blackhead disease was made based on the characteristic gross lesions in the liver and ceca. The cecal culture, PCR, and sequencing confirmed the presence of and . has been reported in enteritis cases of several other species, such as dogs, cats, and cattle. The impact of on intestinal health of turkeys has not previously been studied, and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of concurrent and infection in turkeys.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Dogs; Turkeys; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Poultry Diseases; Trichomonadida; Trichomonas; Disease Outbreaks; Cattle Diseases; Dog Diseases
PubMed: 37140122
DOI: 10.1637/aviandiseases-D-22-00054 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022is a parasitic trichomonads protozoa that parasitizes in the colon and cecum of humans and other animals. Our previous studies have demonstrated that infection with is...
is a parasitic trichomonads protozoa that parasitizes in the colon and cecum of humans and other animals. Our previous studies have demonstrated that infection with is associated with the incidence of colon cancer (37.93%). However, the mechanism by which infections increase the incidence of colon cancer remains unclear. Previous studies have suggested that certain parasites promote colon cancer by regulating gut microbiota. This study aimed to elucidate whether the association between infections and the increased incidence of colon cancer is related to changes in gut microbiota. Therefore, the gut microbiota patients with colon cancer who were infected with and uninfected patients with colon cancer were analyzed by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The results demonstrated that patients with colon cancer who were not infected with showed increased gut bacterial diversity, a higher relative abundance of sp., sp., sp., , and a significant reduction in the abundance of sp., compared to individuals without colon cancer. Additionally, the relative abundance of the and the groups was reduced, while the relative abundance of bacteria associated with colon cancer, including sp., sp., and the group, increased significantly in patients with colon cancer who were infected with , compared to those of uninfected patients with colon cancer. In conclusion, these results suggested that infections may aggravate the development of colon cancer and the findings provide new insights for subsequent in-depth studies on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prevention of colon cancer.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Colonic Neoplasms; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
PubMed: 36118043
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.961974 -
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2022Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming more common in both bacteria and pathogenic protozoa. Therefore, new solutions are being sought as alternatives to currently...
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming more common in both bacteria and pathogenic protozoa. Therefore, new solutions are being sought as alternatives to currently used agents. There are many new ideas and solutions, especially compounds of natural origin, including essential oils. In the present study, the antiprotozoal activity of a mixture of essential oils (eucalyptus, lavender, cedar and tea tree), organic acids (acetic acid, propionic acid and lactic acid) and metal ions (Cu, Zn, Mn) were tested. As a model, protozoans were selected: , , , , . The tested concentrations of mixtures were in the range of 0.001-1.5%. The analyses show unexpected, very strong protozoicidal activity of combinations, presenting the synergy of compounds via determination of LD and LD values. Obtained mixtures showed significantly higher activity against protozoans, compared to chloramphenicol and metronidazole. Most of the analyzed samples show high antiprotozoal activity at very low concentration, in the range of 0.001-0.009%. The most effective combinations for all analyzed protozoans were the cedar essential oil and tea tree essential oil with a mixture of acids and manganese or zinc ions. Innovative combinations of essential oils, organic acids and metal ions are characterized by very high antiprotozoal activity at low doses, which, after further investigation, can be applicable for control of protozoan pathogens.
PubMed: 35884167
DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11070913 -
Trends in Parasitology Jul 2014Trichomonads are common parasites of many vertebrate and invertebrate species, with four species classically recognized as human parasites: Dientamoeba fragilis,... (Review)
Review
Trichomonads are common parasites of many vertebrate and invertebrate species, with four species classically recognized as human parasites: Dientamoeba fragilis, Pentatrichomonas hominis, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Trichomonas tenax. The latter two species are considered human-specific; by contrast, D. fragilis and P. hominis have been isolated from domestic and farm mammals, demonstrating a wide host range and potential zoonotic origin. Several new studies have highlighted the zoonotic dimension of trichomonads. First, species typically known to infect birds and domestic mammals have been identified in human clinical samples. Second, several phylogenetic analyses have identified animal-derived trichomonads as close sister taxa of the two human-specific species. It is our opinion, therefore, that these observations prompt further investigation into the importance of zoonotic trichomonads for human health.
Topics: Animals; Bird Diseases; Birds; Humans; Phylogeny; Trichomonas Infections; Trichomonas vaginalis; Zoonoses
PubMed: 24951156
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2014.05.005 -
Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia... 2019Tritrichomonas foetus is a parasite that has been definitively identified as an agent of trichomonosis, a disease characterized by chronic diarrhea. T. foetus colonizes... (Review)
Review
Tritrichomonas foetus is a parasite that has been definitively identified as an agent of trichomonosis, a disease characterized by chronic diarrhea. T. foetus colonizes portions of the feline large intestine, and manifests as chronic and recurrent diarrhea with mucus and fresh blood, which is often unresponsive to common drugs. Diagnosis of a trichomonad infection is made by either the demonstration of the trophozoite on a direct fecal smear, fecal culture and subsequent microscopic examination of the parasite, or extraction of DNA in feces and amplification by the use of molecular tools. T. foetus is commonly misidentified as other flagellate protozoa such as Giardia duodenalis and Pentatrichomonas hominis. Without proper treatment, the diarrhea may resolve spontaneously in months to years, but cats can remain carriers of the parasite. This paper intends to serve as a source of information for investigators and veterinarians, reviewing the most important aspects of feline trichomonosis, such as trichomonad history, biology, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, world distribution, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.
Topics: Animals; Cat Diseases; Cats; DNA, Protozoan; Diarrhea; Feces; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Risk Factors; Tritrichomonas foetus
PubMed: 30892464
DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612019005