Publication: Blastocystis in free-ranging wild ruminant species across the Iberian Peninsula
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Date
2025-07-09
Authors
Figueiredo, Ana M. ; Dashti, Alejandro ; Maloney, Jenny G. ; Molokin, Aleksey ; George, Nadja S. ; Köster, Pamela C. ; Bailo, Begoña ; Sánchez de las Matas, Ana ; Habela, Miguel Ángel ; Rivero Juarez, Antonio ; Vicente, Joaquín ; Serrano, Emmanuel ; Arnal, María C. ; Fernández de Luco, Daniel ; Morrondo, Patrocinio ; Armenteros, José A. ; Balseiro, Ana ; Cardona, Guillermo A. ; Martínez-Carrasco Pleite, Carlos ; Torres, Rita T. ; Fonseca, Carlos ; Mysterud, Atle ; Carvalho, João ; Calero-Bernal, Rafael ; González Barrio, David ; Santín, Mónica ; Carmena, David
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Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Veterinaria
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Publisher
BioMed Central
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-025-01563-3
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
The growing wild ungulate populations across Europe represents an increasingly important source for the spread of zoonotic pathogens. Blastocystis is a common intestinal protist observed in humans and animals worldwide. Studies on Blastocystis
occurrence and subtype (ST) diversity in free-ranging wild ruminants are lacking globally, and more data are needed to understand the epidemiological scenario in wild European ruminants. We collected 833 faecal samples from free-ranging wild angulates across Spain (n = 699) and Portugal (n = 134) between 1998 and 2021. Using conventional PCR and nextgeneration amplicon sequencing, Blastocystis was found in 13.8% (115/833; 95% CI: 11.5–16.3) of the wild ruminants analysed. Its occurrence was significantly higher in Portugal (38.1%, 51/134; 95% CI 29.8–46.8) than in Spain (9.2%, 64/699; 95% CI: 7.1–11.5). Fifteen Blastocystis STs, fourteen previously recognised (ST2, ST5, ST10, ST13, ST14, ST21, ST23–ST26, ST30, and ST42–ST44), and one novel (named ST49), were detected among the surveyed wild ruminant populations. Novel ST49 was described using Oxford Nanopore sequencing to produce full-length reference sequences of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. A greater ST diversity was observed in Spanish samples. Mixed infections were found in 58.3% (67/115) of the total Blastocystis-positive samples. Our results have enhanced the knowledge regarding Blastocystis occurrence and ST diversity and host preference present in wild ruminants from the Iberian Peninsula, which will assist in clarifying the relationships between the sylvatic and domestic cycles of this protist and may ultimately provide tools to help manage future public health epidemiological scenarios.
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Barbary sheep , Deer , Epidemiology , Iberian ibex , Mouflon , NGS , Portugal , Subtype diversity , Southern chamois , Spain , Zoonoses , ST49
Citation
Veterinary Research, 2025, Vol. 56 : 145
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