Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Exploring micro-eukaryotic diversity in the gut: co-occurrence of Blastocystis subtypes and other protists in zoo animals

Betts, Emma L., Gentekaki, Eleni, Tsaousis, Anastasios D. (2020) Exploring micro-eukaryotic diversity in the gut: co-occurrence of Blastocystis subtypes and other protists in zoo animals. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11 . Article Number 288. ISSN 1664-302X. (doi:10.3389/fmicb.2020.00288) (KAR id:78293)

PDF (accepted manuscript) Author's Accepted Manuscript
Language: English

Restricted to Repository staff only

Contact us about this Publication
[thumbnail of accepted manuscript]
PDF Publisher pdf
Language: English


Download this file
(PDF/8MB)
[thumbnail of fmicb-11-00288 (1).pdf]
Preview
Request a format suitable for use with assistive technology e.g. a screenreader
Official URL:
https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00288

Abstract

Blastocystis is a genetically diverse microbial eukaryote thriving in the gut of humans and other animals. While Blastocystis has been linked with gastrointestinal disorders, its pathogenicity remains controversial. Previous reports have suggested that one out of six humans could be carrying Blastocystis in their gut, while the numbers could be even higher in animals. Most studies on Blastocystis are either exclusively targeting the organism itself and/or the associated prokaryotic microbiome, while co-occurrence of other microbial eukaryotes has been mainly ignored. Herein, we aimed to explore presence and genetic diversity of Blastocystis along with the commonly occurring eukaryotes Cryptosporidium, Eimeria, Entamoeba and Giardia in the gut of asymptomatic animals from two conservation parks in the UK. Building upon a previous study, a total of 231 fecal samples were collected from 38 vertebrates, which included 12 carnivorous and 26 non-carnivorous species. None of the animals examined herein showed gastrointestinal symptoms. The barcoding region of the small subunit ribosomal RNA was used for subtyping of Blastocystis. Overall, 47% of animal species were positive for Blastocystis. Twenty six percent of samples carried more than one subtypes, including the newly identified hosts Scottish wildcat, bongo and lynx. Fifty three percent of samples carried at least another microbial eukaryote. Herewith, we discuss potential implications of these findings and the increasingly blurred definition of microbial parasites.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00288
Uncontrolled keywords: Blastocystis, genetic diversity, subtyping, co-occurrence, phylogeny, polyparasitism
Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Depositing User: Anastasios Tsaousis
Date Deposited: 06 Nov 2019 07:57 UTC
Last Modified: 11 Jan 2024 11:12 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/78293 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Tsaousis, Anastasios D..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5424-1905
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.