Molecular prevalence and associated risk factors of Entamoeba spp. in donkeys in Shanxi Province, North China.

IF 3 2区医学 Q1 PARASITOLOGY Parasites & Vectors Pub Date : 2025-02-05 DOI:10.1186/s13071-025-06671-9

Ze-Dong Zhang, Han-Dan Xiao, Dong-Yang Wang, Nan Su, Xun-Zhi Liu, Zi-Rui Wang, Shi-Chen Xie, Xing-Quan Zhu, Shuo Zhang, Wen-Wei Gao

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: The intestinal protozoa Entamoeba spp. can infect humans and various animals, including donkeys, causing diarrhea and malabsorption and presenting significant risks to animal husbandry and public health. Most Entamoeba species are not pathogenic except for Entamoeba histolytica. China has among the highest rates of donkey farming worldwide. Donkey (Equus asinus) farming is increasingly important in China because of their draft and medicinal value; however, epidemiological data on Entamoeba spp. in donkeys remains limited globally. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Entamoeba in donkeys in Shanxi Province, North China, and assess associated risk factors using a molecular approach.

Methods: Fecal samples of 815 donkeys from three representative geographical locations in Shanxi Province were collected to investigate the presence of Entamoeba spp. A portion of the small-subunit rRNA gene (SSU rRNA) was amplified and sequenced to determine the prevalence and species/genotypes of Entamoeba spp. Statistical analysis of possible risk factors was performed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) 26.0 software. The phylogenetic relationship of Entamoeba spp. was reconstructed using the neighbor-joining (NJ) method in Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (Mega) 7.0 software.

Results: The overall prevalence of Entamoeba spp. in donkeys in Shanxi Province was 7.12% (58/815). Two species (Entamoeba sp. RL9 and Entamoeba equi) were identified by sequence analysis; of these, Entamoeba sp. RL9 was the most prevalent species in donkeys in this study. Statistical analysis revealed that the donkeys' sex, region, age, and altitude are the risk factors associated with Entamoeba spp. prevalence (P < 0.05). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the sequences of Entamoeba sp. RL9 and E. equi isolated from donkeys in this study were clustered with previously reported animal-derived Entamoeba sp. RL9 and E. equi sequences, respectively.

Conclusions: This study reports the occurrence and prevalence of Entamoeba spp. in donkeys worldwide for the first time to our knowledge. This not only expands the geographical distribution but also broadens the host range of Entamoeba spp., addressing the knowledge gap regarding the prevalence of Entamoeba spp. in donkeys, providing baseline data for carrying out prevention and control of Entamoeba spp. in donkeys in China.

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来源期刊

Parasites & Vectors 医学-寄生虫学

CiteScore

6.30

自引率

9.40%

发文量

433

审稿时长

1.4 months

期刊介绍： Parasites & Vectors is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal dealing with the biology of parasites, parasitic diseases, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens. Manuscripts published in this journal will be available to all worldwide, with no barriers to access, immediately following acceptance. However, authors retain the copyright of their material and may use it, or distribute it, as they wish. Manuscripts on all aspects of the basic and applied biology of parasites, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens will be considered. In addition to the traditional and well-established areas of science in these fields, we also aim to provide a vehicle for publication of the rapidly developing resources and technology in parasite, intermediate host and vector genomics and their impacts on biological research. We are able to publish large datasets and extensive results, frequently associated with genomic and post-genomic technologies, which are not readily accommodated in traditional journals. Manuscripts addressing broader issues, for example economics, social sciences and global climate change in relation to parasites, vectors and disease control, are also welcomed.