Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia intestinalis and microsporidia are unicellular opportunistic pathogens that can cause gastrointestinal infections in both animals and humans. Since companion animals may serve as a source of infection, the aim of the present screening study was to analyse the prevalence of these intestinal protists in fecal samples collected from dogs living in 10 animal shelters in central Europe (101 dogs from Poland and 86 from the Czech Republic), combined with molecular subtyping of the detected organisms in order to assess their genetic diversity. Genus-specific polymerase chain reactions were performed to detect DNA of the tested species and to conduct molecular subtyping in collected samples, followed by statistical evaluation of the data obtained (using χ2 or Fisher's tests). The observed prevalence was 15.5, 10.2, 1 and 1% for G. intestinalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Cryptosporidium spp. and Encephalitozoon cuniculi, respectively. Molecular evaluation has revealed the predominance of dog-specific genotypes (Cryptosporidium canis XXe1 subtype; G. intestinalis assemblages C and D; E. cuniculi genotype II; E. bieneusi genotypes D and PtEbIX), suggesting that shelter dogs do not pose a high risk of human transmission. Interestingly, the percentage distribution of the detected pathogens differed between both countries and individual shelters, suggesting that the risk of infection may be associated with conditions typical of a given location.

• Klíčová slova
• 60-kDa glycoprotein, PCR, glutamate dehydrogenase, internal transcribed spacer region of rRNA, intestinal protists, opportunistic pathogens, small ribosomal subunit rRNA, subtyping, triosephosphate isomerase, β-giardin,
• MeSH
• Cryptosporidium * genetika   izolace a purifikace   klasifikace   MeSH
• Enterocytozoon * genetika   izolace a purifikace   klasifikace   MeSH
• feces * parazitologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• Giardia lamblia genetika   izolace a purifikace   klasifikace   MeSH
• Giardia genetika   izolace a purifikace   klasifikace   MeSH
• giardiáza * veterinární   epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• hostitelská specificita MeSH
• kryptosporidióza * epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• mikrosporidióza * veterinární   epidemiologie   MeSH
• nemoci psů * parazitologie   epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• psi MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• psi MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH
• Polsko epidemiologie   MeSH

Giardia intestinalis, a cosmopolitan gastrointestinal protist, is detected mainly in patients with clinical giardiasis in high-income countries. In contrast, there is very little information on the presence of Giardia in asymptomatic individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the presence and prevalence of Giardia in gut-healthy volunteers in the Czech Republic and to perform a comparative evaluation of different diagnostic methods, since Giardia diagnostics is complicated. Our results confirmed that the qPCR method is the most sensitive method for detecting Giardia and revealed a prevalence of 7% (22/296) in asymptomatic individuals. In most cases, the colonization intensity ranged from 10-1-101. A conventional PCR protocol targeting the TPI gene was used to identify the assemblages. However, this protocol had limited sensitivity for Giardia amplification, effectively detecting colonization above an intensity of 104. In addition, Giardia was detected in 19% of the animals, which were closely associated with the study participants. However, due to methodological limitations, zoonotic transmission could not be clearly confirmed. Notably, contact with animals proved to be the only factor that had a significant impact on the incidence of Giardia in gut-healthy humans.

• Klíčová slova
• Giardia intestinalis; human volunteers, contact with animals, conventional-PCR, qPCR, quantification,
• MeSH
• feces MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• Giardia lamblia * genetika   MeSH
• giardiáza * epidemiologie   diagnóza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Giardia duodenalis (syn. G. intestinalis, G. lamblia) is a widespread gastrointestinal protozoan parasite with debated taxonomic status. Currently, eight distinct genetic sub-groups, termed assemblages A-H, are defined based on a few genetic markers. Assemblages A and B may represent distinct species and are both of human public health relevance. Genomic studies are scarce and the few reference genomes available, in particular for assemblage B, are insufficient for adequate comparative genomics. Here, by combining long- and short-read sequences generated by PacBio and Illumina sequencing technologies, we provide nine annotated genome sequences for reference from new clinical isolates (four assemblage A and five assemblage B parasite isolates). Isolates chosen represent the currently accepted classification of sub-assemblages AI, AII, BIII and BIV. Synteny over the whole genome was generally high, but we report chromosome-level translocations as a feature that distinguishes assemblage A from B parasites. Orthologue gene group analysis was used to define gene content differences between assemblage A and B and to contribute a gene-set-based operational definition of respective taxonomic units. Giardia is tetraploid, and high allelic sequence heterogeneity (ASH) for assemblage B vs. assemblage A has been observed so far. Noteworthy, here we report an extremely low ASH (0.002%) for one of the assemblage B isolates (a value even lower than the reference assemblage A isolate WB-C6). This challenges the view of low ASH being a notable feature that distinguishes assemblage A from B parasites, and low ASH allowed assembly of the most contiguous assemblage B genome currently available for reference. In conclusion, the description of nine highly contiguous genome assemblies of new isolates of G. duodenalis assemblage A and B adds to our understanding of the genomics and species population structure of this widespread zoonotic parasite.

• Klíčová slova
• Giardia duodenalis, allelic sequence heterozygosity, comparative genomics, protozoa,
• MeSH
• genomika MeSH
• Giardia lamblia * genetika   MeSH
• Giardia genetika   MeSH
• giardiáza * parazitologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Zoonotic pathogen transmission is considered a leading threat to the survival of non-human primates and public health in shared landscapes. Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp. and Microsporidia are unicellular parasites spread by the fecal-oral route by environmentally resistant stages and can infect humans, livestock, and wildlife including non-human primates. Using immunoassay diagnostic kits and amplification/sequencing of the region of the triosephosphate isomerase, small ribosomal subunit rRNA and the internal transcribed spacer genes, we investigated Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and microsporidia infections, respectively, among humans, domesticated animals (livestock, poultry, and dogs), and wild nonhuman primates (eastern chimpanzees and black and white colobus monkeys) in Bulindi, Uganda, an area of remarkably high human-animal contact and spatial overlap. We analyzed 137 fecal samples and revealed the presence of G. intestinalis assemblage B in two human isolates, G. intestinalis assemblage E in one cow isolate, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype II in two humans and one goat isolate. None of the chimpanzee and colobus monkey samples were positive for any of the screened parasites. Regular distribution of antiparasitic treatment in both humans and domestic animals in Bulindi could have reduced the occurrence of the screened parasites and decreased potential circulation of these pathogens among host species.

• Klíčová slova
• Cryptosporidium, Giardia, PCR, Uganda, anthropogenic disturbance, coproantigen, domestic animals, humans, microsporidia, non-human primates,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), an apex predator with an omnipresent distribution in the Arctic, is a potential source of intestinal parasites that may endanger people and pet animals such as dogs, thus posing a health risk. Non-invasive methods, such as coprology, are often the only option when studying wildlife parasitic fauna. However, the detection and identification of parasites are significantly enhanced when used in combination with methods of molecular biology. Using both approaches, we identified unicellular and multicellular parasites in faeces of arctic foxes and carcasses of sibling voles (Microtus levis) in Svalbard, where molecular methods are used for the first time. Six new species were detected in the arctic fox in Svalbard, Eucoleus aerophilus, Uncinaria stenocephala, Toxocara canis, Trichuris vulpis, Eimeria spp., and Enterocytozoon bieneusi, the latter never found in the arctic fox species before. In addition, only one parasite was found in the sibling vole in Svalbard, the Cryptosporidium alticolis, which has never been detected in Svalbard before.

• Klíčová slova
• Arctic fox, Coprology, Parasites, Sibling vole, Svalbard,
• MeSH
• Ancylostomatoidea izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Arvicolinae parazitologie   MeSH
• cizopasní červi izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Cryptosporidium izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• divoká zvířata parazitologie   MeSH
• Eimeria izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• hlístice izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• lišky parazitologie   MeSH
• parazitární nemoci střev veterinární   MeSH
• psi MeSH
• Toxocara canis izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Trichuris izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• psi MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Arktida MeSH
• Svalbard MeSH

BACKGROUND: Orangutans are critically endangered primarily due to loss and fragmentation of their natural habitat. This could bring them into closer contact with humans and increase the risk of zoonotic pathogen transmission. AIMS: To describe the prevalence and diversity of Cryptosporidium spp., microsporidia and Giardia intestinalis in orangutans at seven sites on Sumatra and Kalimantan, and to evaluate the impact of orangutans' habituation and location on the occurrence of these zoonotic protists. RESULT: The overall prevalence of parasites in 298 examined animals was 11.1%. The most prevalent microsporidia was Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype II, found in 21 animals (7.0%). Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype D (n = 5) and novel genotype Pongo 2 were detected only in six individuals (2.0%). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of these parasites in orangutans. Eight animals were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. (2.7%), including C. parvum (n = 2) and C. muris (n = 6). Giardia intestinalis assemblage B, subtype MB6, was identified in a single individual. While no significant differences between the different human contact level groups (p = 0.479-0.670) or between the different islands (p = 0.992) were reported in case of E. bieneusi or E. cuniculi, Cryptosporidium spp. was significantly less frequently detected in wild individuals (p < 2×10-16) and was significantly more prevalent in orangutans on Kalimantan than on Sumatra (p < 2×10-16). CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that wild orangutans are significantly less frequently infected by Cryptosporidium spp. than captive and semi-wild animals. In addition, this parasite was more frequently detected at localities on Kalimantan. In contrast, we did not detect any significant difference in the prevalence of microsporidia between the studied groups of animals. The sources and transmission modes of infections were not determined, as this would require repeated sampling of individuals, examination of water sources, and sampling of humans and animals sharing the habitat with orangutans.

• MeSH
• Cryptosporidium * MeSH
• Encephalitozoon * MeSH
• Enterocytozoon * MeSH
• Giardia lamblia * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci lidoopů * epidemiologie   parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• parazitární nemoci střev * epidemiologie   parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• Pongo abelii parazitologie   MeSH
• Pongo pygmaeus parazitologie   MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• protozoální infekce zvířat * epidemiologie   parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Borneo epidemiologie   MeSH
• Indonésie epidemiologie   MeSH

BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases represent the greatest threats to endangered species, and transmission from humans to wildlife under increased anthropogenic pressure has been always stated as a major risk of habituation. AIMS: To evaluate the impact of close contact with humans on the occurrence of potentially zoonotic protists in great apes, one hundred mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) from seven groups habituated either for tourism or for research in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda were screened for the presence of microsporidia, Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. using molecular diagnostics. RESULTS: The most frequently detected parasites were Enterocytozoon bieneusi found in 18 samples (including genotype EbpA, D, C, gorilla 2 and five novel genotypes gorilla 4-8) and Encephalitozoon cuniculi with genotype II being more prevalent (10 cases) compared to genotype I (1 case). Cryptosporidium muris (2 cases) and C. meleagridis (2 cases) were documented in great apes for the first time. Cryptosporidium sp. infections were identified only in research groups and occurrence of E. cuniculi in research groups was significantly higher in comparison to tourist groups. No difference in prevalence of E. bieneusi was observed between research and tourist groups. CONCLUSION: Although our data showed the presence and diversity of important opportunistic protists in Volcanoes gorillas, the source and the routes of the circulation remain unknown. Repeated individual sampling, broad sampling of other hosts sharing the habitat with gorillas and quantification of studied protists would be necessary to acquire more complex data.

• MeSH
• Cryptosporidium klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Encephalitozoon klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• encephalitozoonóza epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• Giardia klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• giardiáza epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• Hominidae MeSH
• intergenová DNA genetika   MeSH
• kryptosporidióza epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• nemoci lidoopů epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• veřejné parky MeSH
• zoonózy epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Rwanda epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• intergenová DNA MeSH

BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases pose one of the greatest threats to endangered species, and a risk of gastrointestinal parasite transmission from humans to wildlife has always been considered as a major concern of tourism. Increased anthropogenic impact on primate populations may result in general changes in communities of their parasites, and also in a direct exchange of parasites between humans and primates. AIMS: To evaluate the impact of close contact with humans on the occurrence of potentially zoonotic protists in great apes, we conducted a long-term monitoring of microsporidia, Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections in western lowland gorillas at different stages of the habituation process, humans, and other wildlife in Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas in the Central African Republic. RESULTS: We detected Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotypes I and II (7.5%), Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype D and three novel genotypes (gorilla 1-3) (4.0%), Giardia intestinalis subgroup A II (2.0%) and Cryptosporidium bovis (0.5%) in gorillas, whereas in humans we found only G. intestinalis subgroup A II (2.1%). In other wild and domestic animals we recorded E. cuniculi genotypes I and II (2.1%), G. intestinalis assemblage E (0.5%) and C. muris TS03 (0.5%). CONCLUSION: Due to the non-specificity of E. cuniculi genotypes we conclude that detection of the exact source of E. cuniculi infection is problematic. As Giardia intestinalis was recorded primarily in gorilla groups with closer human contact, we suggest that human-gorilla transmission has occurred. We call attention to a potentially negative impact of habituation on selected pathogens which might occur as a result of the more frequent presence of humans in the vicinity of both gorillas under habituation and habituated gorillas, rather than as a consequence of the close contact with humans, which might be a more traditional assumption. We encourage to observe the sections concerning hygiene from the IUCN best practice guidelines for all sites where increased human-gorilla contact occurs.

• MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• Cryptosporidium klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Enterocytozoon klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• feces mikrobiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• Giardia klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• giardiáza parazitologie   veterinární   MeSH
• Gorilla gorilla MeSH
• habituace (psychofyziologie) MeSH
• kryptosporidióza parazitologie   veterinární   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Microsporidia klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• mikrosporidióza mikrobiologie   veterinární   MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• nemoci lidoopů mikrobiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• sociální prostředí MeSH
• zoonózy mikrobiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Středoafrická republika MeSH