2026-06-14T10:37:37Zhttps://repisalud.isciii.es/rest/oai/request

oai:repisalud.isciii.es:20.500.12105/265372025-12-18T12:59:34Zcom_20.500.12105_2052com_20.500.12105_2051com_20.500.12105_15322col_20.500.12105_19609col_20.500.12105_16982

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Mega, João author Moreira, Rafaela author Moreira, Guilherme author Silva-Loureiro, Ana author Gomes da Silva, Priscilla author Istrate, Claudia author Santos-Silva, Sérgio author Rivero-Juarez, Antonio author Carmena, David author Mesquita, João R author 2024-10-06 Parasitic infections of the gastrointestinal tract of domestic animals play a major role in the transmission of disease, which in turn may result in financial and productive losses. Notwithstanding, studies on the burden and distribution of diarrheagenic protists in zoological gardens are still insufficient. Given the close animal-animal and animal-human interaction in these settings, Public Health concerns under the One Health context are raised. Using molecular detection tools and phylogenetic analysis, the goal of this study was to assess the occurrence of four potentially zoonotic protists-Balantioides coli, Blastocystis sp., Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp.-in animals residing in zoological parks in Portugal. Occurrence of Eimeria spp. was also assessed because of its veterinary relevance. Although Blastocystis sp. represents most of the positive samples obtained (11.6%; 95% CI: 0.08-0.17), all parasites were detected (B. coli (2.9%; 95% CI: 0.01-0.06), and Cryptosporidium spp., Eimeria spp. and Giardia spp. presented the same prevalence (0.5%; 95% CI: 0.00-0.03)). We also describe the first molecular detection of B. coli in a collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu), of Blastocystis sp. in three different python species, and G. muris in a central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), suggesting the broadening of the host range for these parasites. Mega J, Moreira R, Moreira G, Silva-Loureiro A, Gomes da Silva P, Istrate C, Santos-Silva S, Rivero-Juarez A, Carmena D, Mesquita JR. Multicentric Study on Enteric Protists Occurrence in Zoological Parks in Portugal. Pathogens. 2024 Oct 6;13(10):874. 10.3390/pathogens13100874 2076-0817 Pathogens 39452745 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/26537 Balantioides coli Blastocystis sp. Cryptosporidium spp. Eimeria spp. Giardia spp. Portugal Zoo Multicentric Study on Enteric Protists Occurrence in Zoological Parks in Portugal