Prevalence and Subtype Distribution of Blastocystis in Ethnic Minority Groups on Both Sides of the China-Myanmar Border, and Assessment of Risk Factors

Overview

Journal Parasite

Specialty Parasitology

Date 2019 Jul 26

PMID 31343971

Citations 12

Authors

Baiyan Gong

Xiaohua Liu

Yanchen Wu

Ning Xu

Meng Xu

Fengkun Yang

Lei Tong

Kexin Zhou

Jianping Cao

Aiqin Liu

Yujuan Shen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Blastocystis is one of the most common intestinal parasites in humans worldwide. To understand its prevalence and to explore the risk factors for Blastocystis in humans in developing countries, a molecular epidemiological investigation of Blastocystis was conducted in ethnic minority groups on both sides of the China-Myanmar border. A total of 461 fecal specimens were collected from 289 Yao people in China and 172 Wa people in Myanmar, together with a questionnaire for each participant. Based on sequence analysis of the partial small subunit of ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene (barcode region or 260 bp region), an average prevalence of 6.29% (29/461) was observed, with 4.50% (13/289) in Yao people and 9.30% (16/172) in Wa people. Twenty-two Blastocystis isolates were successfully subtyped by sequence analysis of the barcode region. Three subtypes were identified: ST1 (n = 7), ST3 (n = 13) and ST4 (n = 2). A statistical difference in the prevalence of Blastocystis was only observed between children (12.37%, 12/97) and adults (4.95%, 16/323), and between not washing hands (11.02%, 14/127) and washing hands (4.76%, 15/315) after using toilets, emphasizing the importance and necessity of health education in people in the investigated areas, especially in children.

Citing Articles

Blastocystis colonization and associations with population parameters in Thai adults.

Jinatham V, Yowang A, Stensvold C, Michalopoulou E, Vichasilp T, Suwannahitatorn P PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024; 18(7):e0012292.

PMID: 38980911 PMC: 11259296. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012292.

Molecular Prevalence of sp. from Patients with Diarrhea in the Republic of Korea.

Kwon J, Choi J, Lee H, Ju J, Lee M Microorganisms. 2024; 12(3).

PMID: 38543574 PMC: 10972355. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12030523.

Molecular prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis spp. among children who have diarrheia or are asymptomatic in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.

Zhao W, Ren G, Wang L, Xie L, Wang J, Mao J Parasite. 2024; 31:12.

PMID: 38450718 PMC: 10918642. DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2024012.

Circulation and colonisation of subtypes in schoolchildren of various ethnicities in rural northern Thailand.

McCain A, Gruneck L, Popluechai S, Tsaousis A, Gentekaki E Epidemiol Infect. 2023; 151:e77.

PMID: 37185159 PMC: 10204141. DOI: 10.1017/S0950268823000596.

Prevalence and Subtype Distribution of Isolated from School-Aged Children in the Thai-Myanmar Border, Ratchaburi Province, Thailand.

Abu A, Sutthikornchai C, Mahittikorn A, Koompapong K, Chiabchalard R, Arthan D Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(1).

PMID: 36612533 PMC: 9819352. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010204.

References

Kaneda Y, Horiki N, Cheng X, Tachibana H, Tsutsumi Y . Serologic response to Blastocystis hominis infection in asymptomatic individuals. Tokai J Exp Clin Med. 2000; 25(2):51-6. View

M El-Shazly A, Abdel-Magied A, El-Beshbishi S, El-Nahas H, Fouad M, Monib M . Blastocystis hominis among symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in Talkha Center, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 2005; 35(2):653-66. View

Scicluna S, Tawari B, Clark C . DNA barcoding of blastocystis. Protist. 2006; 157(1):77-85. DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2005.12.001. View

Yan Y, Su S, Lai R, Liao H, Ye J, Li X . Genetic variability of Blastocystis hominis isolates in China. Parasitol Res. 2006; 99(5):597-601. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-006-0186-z. View

Stensvold C, Suresh G, Tan K, Thompson R, Traub R, Viscogliosi E . Terminology for Blastocystis subtypes--a consensus. Trends Parasitol. 2007; 23(3):93-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2007.01.004. View

Li L, Zhou X, Du Z, Wang X, Wang L, Jiang J . Molecular epidemiology of human Blastocystis in a village in Yunnan province, China. Parasitol Int. 2007; 56(4):281-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2007.06.001. View

Yan Y, Su S, Ye J, Lai X, Lai R, Liao H . Blastocystis sp. subtype 5: a possibly zoonotic genotype. Parasitol Res. 2007; 101(6):1527-32. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-007-0672-y. View

Menounos P, Spanakos G, Tegos N, Vassalos C, Papadopoulou C, Vakalis N . Direct detection of Blastocystis sp. in human faecal samples and subtype assignment using single strand conformational polymorphism and sequencing. Mol Cell Probes. 2007; 22(1):24-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2007.06.007. View

Li L, Zhang X, Lv S, Zhang L, Yoshikawa H, Wu Z . Cross-sectional surveys and subtype classification of human Blastocystis isolates from four epidemiological settings in China. Parasitol Res. 2007; 102(1):83-90. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-007-0727-0. View

10.

Tan K . New insights on classification, identification, and clinical relevance of Blastocystis spp. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2008; 21(4):639-65. PMC: 2570156. DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00022-08. View

11.

Yoshikawa H, Wu Z, Pandey K, Pandey B, Sherchand J, Yanagi T . Molecular characterization of Blastocystis isolates from children and rhesus monkeys in Kathmandu, Nepal. Vet Parasitol. 2009; 160(3-4):295-300. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.11.029. View

12.

Kurniawan A, Karyadi T, Dwintasari S, Sari I, Yunihastuti E, Djauzi S . Intestinal parasitic infections in HIV/AIDS patients presenting with diarrhoea in Jakarta, Indonesia. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2009; 103(9):892-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2009.02.017. View

13.

Parkar U, Traub R, Vitali S, Elliot A, Levecke B, Robertson I . Molecular characterization of Blastocystis isolates from zoo animals and their animal-keepers. Vet Parasitol. 2010; 169(1-2):8-17. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.12.032. View

14.

Vogelberg C, Stensvold C, Monecke S, Ditzen A, Stopsack K, Heinrich-Grafe U . Blastocystis sp. subtype 2 detection during recurrence of gastrointestinal and urticarial symptoms. Parasitol Int. 2010; 59(3):469-71. DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2010.03.009. View

15.

Jimenez-Gonzalez D, Martinez-Flores W, Reyes-Gordillo J, Ramirez-Miranda M, Arroyo-Escalante S, Romero-Valdovinos M . Blastocystis infection is associated with irritable bowel syndrome in a Mexican patient population. Parasitol Res. 2011; 110(3):1269-75. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-011-2626-7. View

16.

Lee I, Tan T, Tan P, Nanthiney D, Biraj M, Surendra K . Predominance of Blastocystis sp. subtype 4 in rural communities, Nepal. Parasitol Res. 2011; 110(4):1553-62. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-011-2665-0. View

17.

Malheiros A, Stensvold C, Clark C, Braga G, Shaw J . Short report: Molecular characterization of Blastocystis obtained from members of the indigenous Tapirapé ethnic group from the Brazilian Amazon region, Brazil. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011; 85(6):1050-3. PMC: 3225150. DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0481. View

18.

Poirier P, Wawrzyniak I, Vivares C, Delbac F, El Alaoui H . New insights into Blastocystis spp.: a potential link with irritable bowel syndrome. PLoS Pathog. 2012; 8(3):e1002545. PMC: 3305450. DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002545. View

19.

Lee L, Chye T, Karmacharya B, Govind S . Blastocystis sp.: waterborne zoonotic organism, a possibility?. Parasit Vectors. 2012; 5:130. PMC: 3434050. DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-130. View

20.

Zhan T, Shi H, He S, Liu T . [Genotype analysis and isoenzyme patterns of ten isolates of Blastocystis hominis from Guangxi]. Zhongguo Ji Sheng Chong Xue Yu Ji Sheng Chong Bing Za Zhi. 2012; 30(1):36-40. View