Molecular characterization and zoonotic potential of Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium sp. in farmed masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) in southern China

Abstract

Background: Masked palm civets are known to play an important role in the transmission of some zoonotic pathogens. However, the distribution and zoonotic potential of Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in these animals remain unclear. Methods: A total of 889 fecal specimens were collected in this study from farmed masked palm civets in Hainan, Guangdong, Jiangxi and Chongqing, southern China, and analyzed for these pathogens by nested PCR and DNA sequencing. Results: Altogether, 474 (53.3%), 34 (3.8%) and 1 (0.1%) specimens were positive for E. bieneusi, G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium sp., respectively. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of 11 novel E. bieneusi genotypes named as PL1-PL11 and two known genotypes Peru8 and J, with PL1 and PL2 accounting for 90% of E. bieneusi infections. Phylogenetically, PL4, PL5, PL9, PL10 and PL11 were clustered into Group 1, while PL1, PL2, PL3, PL6, PL7 and PL8 were clustered into Group 2. Assemblage B (n = 33) and concurrence of B and D (n = 1) were identified among G. duodenalis-positive animals. Further multilocus genotyping of assemblage B has revealed that all 13 multilocus genotypes in civets formed a cluster related to those from humans. The Cryptosporidium isolate from one civet was identified to be genetically related to the Cryptosporidium bamboo rat genotype II. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this first report of enteric protists in farmed masked palm civets suggests that these animals might be potential reservoirs of zoonotic E. bieneusi and G. duodenalis genotypes.

Population genetic analysis suggests genetic recombination is responsible for increased zoonotic potential of Enterocytozoon bieneusi from ruminants in China

“…The introgression of Group 1 sequences could have led to the broad host range and increased zoonotic potential of Group 2 E. bieneusi in China. Contradictory to the finding the Group 2 genotypes almost exclusively in ruminants elsewhere, Group 2 genotypes are increasingly reported in other animals in China, including horses, dogs, cats, rodents, nonhuman primates, and various wildlife and semi-domesticated animals [ [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [58] , [59] , [60] , [61] , [62] , [63] , [64] , [65] , [66] , [67] , [68] ]. Molecular epidemiological studies have further shown that Group 2 genotypes of E. bieneusi are more likely to infect humans in China than in other regions [ 21 ].…”

Wildlife Is a Potential Source of Human Infections of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia duodenalis in Southeastern China

“…Currently, there are more than 600 genotypes, and most genotypes can be found in both humans and animals, showing zoonotic potential ( Li et al, 2019a , b ; Zhang, 2019 ; Zhang et al, 2021 ). The three enteric eukaryotic agents can infect humans through the fecal–oral route, via direct contact with infected individuals or ingestion of contaminated water or food ( Yu et al, 2020 ).…”

Zoonotic parasites in farmed exotic animals in China: Implications to public health

“…The remaining species and genotypes ( C. occultus , C. muris , and bamboo rat genotype II) have been found in only a few animals ( Table 1 ), thus could represent native parasites of other rodents. In the latter, bamboo rat genotype is genetically similar to a genotype in found in a masked palm civet ( Yu et al, 2020 ). The intensity of oocyst shedding was higher when animals were infected with C. parvum and C. parvum -like genotype (bamboo rat genotype III) than with other Cryptosporidium spp.…”