The first survey and molecular identification of Entamoeba spp. in farm animals on Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China

First Evidence of Entamoeba Parasites in Australian Wild Deer and Assessment of Transmission to Cattle

“…The predominant Entamoeba species identified in the wild deer and cattle samples collected and analysed in this study was Entamoeba bovis, a species recognised to infect ruminants, including livestock animals (Stensvold et al, 2010;Matsubayashi et al, 2018;Ai et al, 2021). The prevalence of Entamoeba infections previously reported in cattle are relatively low [2.5% in Costa Rica (Jimenez et al, 2007), 4.8% in Korea (Ismail et al, 2010)] when detected by microscopic analysis; while higher prevalences have been reported following PCR analysis [72% in Japan (Matsubayashi et al, 2018), 80% in Uganda (Nolan et al, 2017), 100% in China (Ai et al, 2021)]. Similar to these last reports, the present study detected a prevalence of 100% for E. bovis in cattle samples (n=23) using a PCR-based analysis.…”

“…Genomic DNA was extracted using a DNeasy ® PowerSoil ® Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA, USA) following the manufacturer's instructions. PCR was performed with primers EntboF2 and EntboR3 (Matsubayashi et al, 2018;Ai et al, 2021) to amplify an internal fragment of 850 bp of the 18S rRNA Entamoeba gene. In addition, the methodology published by Ali et al (2005) was employed to detect tRNA-linked short tandem repeats (STRs).…”

“…Of these, four RLs are closely related to E. bovis (Entamoeba RL 1-3 and 8) (Jacob et al, 2016). Besides being detected in cattle (Bos taurus) (Stensvold et al, 2010;Jacob et al, 2016;Nolan et al, 2017;Matsubayashi et al, 2018;Ai et al, 2021) and sheep (Ovis aries) (Stensvold et al, 2010;Jacob et al, 2016;Ai et al, 2021), E. bovis and Entamoeba RLs have also been detected in goats (Capra hircus) (Nolan et al, 2017;Al-Habsi et al, 2017;Ai et al, 2021), horses (Equus ferus) (Ai et al, 2021), camels (Camelus ferus) (Ai et al, 2021), and cervids. Among the studies conducted on cervids, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from the USA (Kingston and Stabler, 1978), fallow deer (Dama dama) from Mauritius (Jacob et al, 2016), and reindeer (Rengifer tarandus) from Iceland (Stensvold et al, 2010) tested positive for E. bovis, while Entamoeba RL 1 was detected in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from Sweden (Stensvold et al, 2010).…”

“…Parasites of the genus Entamoeba comprise unicellular anaerobic organism that infect humans (Shirley et al, 2018;Cui et al, 2019), domestic animals (Noble and Noble, 1952;Stensvold et al, 2010;Cui et al, 2019;Ai et al, 2021) and wild animals (Stensvold et al, 2010;Shilton et al, 2018;Cui et al, 2019). Entamoeba parasites develop through a faecal-oral life cycle, and infections with pathogenic species can cause intestinal disease and damage the liver and brain (Ngui et al, 2012).…”

“…Among the studies conducted on cervids, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from the USA (Kingston and Stabler, 1978), fallow deer (Dama dama) from Mauritius (Jacob et al, 2016), and reindeer (Rengifer tarandus) from Iceland (Stensvold et al, 2010) tested positive for E. bovis, while Entamoeba RL 1 was detected in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from Sweden (Stensvold et al, 2010). Information about the pathogenicity of E. bovis and Entamoeba RLs in ruminants remains limited; however, their detection in cattle in the absence of clinical symptoms such as diarrhoea, suggests low pathogenicity (Matsubayashi et al, 2018;Ai et al, 2021). E. bovis have a broad ruminant host range and can be transmitted by faecal excretion of cysts followed by oral ingestion of contaminated food or water (Noble and Noble, 1952;Clark et al, 2006;Stensvold et al, 2010).…”