RT Journal Article
T1 Blastocystis in free-ranging wild ruminant species across the Iberian Peninsula.
A1 Figueiredo, Ana M
A1 Dashti, Alejandro
A1 Maloney, Jenny G
A1 Molokin, Aleksey
A1 George, Nadja S
A1 Köster, Pamela C
A1 Bailo, Begoña
A1 de Las Matas, Ana Sánchez
A1 Habela, Miguel Ángel
A1 Rivero-Juarez, Antonio
A1 Vicente, Joaquín
A1 Serrano, Emmanuel
A1 Arnal, Maria C
A1 de Luco, Daniel Fernández
A1 Morrondo, Patrocinio
A1 Armenteros, José A
A1 Balseiro, Ana
A1 Cardona, Guillermo A
A1 Martínez-Carrasco, Carlos
A1 Torres, Rita T
A1 Fonseca, Carlos
A1 Mysterud, Atle
A1 Carvalho, João
A1 Calero Bernal, Rafael
A1 González-Barrio, David
A1 Santín, Mónica
A1 Carmena, David
AB The growing wild ungulate populations across Europe represents an increasingly important source for the spread of zoonotic pathogens. Blastocystis is a common intestinal protist observed in humans and animals worldwide. Studies on Blastocystis occurrence and subtype (ST) diversity in free-ranging wild ruminants are lacking globally, and more data are needed to understand the epidemiological scenario in wild European ruminants. We collected 833 faecal samples from free-ranging wild ungulates across Spain (n = 699) and Portugal (n = 134) between 1998 and 2021. Using conventional PCR and next-generation amplicon sequencing, Blastocystis was found in 13.8% (115/833; 95% CI: 11.5-16.3) of the wild ruminants analysed. Its occurrence was significantly higher in Portugal (38.1%, 51/134; 95% CI 29.8-46.8) than in Spain (9.2%, 64/699; 95% CI: 7.1-11.5). Fifteen Blastocystis STs, fourteen previously recognised (ST2, ST5, ST10, ST13, ST14, ST21, ST23-ST26, ST30, and ST42-ST44), and one novel (named ST49), were detected among the surveyed wild ruminant populations. Novel ST49 was described using Oxford Nanopore sequencing to produce full-length reference sequences of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. A greater ST diversity was observed in Spanish samples. Mixed infections were found in 58.3% (67/115) of the total Blastocystis-positive samples. Our results have enhanced the knowledge regarding Blastocystis occurrence and ST diversity and host preference present in wild ruminants from the Iberian Peninsula, which will assist in clarifying the relationships between the sylvatic and domestic cycles of this protist and may ultimately provide tools to help manage future public health epidemiological scenarios.
PB Springer Nature
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/123001
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/123001
LA eng
NO Figueiredo, A.M., Dashti, A., Maloney, J.G. et al. Blastocystis in free-ranging wild ruminant species across the Iberian Peninsula. Vet Res 56, 145 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-025-01563-3
NO Justificación de autores:AMF, MAH, ARJ, JV, ES (on behalf of the WE&H group), MCA, DFL, PM, JAA, AB, GAC, CMC, RTT, JC, RCB, and DGB collected the samples. AMF, AD, JGM, AM, NSG, PCK, BB, and ASM and carried out the laboratory experiments. DGB, MS and DC designed and supervised the experiments. AMF, AD, JGM, MS and DC wrote the original draft. AMF, ARJ, ES, AD, RTT, CF, AM, RCB, DGB, MS and DC writing—review and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.Contratos: 13/051, 15/0174, 16/0243 y 16/0243-00-PR/01
NO Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
NO Instituto de Salud Carlos III
NO Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España)
NO European Commission
NO Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)
NO Diputación de Barcelona
DS Docta Complutense
RD 20 ene 2026