A multi-institutional study performed between researchers in Australia, Denmark, and Thailand reported that although Blastocystis sp. subtype 5 transmission from pigs may be population-specific. Blastocystis infection in pigs in both Southeast Queensland (SEQ) Australia, and a rural village in Cambodia was found to be similar, with both groups harboring exclusively Blastocystis sp. subtype 5 at rates of 76.7% and 45.2% respectively. However, only the animal handlers in Australia were found to be infected with Blastocystis sp. subtype 5, and Australian animal handlers were infected at a higher rate than Cambodian villagers. The infection rates in the SEQ piggery staff was reported to be 83.3%, vs. 55.2% in the Cambodian villagers. The text of the paper is available from Veterinary Parasitology.
09
Jul 2017