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Pigs as Natural Hosts of Dientamoeba fragilis Genotypes Found in Humans - Vol. 18 No. 5 - May 2012 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal - CDC

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Pigs as Natural Hosts of Dientamoeba fragilis Genotypes Found in Humans - Vol. 18 No. 5 - May 2012 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal - CDC


Volume 18, Number 5—May 2012

Dispatch

Pigs as Natural Hosts of Dientamoeba fragilis Genotypes Found in Humans

Simone M. CacciòComments to Author , Anna Rosa Sannella, Elisabetta Manuali, Fabio Tosini, Marco Sensi, Daniele Crotti, and Edoardo Pozio
Author affiliations: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy (S.M. Cacciò, A.R. Sannella, F. Tosini, E. Pozio); Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche, Perugia, Italy (E. Manuali, M. Sensi, D. Crotti)
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Abstract

Dientamoeba fragilis is a common intestinal parasite in humans. Transmission routes and natural host range are unknown. To determine whether pigs are hosts, we analyzed 152 fecal samples by microscopy and molecular methods. We confirmed that pigs are a natural host and harbor genotypes found in humans, suggesting zoonotic potential.
The flagellated protozoan Dientamoeba fragilis is one of the most common parasites in the intestinal tract of humans (1). Infection is highly prevalent in economically developing regions and in industrialized countries (1,2). Infected persons often show no symptoms, but a pathogenic role for this parasite has been reported recently in humans and gorillas (24). Little is known about transmission routes of this parasite, and a transmissible stage (e.g., a cyst) has not been described (1,5). Molecular characterization of human isolates based on sequence analysis of ribosomal genes revealed 2 genotypes (1 and 2), with genotype 1 predominating worldwide (6,7).
Other than humans, few animal hosts of D. fragilis have been reported. Surveys of mammals and birds have identified only nonhuman primates (gorillas, macaques, and baboons) as natural hosts (8,9). Recently, however, a high prevalence of infection (43.8%) has been reported in pigs in Italy (10). To determine whether pigs are a host of D. fragilis, we analyzed fecal samples from 152 pigs in Italy by microscopy and molecular methods.

The Study

During June–August 2010, a total of 152 fecal samples were collected from the rectums of piglets (age 1–3 months; weight 6–24 kg), fattening pigs (age 3–4 months; weight 25–50 kg), and sows (age 1–2 years; weight 180–250 kg). The pigs were raised in 6 farrow-to-finish farms, 2 fattening farms, and 1 weaner indoor farm of central Italy (7 farms in the Umbria region and 2 farms in the Marche region). Pig fecal samples from 7 of the 9 farms were available for molecular analysis. Fecal samples from 21 pig farmers were collected from 5 of the 9 farms, 17 of which were available for molecular analysis.

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