Multicentric Study on Enteric Protists Occurrence in Zoological Parks in Portugal

Parasitic infections of the gastrointestinal tract of domestic animals play a major role in the transmission of disease, which in turn may result in financial and productive losses. Notwithstanding, studies on the burden and distribution of diarrheagenic protists in zoological gardens are still insufficient. Given the close animal-animal and animal-human interaction in these settings, Public Health concerns under the One Health context are raised. Using molecular detection tools and phylogenetic analysis, the goal of this study was to assess the occurrence of four potentially zoonotic protists-<i>Balantioides coli</i>, <i>Blastocystis</i> sp., <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. and <i>Giardia</i> spp.-in animals residing in zoological parks in Portugal. Occurrence of <i>Eimeria</i> spp. was also assessed because of its veterinary relevance. Although <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. represents most of the positive samples obtained (11.6%; 95% CI: 0.08-0.17), all parasites were detected (<i>B. coli</i> (2.9%; 95% CI: 0.01-0.06), and <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp., <i>Eimeria</i> spp. and <i>Giardia</i> spp. presented the same prevalence (0.5%; 95% CI: 0.00-0.03)). We also describe the first molecular detection of <i>B. coli</i> in a collared peccary (<i>Tayassu tajacu</i>), of <i>Blastocystis</i> sp. in three different python species, and <i>G. muris</i> in a central bearded dragon (<i>Pogona vitticeps</i>), suggesting the broadening of the host range for these parasites.