Prevalence and genetic diversity of Balantioides coli in pigs in Xinjiang, China

Abstract

Abstract Balantioides coli is one of the common intestinal parasitic protozoa in pigs. In the present study, 801 fecal samples of pigs from seven farms in Xinjiang were identified based on ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2 gene. The prevalence of B. coli was 4.2 % (34/801), with the highest infection rate of 18.9 % (18/95) occurred in Alaer, Xinjiang. B. coliwere detected in all age groups (pre-weaned pigs, post-weaned pigs, fattening pigs and sows), with the highest in fatteners (6.9 %, 9/129) and the lowest (1.2 %, 2/169) in pre-weaned pigs. Significant differences (P = 0.000) was found in different sampling sites, but not in age groups (P = 0.084). Sequence analysis indicated than two genetic variants, A (n = 11) and B (n = 23), were identified in all age groups. The present study indicated that the wide distribution and high genetic diversity of B. coli in pigs in Xinjiang. In addition, the exist of genetic variant A suggested that there is a potential threaten of B. coli for human health. More studies are needed to better understand the distributions and public health significance of B. coli in China.