MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BLASTOCYSTIS SP IN ANIMALS REARED BY THE ABORIGINES DURING WET AND DRY SEASONS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, PAHANG, MALAYSIA

In endemic areas of intestinal parasitic infections, prevalence of Blastocystis sp in animals has not been clearly elucidated. This is the first study of the distribution of Blastocystis sp subtypes in animals reared by Orang Asli population in Pahang, Malaysia during a wet and dry season. Fecal samples of dogs, chickens, goats, ducks, swans, birds and cows were collected and subjected to PCR amplification and sequencing of Blastocystis small subunit rDNA. Of 127 fecal samples collected during the wet season, 9% were positive for Blastocystis sp, with Blastocystis sp ST3 being predominant (16%) followed by ST1 (4%), ST7 (3%), ST4 (2%), ST10 (2%), ST6 (1%), and ST9 (1%). Of 146 fecal samples collected during the dry season 37% were positive, with Blastocystis sp ST3 being predominant (10%) followed by ST1 (8%), ST7 (6%), ST4 (5%), ST8 (3%), ST2 (1%), ST6 (1%), ST9 (1%), and ST10 (1%). High prevalence of Blastocystis sp was observed in dogs and chickens which carried a diverse range of subtypes especially during the dry season. Dogs and chickens might comprise a part of the transmission dynamics of the infection in the population. Health education related to awareness of hygienic practice and disposal of animals waste should be regularly provided and monitored to prevent the transmission of Blastocystis sp infection in this population.