<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<sec id="j_jvetres-2023-0017_s_005"><h3>Introduction</h3>
<p><italic>Blastocystis</italic> spp. is a common anaerobic intestinal parasite infecting humans and a diverse range of animals. The aim of the study was to compare different diagnostic methods for the detection of <italic>Blastocystis</italic> and survey the occurrence of its subtypes in farm animals, namely sheep, cows and camels, in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2023-0017_s_006"><h3>Material and Methods</h3>
<p>Ninety-seven faecal samples comprised of 69 from sheep, 12 from cows and 16 from camels were submitted to DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing. <italic>Blastocystis</italic> was screened for microscopically in 65 samples using direct wet-mount, modified acid-fast staining, trichrome staining and <italic>in vitro</italic> culture techniques.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2023-0017_s_007"><h3>Results</h3>
<p>Fifteen (15.5%) samples were positive by PCR, twelve of which were confirmed by sequencing. Using PCR as a comparison standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the direct wet-mount, modified acid-fast staining, trichrome staining and <italic>in vitro</italic> culture methods were 40.0% and 78.3%, 40.0% and 83.3%, 80.0% and 80.0%, and 80.0% and 76.7% respectively. Only culture and trichrome tests were significantly associated with PCR (odds ratio (OR) = 13.14; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35–127.4; P = 0.007 and OR = 16; 95% CI: 1.63–156.5; P = 0.003, respectively) with trichrome detecting more positive cases than <italic>in vitro</italic> culture. The subtype (ST)10 was the only one found in all 12 sequenced sheep isolates.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2023-0017_s_008"><h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The study corroborated previous data indicating that sheep are the natural hosts for ST10. No zoonotic subtypes nor mixed-subtype colonisation were found. The report also confirmed the superiority of trichrome staining in detecting <italic>Blastocystis</italic> spp.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Introduction
Blastocystis spp. is a common anaerobic intestinal parasite infecting humans and a diverse range of animals. The aim of the study was to compare different diagnostic methods for the detection of Blastocystis and survey the occurrence of its subtypes in farm animals, namely sheep, cows and camels, in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.

Material and Methods
Ninety-seven faecal samples comprised of 69 from sheep, 12 from cows and 16 from camels were submitted to DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing. Blastocystis was screened for microscopically in 65 samples using direct wet-mount, modified acid-fast staining, trichrome staining and in vitro culture techniques.

Results
Fifteen (15.5%) samples were positive by PCR, twelve of which were confirmed by sequencing. Using PCR as a comparison standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the direct wet-mount, modified acid-fast staining, trichrome staining and in vitro culture methods were 40.0% and 78.3%, 40.0% and 83.3%, 80.0% and 80.0%, and 80.0% and 76.7% respectively. Only culture and trichrome tests were significantly associated with PCR (odds ratio (OR) = 13.14; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35–127.4; P = 0.007 and OR = 16; 95% CI: 1.63–156.5; P = 0.003, respectively) with trichrome detecting more positive cases than in vitro culture. The subtype (ST)10 was the only one found in all 12 sequenced sheep isolates.

Conclusion
The study corroborated previous data indicating that sheep are the natural hosts for ST10. No zoonotic subtypes nor mixed-subtype colonisation were found. The report also confirmed the superiority of trichrome staining in detecting Blastocystis spp.

Comparison of various diagnostic techniques for the detection of <italic>Blastocystis</italic> spp. and its molecular characterisation in farm animals in the United Arab Emirates

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Comparison of various diagnostic techniques for the detection of  spp. and its molecular characterisation in farm animals in the United Arab Emirates

Introduction
Blastocystis spp. is a common anaerobic intestinal parasite infecting humans and a diverse range of animals. The aim of the study was to compare...

		Polymerase chain reaction (gold standard)		Sensitivity	Specificity	Odds ratio	95% Confidence interval		P-value
		Positive (n = 5)	Negative (n = 60)				Lower	Upper
Iodine	Positive	13.3 (2)	86.7 (13)	0.4	0.783	2.41	0.36	15.98	0.35
	Negative	6 (3)	94 (47)
Acid-fast	Positive	16.7 (2)	83.3 (10)	0.4	0.833	3.33	0.49	22.59	0.19
stain	Negative	5.7 (3)	94.3 (50)
Trichrome	Positive	25 (4)	75 (12)	0.8	0.800	16	1.63	156.5	0.003
	Negative	2 (1)	98 (48)
	Positive	22.2 (4)	77.8 (14)
Culture	Negative	2.1 (1)	97.9 (46)	0.8	0.767	13.14	1.35	127.4	0.007

Isolate	GenBank ID	Maximal score	Total score	Query cover (%)	Identity (%)
1	MT895705	571	571	94	85.41
2	MT895706	No score	No score	No score	No score
3	MT895707	407	407	87	81.01
5B	MT895708	No score	No score	No score	No score
6	MT895709	No score	No score	No score	No score
7	MT895710	No score	No score	No score	No score
8	MT895711	540	540	94	84.20
9	MT895712	512	512	95	87.33
10	MT895713	No score	No score	No score	No score
12	MT895714	560	560	99	86.15
4	MT895715	968	968	97	97.03
5A	MT895716	1016	1016	97	99.11

Comparison of various diagnostic techniques for the detection of Blastocystis spp. and its molecular characterisation in farm animals in the United Arab Emirates

Online veröffentlicht: 28. März 2023

Seitenbereich: 93 - 98

Eingereicht: 21. Juli 2022

Akzeptiert: 09. März 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2023-0017

Schlüsselwörter
PCR, trichrome stain, sequencing, UAE

© 2023 A. ElBakri et al. published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Fig. 1

Sensitivity and specificity of iodine, acid-fast stain, trichrome and culture techniques

GenBank DNA BLAST sequence of Blastocystis in sheep (present study) compared to Blastocystis ST10 isolate CA (KC148207)

Comparison of various diagnostic techniques for the detection of Blastocystis spp. and its molecular characterisation in farm animals in the United Arab Emirates

Online veröffentlicht: 28. März 2023

Seitenbereich: 93 - 98

Eingereicht: 21. Juli 2022

Akzeptiert: 09. März 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2023-0017

SchlüsselwörterPCR, trichrome stain, sequencing, UAE

© 2023 A. ElBakri et al. published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Fig. 1

Sensitivity and specificity of iodine, acid-fast stain, trichrome and culture techniques

GenBank DNA BLAST sequence of Blastocystis in sheep (present study) compared to Blastocystis ST10 isolate CA (KC148207)

Schlüsselwörter
PCR, trichrome stain, sequencing, UAE