Current Status of <i>Trypanosoma grosi</i> and <i>Babesia microti</i> in Small Mammals in the Republic of Korea
Small mammals, such as rodents and shrews, are natural reservoir hosts of zoonotic diseases, including parasitic protozoa. To assess the risk of rodent-borne parasitic protozoa in the Republic of Korea (ROK), this study investigated the status of parasitic protozoa, namely <i>Trypanosoma</i...
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/7/989 |
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| author | Hyun Jung Kim BoGyeong Han Hee-Il Lee Jung-Won Ju Hyun-Il Shin |
| author_facet | Hyun Jung Kim BoGyeong Han Hee-Il Lee Jung-Won Ju Hyun-Il Shin |
| author_sort | Hyun Jung Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Small mammals, such as rodents and shrews, are natural reservoir hosts of zoonotic diseases, including parasitic protozoa. To assess the risk of rodent-borne parasitic protozoa in the Republic of Korea (ROK), this study investigated the status of parasitic protozoa, namely <i>Trypanosoma</i>, <i>Babesia</i>, and <i>Theileria</i>, in small mammals. In total, 331 blood samples from small mammals were analyzed for parasites using PCR and sequenced. Samples were positive for <i>Trypanosoma grosi</i> (23.9%; <i>n</i> = 79) and <i>Babesia microti</i> (10%; <i>n</i> = 33) but not <i>Theileria</i>. Small mammals from Seogwipo-si showed the highest infection rate of <i>T. grosi</i> (48.4%), while the highest <i>B. microti</i> infection rate was observed in those from Gangneung-si (25.6%). Sequence data revealed <i>T. grosi</i> to be of the AKHA strain. Phylogenetic analysis of <i>B. microti</i> revealed the US and Kobe genotypes. <i>B. microti</i> US-type–infected small mammals were detected throughout the country, but the Kobe type was only detected in Seogwipo-si. To our knowledge, this is the first nationwide survey that confirmed <i>T. grosi</i> and <i>B. microti</i> infections at the species level in small mammals in the ROK and identified the Kobe type of <i>B. microti</i>. These results provide valuable information for further molecular epidemiological studies on these parasites. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:50:53Z |
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| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:50:53Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-4b7bd85ba3b24487bf199894d830c4e22024-04-12T13:14:03ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-03-0114798910.3390/ani14070989Current Status of <i>Trypanosoma grosi</i> and <i>Babesia microti</i> in Small Mammals in the Republic of KoreaHyun Jung Kim0BoGyeong Han1Hee-Il Lee2Jung-Won Ju3Hyun-Il Shin4Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 187 Osongsaenmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju 28159, Republic of KoreaDivision of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 187 Osongsaenmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju 28159, Republic of KoreaDivision of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 187 Osongsaenmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju 28159, Republic of KoreaDivision of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 187 Osongsaenmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju 28159, Republic of KoreaDivision of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 187 Osongsaenmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju 28159, Republic of KoreaSmall mammals, such as rodents and shrews, are natural reservoir hosts of zoonotic diseases, including parasitic protozoa. To assess the risk of rodent-borne parasitic protozoa in the Republic of Korea (ROK), this study investigated the status of parasitic protozoa, namely <i>Trypanosoma</i>, <i>Babesia</i>, and <i>Theileria</i>, in small mammals. In total, 331 blood samples from small mammals were analyzed for parasites using PCR and sequenced. Samples were positive for <i>Trypanosoma grosi</i> (23.9%; <i>n</i> = 79) and <i>Babesia microti</i> (10%; <i>n</i> = 33) but not <i>Theileria</i>. Small mammals from Seogwipo-si showed the highest infection rate of <i>T. grosi</i> (48.4%), while the highest <i>B. microti</i> infection rate was observed in those from Gangneung-si (25.6%). Sequence data revealed <i>T. grosi</i> to be of the AKHA strain. Phylogenetic analysis of <i>B. microti</i> revealed the US and Kobe genotypes. <i>B. microti</i> US-type–infected small mammals were detected throughout the country, but the Kobe type was only detected in Seogwipo-si. To our knowledge, this is the first nationwide survey that confirmed <i>T. grosi</i> and <i>B. microti</i> infections at the species level in small mammals in the ROK and identified the Kobe type of <i>B. microti</i>. These results provide valuable information for further molecular epidemiological studies on these parasites.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/7/989wild animalrodentsshrewsprotozoamolecular epidemiology |
| spellingShingle | Hyun Jung Kim BoGyeong Han Hee-Il Lee Jung-Won Ju Hyun-Il Shin Current Status of <i>Trypanosoma grosi</i> and <i>Babesia microti</i> in Small Mammals in the Republic of Korea Animals wild animal rodents shrews protozoa molecular epidemiology |
| title | Current Status of <i>Trypanosoma grosi</i> and <i>Babesia microti</i> in Small Mammals in the Republic of Korea |
| title_full | Current Status of <i>Trypanosoma grosi</i> and <i>Babesia microti</i> in Small Mammals in the Republic of Korea |
| title_fullStr | Current Status of <i>Trypanosoma grosi</i> and <i>Babesia microti</i> in Small Mammals in the Republic of Korea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Current Status of <i>Trypanosoma grosi</i> and <i>Babesia microti</i> in Small Mammals in the Republic of Korea |
| title_short | Current Status of <i>Trypanosoma grosi</i> and <i>Babesia microti</i> in Small Mammals in the Republic of Korea |
| title_sort | current status of i trypanosoma grosi i and i babesia microti i in small mammals in the republic of korea |
| topic | wild animal rodents shrews protozoa molecular epidemiology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/7/989 |
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