MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF GIARDIA DUODENALIS AND BLASTOCYSTIS SP IN LIVESTOCK FROM ANIMAL FARMS IN BULACAN, PHILIPPINES

摘要

Gastrointestinal protozoa such as Giardia duodenalis and Blastocystis sp pose risks to health of both farm workers and livestock. However, there are little data on G. duodenalis and Blastocystis sp prevalence and genotypes in livestock in the Philippines. A survey of G. duodenalis genotypes and Blastocystis sp subtypes (STs) collected from fecal samples of livestock in animal farms of Bulacan Province, Philippines revealed positive results only from porcine specimens, 6% and 73% infected with G. duodenalis and Blastocystis sp, respectively. Only G. duodenalis assemblage B was identified while ST5 was predominant among Blastocystis sp specimens. These data should help shed light on the possible risk of cross-transmission between humans and livestock posed by these two important zoonotic protozoa in Bulacan Province and elsewhere in the Philippines.