Molecular Prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in Anatolian Water Buffaloes in Diyarbakır, Turkey

The water buffaloes raised in Turkey originate from the Mediterranean water buffalo, a subgroup of the river buffalo, and are called the Anatolian buffalo. Blastocystis spp. is an anaerobic enteric protozoan parasite that lives in the gastrointestinal tract of a wide variety of hosts, including humans. This study aims to determine the molecular prevalence of Blastocystis spp. in Anatolian buffaloes in Diyarbakır province. Fresh fecal samples from animals were placed in individual fecal sample containers. The sex and age of the animal were recorded for each sample collected. As a result of PCR analysis, specific bands of 500 bp were obtained in 34 (17%) of 200 samples. Prevalence by age groups was found 27.69% in the 0-1 age group and 11.85% in those older than one year (P<0.05). The prevalence by sex was 17.46% in females and 16.22% in males (P>0.05). As a result of this study, the presence of Blastocystis spp. was revealed in Anatolian Water Buffaloes in Diyarbakır. It is thought that further studies are needed to determine the zoonotic subtype potential of the agent in the region.