A parasitological survey and the molecular detection of Entamoeba species in pigs of East Java, Indonesia

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In several countries, two Entamoeba porcine species, Entamoeba suis and Entamoeba polecki (subtype 1 and 3), have been detected using molecular methods and identified pathogenicity associated with enteritis. However, globally, Entamoeba infection prevalence in pigs is extremely limited. This study aimed to coprologically and genetically examine pig parasites to estimate prevalence of Entamoeba in three pig farms in East Java, Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hundred porcine fecal samples (Landrace) were collected from three East Javan farms in well-known swine industry regions. Fecal samples were examined under a microscope after sugar-flotation centrifugation, and molecular species and subtype identification were performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and primer pairs targeting small-subunit ribosomal RNA. RESULTS: Microscopy examinations identified parasites in 89/100 fecal samples; Entamoeba spp. cysts were the most frequent in these samples. Polymerase chain reaction showed that 58 samples were comprised of mixed Entamoeba suis and Entamoeba polecki, 22 E. suis alone, and nine E. polecki alone infections. Epolec F6–Epolec R6 primers successfully amplified E. polecki ST1–4 subtypes, while Epolecki 1–Epolecki 2 amplified only the E. polecki ST1 subtype. Entamoeba polecki ST1-specific primers successfully detected the ST1 subtype in 19/67 E. polecki positive samples. CONCLUSION: Entamoeba spp. prevalence in Indonesian pigs was previously shown to be high. On coprological examination of East Javan pigs, we detected high Entamoeba spp. levels, in which we genetically identified as E. suis (80.0%), E. polecki (67.0%), and E. polecki ST1 (19%).