Abstract

spp. are controversial unicellular protists that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract of humans and a wide range of animals worldwide. This review provides an overview of the prevalence and distribution of spp. and their subtypes throughout Asia. Research articles reporting on the presence of spp. in locations within Asia, between 1 January 2010, and 10 May 2021, were obtained from Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. In 427 articles, the prevalence of spp. in 31 countries within the last decade was revealed. Isolates were found in humans, various mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, water sources, vegetables, and ambient air. Prevalence of spp. varied widely across host categories. Subtypes identified throughout Asia were STs 1-14, and ST18-22 (novel subtypes). ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4 were the most frequently isolated in humans; ST5 in pigs; ST10 and ST14 in goats, sheep, and cattle; and ST6 and ST7 in chickens. ST1 and ST3 were most common in water samples. ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5 and ST6 were shared by humans, animals, and water sources. There is a growing interest in the study of spp. and their subtypes in Asia. Due to the isolation of spp. from biotic and abiotic sources in Asia, the application of the One Health (OH) approach to the study of spp. is proposed for improved perception of this organism.

MeSH

Epidemiology, Prevalence

Cited by

• Prevalence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Blastocystis sp. infection in foxes (Alopex lagopus) in northern China. Parasite, 2025
• Molecular Prevalence of sp. from Patients with Diarrhea in the Republic of Korea. Microorganisms, 2024
• Edible plants as significant sources of spp. infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Food Waterborne Parasitol, 2025
• First detection of sp. in migratory whooper swans () in China. One Health, 2023
• A protocol for mapping Blastocystis epidemiology and diagnostics from One Health perspective. Open Res Eur, 2025
• Epidemiology and Molecular Characterization of Zoonotic Gastrointestinal Protozoal Infection in Zoo Animals in China. Animals (Basel), 2024
• Multicentric Study on Enteric Protists Occurrence in Zoological Parks in Portugal. Pathogens, 2024
• Rare Occurrence of in Pet Animals and Their Owners in the Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland in the Light of Literature Data. J Clin Med, 2022
• Molecular Epidemiology and Genetic Diversity of the Enteric Protozoan Parasite sp. in the Northern Egypt Population. Pathogens, 2023
• Occurrence and Phylogenetic Analysis of Zoonotic Enteropathogenic Protist Parasites in Asymptomatic Domestic Ruminants from Portugal. Pathogens, 2023
• Anthropogenic from Drinking Well and Coastal Water in Guinea-Bissau (West Africa). Microorganisms, 2025
• Detection, Molecular Identification and Transmission of the Intestinal Protozoa sp. in Guinea from a Large-Scale Epidemiological Study Conducted in the Conakry Area. Microorganisms, 2022
• Epidemiological survey on prevalence and subtypes distribution of Blastocystis sp. in Southern Guizhou, China. Biomol Biomed, 2025
• Genetic diversity of single-celled microorganism sp. and its associated gut microbiome in free-ranging marine mammals from North-Western Mediterranean Sea. Curr Res Microb Sci, 2025
• Molecular identification of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Blastocystis from stray and household cats and cat owners in Tehran, Iran. Sci Rep, 2023
• Molecular identification and genotyping of Blastocystis in farmed Cattle, Goats, and Pigs from Zhejiang Province, China. Food Waterborne Parasitol, 2025
• Cytological identification of in the ascites of a patient with rectal carcinoma: a case report. Front Med (Lausanne), 2025
• Prevalence, Subtype Distribution and Zoonotic Significance of sp. Isolates from Poultry, Cattle and Pets in Northern Egypt. Microorganisms, 2022