Abstract

Blastocystis hominis is a gastrointestinal tract parasite whose pathogenic role, and zoonotic potential remains unclear. Several microorganisms similar to B. hominis have been reported in a variety of non-human hosts, and described as Blastocystis spp. The study aimed to verify the occurrence of Blastocystis spp. in three species of poultry of two municipal markets, by observing the microorganisms’ forms in stool samples stained with Giemsa. A total of 214 birds, distributed into two markets, were studied. In each of the markets were observed, 35 ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), 35 Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and 35 chicks (Gallus gallus). In market A, 8 (22.9%) chicks, 15 (42.9%) quails and 13 (37.1%) and ducks were diagnosed with Blastocystis spp.; in market B, 15 (42.9%) chicks, 2 (5.56%) quails, and 21 (55.3%) ducks. A significant difference was observed only between quails from the two markets but no statistical difference was observed when all infected birds in the two markets were compared. In stool samples positive with Blastocystis spp. and stained with Giemsa were observed forms as vacuolar, granular, amoeboid, and cystic, and some types of reproduction, such as binary fission, plasmotomy and budding. Both markets had unhygienic conditions of animal facilities, favoring the infection among them.

Key words: Poultry, pleomorphic organism, gastrointestinal parasite, giemsa, microscopy, unhygienic.