First molecular identification of Buxtonella ciliates from captive-bred mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus) from China

Buxtonella species are large cyst-forming ciliates that infect ruminants and monkeys, and are morphologically similar to Balantidium coli ciliates that infect pigs, humans, monkeys, and other animals. In this study, we isolated spherical cysts of ciliates that were similar to those of Balantidium and Buxtonella species within collared mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus) from the Wangcheng Zoo of Luoyang in the Henan Province of central China. The cysts were further identified and designated as belonging to the Buxtonella monkey genotype based on molecular analyses of 18S rRNA, 5.8S rRNA, and ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2 genetic markers. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Buxtonella monkey genotype within monkeys in China. These results will help clarify the classification of species of cyst-forming ciliate infections in monkeys.