Distribution of human-pathogenic spp., , and in crab-eating macaques in China.

Introduction: The positive rates and genetic identity of spp., (), and () were unclear in crab-eating macaques in Suzhou and Beijing, China.

Methods: A total of 504 fecal samples were collected from crab-eating macaques on commercial farms in Beijing and Suzhou, China. The extracted DNA was analyzed for spp. and by nested PCR and sequence analysis of the small subunit rRNA ( rRNA) gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene, respectively. The was detected by nested PCR targeting -giardin () gene, glutamate dehydrogenase () gene, and triosephosphate isomerase () gene. The identified were further subtyped by nested PCR and sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein () gene.

Results: All 504 fecal samples collected from crab-eating macaques, the detection rates of spp., , and were 11.9% (60/504), 5.6% (28/504), and 4.6% (23/504), respectively. The 15.1% (44/292) detection rate of spp. from crab-eating macaques in Suzhou was significantly higher than that in Beijing (2.8%; 6/212;  = 20.6,  = 1,  < 0.0001). The detection rates of spp. and were significant different between <2 months old animals and >24 months old animals (  = 104.7,  = 1,  < 0.0001;  = 6.6,  = 1,  = 0.0104). In contrast, there was no significant different in the detection rate of in two age groups (  = 2.2,  = 1,  = 0.1360). A total of one species, one assemblage B, and 4 genotypes have been identified, including ( = 60), assemblage B ( = 28), CM1 ( = 14), Peru8 ( = 5), D ( = 3), and Type IV ( = 1). Among 60 samples, five subtypes of five subtype families were successfully identified at the gene: IbA13G4 ( = 27), InA26 ( = 3), IfA17G2R3 ( = 3), IiA17 ( = 3), and IeA11G3T3 ( = 2).

Discussion: The results indicate that known zoonotic spp., , and are prevalent in crab-eating macaques. The crab-eating macaques could play a potential role in the zoonotic transmission of pathogens to humans.