Prevalence and Genotype of Pentatrichomonas hominis in Farmed Arctic Foxes ( Vulpes lagopus ) in Northern China

As a zoonotic protozoan, Pentatrichomonas hominis has been implicated in gastrointestinal diseases, typically residing in the cecum or colon of diverse vertebrate hosts. Nevertheless, information regarding its prevalence and genotypic distribution in farmed foxes ( Vulpes lagopus ) remains limited. Fresh fecal samples ( n = 352) from farmed foxes in northern China were analyzed for P. hominis via nested PCR. The overall prevalence was 15.62% (55/352). Infection rates were 12.09% (22/182) in adults and 19.41% (33/170) in juveniles. The prevalence exhibited seasonal fluctuations, ranging from 10.90% to 25.24%, with the highest prevalence observed in autumn. Foxes with diarrhea exhibited a significantly higher infection rate (33.78%, 25/74) than those without (10.79%, 30/278). Prevalence varied across regions, with the highest rates in Jilin (30.00%, 12/40), followed by Shandong (26.88%, 25/93), Hebei (12.90%, 12/93), Liaoning (6.33%, 5/79), and Heilongjiang (2.13%, 1/47). All positive samples were grouped into the zoonotic CC1 genotype based on phylogenetic analysis. This study offers novel epidemiological insights into P. hominis occurrence among farmed foxes in northern China and underpins the advancement of specific approaches for its detection and control.