Papers of the Week

spp. are common intestinal parasites found in humans and many kinds of animals. spp. infection is associated with a variety of symptoms, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, and chronic urticaria, among which asymptomatic infection is the most common. Among the 11 potentially zoonotic subtypes of spp., 9 subtypes have been reported in bird species. The purpose of this study was to detect the infection rate and gene subtype distribution of spp. in pet birds in Henan Province, Central China, to provide a foundation for preventing and controlling spp. in pet birds. Fecal DNA was extracted from 382 fresh fecal samples of pet birds collected from five areas in Henan Province, Central China. Twenty-three species of pet birds from four orders, from local pet trading markets, parks, and individuals, were sampled. All DNA samples were investigated by PCR, and positive samples were sequenced to analyze the gene subtypes based on the small ribosomal subunit (SSU rRNA) gene. spp. was detected in 0.8% of the samples. Further DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses resulted in the identification of two known zoonotic subtypes, ST1 ( = 2) and ST7 ( = 1). As far as we know, this is the first time that ST1 subtype has been reported in Chinese birds. It is found that pet birds may be the hosts of zoonotic spp. subtypes, and the role of birds in transmitting spp. to humans needs to be further studied.