Epidemiology of Pentatrichomonas hominis in Farmed Mink and Raccoon Dogs Across Five Provinces in China.

Pentatrichomonas hominis is a zoonotic pathogen with a wide host range, yet epidemiological data in mink and raccoon dogs remain sparse. This study investigates the prevalence of P. hominis in these species by analyzing 498 fecal samples collected from Hebei, Shandong, Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces in China. Results revealed an overall infection rate of 9.64% (48/498, 95% confidence interval 7.19-12.58), with mink showing a 0.36% infection rate (1/276) and raccoon dogs 21.17% (47/222). Female animals had higher infection rates (9.87%, 47/476) than males (4.55%, 1/22). Adults exhibited higher infection rates (10.31%, 46/446) compared with juveniles (3.85%, 2/52). Phylogenetic analysis identified the CC1 genotype in all P. hominis detected. This study provides important epidemiological data on P. hominis infection in mink and raccoon dogs across five provinces, offering new insights into its regional distribution and transmission dynamics. These findings contribute to the development of more effective control strategies in the future.