Danqu Lamu ^1,2*, Xialing Zhao ^1,2, Chenyang Xia  ^1,2,  Wujin Cuomu  ^1,2, Yundan Ciren ³, Rongsheng Mi ⁴

Blastocystis sp. is a zoonotic protozoan that infects various animals, including plateau yaks. We conducted this study to compare the microbiota of Blastocystis sp.-positive and -negative yaks on the cold plateau. Fecal samples of Blastocystis sP. positive and negative yaks were assigned to BSP and CON groups and subjected to amplicon sequencing. A total of 2021402 (BSP) and 2702263 (CON) raw reads, and 1973301 (BSP) and 2625224 (CON) filtered reads, were obtained. Alpha diversity evaluation showed that Pielou (P<0.01), Shannon (P<0.01), and Simpson (P<0.05) in BSP yaks were significantly lower than in CON animals. Beta diversity analysis revealed significant differences in PCA (P<0.01), PCoA (P<0.01), NMDS (P<0.05), UPGMA, and Anosim (P<0.01) between the two yak groups. Microbiota biomarker analysis identified thirty-six distinguished genera including AsPergillus, Wallemia, CoPrinellus, Mucor, Sarocladium, Coniochaeta, and Anaeromyces between Blastocystis sp. positive and negative yaks. Our results unveil potential avenues for the development of effective therapies against Blastocystis sp.

To Cite This Article: Danqu L, Zhao X, Xia C, Wujin C, Yundan C and Mi R, 2026. Association of intestinal fungal dysbiosis related to Blastocystis sp. in yaks on plateau. Pak Vet J, 46(5): 1357-1363. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.122