Several trichomonad species have already been identified in pigs, and their pathogenic potential may not be ruled out. To date, however, no information is available regarding the prevalence of trichomonads in pigs in Shanxi Province, North China. In the present study, a total of 362 fecal samples collected from pigs in three representative counties (Qi, Jishan, and Shanyin) in this province were examined for Tetratrichomonas buttreyi, Tritrichomonas foetus, and Pentatrichomonas hominis using a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. The overall prevalence of T. buttreyi was 49.72%, and region and age were found to be significantly associated with T. buttreyi infection, respectively. Only one pig fecal sample from Qi County was found to be positive for T. foetus, and all samples were negative for P. hominis. Molecular evolutionary analysis revealed that some T. buttreyi isolates showed complete genetic identity with those reported previously, and some T. buttreyi isolates and one T. foetus isolate showed minor allelic variations compared with those reported previously. This is the report of the molecular epidemiology of T. foetus and T. buttreyi in pigs in Shanxi Province, North China. These findings not only enrich the knowledge on the distribution of these trichomonad species in pigs in China but also provide baseline information for planning future research and control strategies.

Several trichomonad species have already been reported from cattle, including Tetratrichomonas buttreyi and Pentatrichomonas hominis. However, there is currently a lack of information concerning the prevalence of trichomonad species in cattle in Shanxi Province, North China. In this study, 761 fecal samples from cattle across three counties in Shanxi Province, namely Qi, Jishan, and Shanyin, were examined for the presence of T. buttreyi and P. hominis DNA through a nested PCR assay targeting a specific segment of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene. The results showed that the total prevalence of T. buttreyi in cattle was found to be 74.5%, with region and sex identified as risk factors for infection. P. hominis exhibited an overall prevalence of 3.0%, with strong associations observed between infection and both region and age. Sequencing analysis indicated that some T. buttreyi isolates and all P. hominis isolates were identical to those reported previously based on the analysis of SSU rRNA sequences, while certain T. buttreyi isolates exhibited minor allelic variations. These results enhance our understanding of the geographical distribution and genetic characterization of T. buttreyi and P. hominis in cattle.