Molecular Epidemiology of Encephalitozoon cuniculi and First Detection of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Faecal Samples of Pigs

The phylum Microspora contains a diverse group of single-celled, obligate intracellular protozoa sharing a unique organelle, the polar filament, and parasitizing a wide variety of invertebrate and vertebrate animals, including insects, fish, birds, and mammals. Encephalitozoon cuniculi is the classic microsporidial parasite of mammals, and encephalitozoonosis in rabbits and rodents has been and continues to be recognized as a confounding variable in animal-based biomedical research. Although contemporary research colonies are screened for infection with this parasite, E. cuniculi remains a cause of morbidity and mortality in pet and conventionally raised rabbits. In addition, E. cuniculi is a potential pathogen of immature domestic dogs and farm-raised foxes. The recent discovery and identification of Encephalitozoon intestinalis, Encephalitozoon hellem, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi, in addition to E. cuniculi, as opportunistic pathogens of humans have renewed interest in the Microspora. Veterinary pathologists, trained in the comparative anatomy of multiple animal species and infectious disease processes, are in a unique position to contribute to the diagnosis and knowledge of the pathogenesis of these parasitic diseases. This review article covers the life cycle, ultrastructure, and biology of mammalian microsporaidia and the clinical disease and lesions seen in laboratory and domestic animals, particularly as they relate to Encephalitozoon species. Human microsporidial disease and animal models of human infection are also addressed. Often thought of as rabbit pathogens of historical importance, E. cuniculi and the related mammalian microsporidia are emerging as significant opportunistic pathogens of immunocompromised individuals.

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Patterns of Genome Evolution among the Microsporidian Parasites Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Antonospora locustae and Enterocytozoon bieneusi

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0001277 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 2 (12) ◽

pp. e1277 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Nicolas Corradi ◽

Donna E. Akiyoshi ◽

Hilary G. Morrison ◽

Xiaochuan Feng ◽

Louis M. Weiss ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genome Evolution ◽

Enterocytozoon Bieneusi ◽

Encephalitozoon Cuniculi

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Dual Microsporidial Infection with Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in an HIV-Postive Patient

Infection ◽

10.1007/s15010-001-1164-0 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 237-239 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

T. Weitzel ◽

M. Wolff ◽

J. Dabanch ◽

I. Levy ◽

C. Schmetz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Enterocytozoon Bieneusi ◽

Encephalitozoon Cuniculi

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Design of the EPIGENEC Study: Assessing the EPIdemiology and GENetics of Escherichia coli in the Netherlands

10.20944/preprints201902.0066.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Denise van Hout ◽

Tess D. Verschuuren ◽

Patricia C.J. Bruijning-Verhagen ◽

Thijs Bosch ◽

E. Ascelijn Reuland ◽

...

Keyword(s):

The Netherlands ◽

Molecular Epidemiology ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Invasive Disease ◽

Community Based ◽

E Coli ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Faecal Carriage ◽

Population Structures ◽

Hospital Acquired

Background: Infections caused by E. coli cause considerable disease burden and range from frequently occurring and relatively innocent urinary tract infection (UTI) to severe bloodstream infection (BSI). The incidence of infections caused by ESBL-producing E. coli (ESBL-PEc) is increasing, justifying surveillance and development of preventive strategies in several domains. Faecal carriage is universal and believed to be the most important reservoir for E. coli from which infections can originate. It is currently unknown to what extent Dutch E. coli carriage strains in the community reflect isolates causing disease. In this study, we will perform comparative genomics to infer the population structures of human-derived ESBL-PEc from community- and hospital-acquired infections and from community-based faecal carriage samples in the Netherlands. Furthermore, we will describe the molecular epidemiology of E. coli isolates causing invasive disease (BSI). Methods: This study uses four different microbiological data sources: 1) ESBL-PEc from patients with community-acquired UTI tested in primary care between May and November 2017, 2) ESBL-PEc from urine cultures obtained from patients hospitalized between January 2014 and December 2016, 3) E. coli from blood cultures obtained from patients hospitalized between January 2014 and December 2016, and 4) ESBL-PEc from faecal samples collected in a national population- prevalence study performed between January 2014 and January 2017. Clinical epidemiological data was collected from all patients and all isolates were subjected to whole genome sequencing. Discussion: The EPIGENEC study (EPIdemiology and GENetics of E. coli) will describe the molecular epidemiology of E. coli BSI and assess the genomic population structure of ESBL-PEc strains from community-acquired and nosocomial infections, and of ESBL-PEc reflecting community-based faecal carriage. Information from these studies may assist in optimizing surveillance strategies and determining targets and potential impact of future new preventive measures.

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In Vitro Cultivation of Microsporidia of Clinical Importance

Clinical Microbiology Reviews ◽

10.1128/cmr.15.3.401-413.2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 401-413 ◽

Cited By ~ 77

Author(s):

Govinda S. Visvesvara

Keyword(s):

Human Disease ◽

Culture Media ◽

Clinical Importance ◽

Culture Conditions ◽

Enterocytozoon Bieneusi ◽

In Vitro Cultivation ◽

Encephalitozoon Cuniculi ◽

Mammalian Origin ◽

Subsequent Identification

SUMMARY Although attempts to develop methods for the in vitro cultivation of microsporidia began as early as 1937, the interest in the culture of these organisms was confined mostly to microsporidia that infect insects. The successful cultivation in 1969 of Encephalitozoon cuniculi, a microsporidium of mammalian origin, and the subsequent identification of these organisms as agents of human disease heightened interest in the cultivation of microsporidia. I describe the methodology as well as the cell lines, the culture media, and culture conditions used in the in vitro culture of microsporidia such as Brachiola (Nosema) algerae, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, E. hellem, E. intestinalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Trachipleistophora hominis, and Vittaforma corneae that cause human disease.

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Identification of Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype III and two novel genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in swine

Parasitology International ◽

10.1016/j.parint.2009.03.002 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 58 (3) ◽

pp. 285-292 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Jochen Reetz ◽

Karsten Nöckler ◽

Sabine Reckinger ◽

Maria Margarida Vargas ◽

Wolf Weiske ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Enterocytozoon Bieneusi ◽

Encephalitozoon Cuniculi ◽

Genotype Iii

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Prevalence and Phylogenetic Analysis of Microsporidium Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Diarrheal Patients

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10020128 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 128

Author(s):

Manman Zang ◽

Jinjin Li ◽

Chun Tang ◽

Songtao Ding ◽

Wei Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Sequence Analysis ◽

Molecular Epidemiology ◽

Epidemiological Study ◽

Microscopic Examination ◽

Nested Pcr ◽

Its Region ◽

Enterocytozoon Bieneusi ◽

Severe Diarrhea ◽

And Control

Enterocytozoon bieneusi can cause severe diarrhea in children and adults. However, in China, there are scant studies on E. bieneusi in diarrheal children and adults, with the exception of prevalence and genotyping data in a small number of cities including Hubei, Shanghai, and Heilongjiang. In this study, 196 fecal samples (n = 132 in Chongqing, n = 44 in Shandong, n = 20 in Hubei) were collected, including 91 from children and 105 from adults. Through microscopic examination, 19 positive samples (11 from children and 8 from adults) were detected. Using PCR examination, the internal transcriptional spacer (ITS) region was utilized by nested PCR to detect and characterize E. bieneusi. Twenty positive samples were detected, including 14 from children (≤11 years of age) and 6 from adults. According to the sequence analysis of ITS data, one known zoonotic (D) and seven novel (CQH5-11) genotypes were identified. This is the first molecular epidemiological study of E. bieneusi in diarrheal patients in different regions of China. Therefore, this study can provide useful information for the molecular epidemiology and control of E. bieneusi infection in humans in the future.

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Intestinal Protists in Captive Non-human Primates and Their Handlers in Six European Zoological Gardens. Molecular Evidence of Zoonotic Transmission

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2021.819887 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Pamela C. Köster ◽

Eva Martínez-Nevado ◽

Andrea González ◽

María T. Abelló-Poveda ◽

Hugo Fernández-Bellon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Giardia Duodenalis ◽

Enterocytozoon Bieneusi ◽

Zoonotic Transmission ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

Entamoeba Dispar ◽

Type Iv ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Transmission Pathways ◽

Protist Species ◽

Assemblage B

We assessed the occurrence, genetic diversity, and zoonotic potential of four protozoan (Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, Giardia duodenalis), one stramenopile (Blastocystis sp.), one microsporidia (Enterocytozoon bieneusi), and two ciliate (Balantioides coli, Troglodytella abrassarti) intestinal parasite or commensal protist species in captive non-human primates (NHP) and their zookeepers from six European zoological gardens in France (n = 1), Germany (n = 1), and Spain (n = 4). Faecal samples from NHP (n = 454) belonging to 63 species within 35 genera and humans (n = 70) were collected at two sampling periods in each participating institution between October 2018-August 2021. Detection and species identification was accomplished by PCR and Sanger sequencing of the ssu rRNA and/or ITS genes. Sub-genotyping analyses using specific markers were conducted on isolates positive for G. duodenalis (gdh, bg, tpi) and Cryptosporidium spp. (gp60). Overall, 41.0% (186/454) and 30.0% (21/70) of the faecal samples of NHP and human origin tested positive for at least one intestinal protist species, respectively. In NHP, Blastocystis sp. was the most prevalent protist species found (20.3%), followed by G. duodenalis (18.1%), E. dispar (7.9%), B. coli and T. abrassarti (1.5% each), and Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi (0.9% each). Occurrence rates varied largely among NHP host species, sampling periods, and zoological institutions. The predominant protist species found in humans was Blastocystis sp. (25.7%), followed by Cryptosporidium spp. (2.9%), E. dispar (1.4%), and G. duodenalis (1.4%). Sequencing of PCR-positive amplicons in human and/or NHP confirmed the presence of Cryptosporidium in six isolates (C. hominis: 66.7%, C. parvum: 33.3%), G. duodenalis in 18 isolates (assemblage A: 16.7%, assemblage B: 83.3%), Blastocystis in 110 isolates (ST1:38.2%, ST2:11.8%, ST3: 18.2%, ST4: 9.1%, ST5: 17.3%, ST8: 2.7%, ST13: 0.9%), and E. bieneusi in four isolates (CM18: 75.0%, Type IV: 25.0%). Zoonotic transmission events involving Blastocystis ST1–ST4 were identified in four zoological institutions. Zoonotic transmission of C. hominis was highly suspected, but not fully demonstrated, in one of them. Monitoring of intestinal protist species might be useful for assessing health status of captive NHP and their zookeepers, and to identify transmission pathways of faecal-orally transmitted pathogens.

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