Bilateral lenticular <i><scp>E</scp>ncephalitozoon cuniculi</i> infection in a snow leopard (<i><scp>P</scp>anthera uncia</i>)

Scurrell, Emma; Holding, Ellen; Hopper, Jane; Denk, Daniela; Fuchs‐Baumgartinger, Andrea; Silbermayr, Katja; Nell, Barbara

doi:10.1111/vop.12218

Cited by 19 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…PCR – polymerase chain reaction; M − microscopy; S – serology; seq – sequencing; * – captive wild.Taxa diagnosed (genotype)Host (scientific name)CountrySubstrateTechniquesReference E. cuniculi Red fox ( Vulpes vulpes )UKN/AN/AWilson 1979 Encephalitozoon sp.MinkNorway (farmed)TissueMBjerkas and Nesland 1987 E. cuniculi Wild dogs ( Lycaon pictus )South Africa ∗ TissueMVan Heerden et al., 1989 E. cuniculi Arctic fox ( Alopex lagopus ); Feral mink ( Mustela vison )IcelandTissueM + SHersteinsson et al., 1993 E. cuniculi European otter ( Lutra lutra ); Martens ( Martes sp. )Czech RepublicBrainPCRHůrková and Modrý 2006 E. cuniculi, E. intestinalis Red fox ( Vulpes vulpes )IrelandTissueM + PCRMurphy et al., 2007 E. cuniculi, E. hellem, E. intestinalis Coati ( Nasua nasua )BrazilFaeces, urineM + PCRLallo et al., 2012a E. cuniculi Red fox ( Vulpes vulpes )UK–SMeredith et al., 2015 Encephalitozoon sp.South American fur seal ( Arctocephalus australis )ChileTissueHSeguel et al., 2015 E. cuniculi (III)Snow leopard ( Panthera uncia )Austria*Eye lensM + PCR/seqScurrell et al., 2015…”

Section: Encephalitzoon: Species Diagnosis and Transmissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

More than a rabbit's tale – Encephalitozoon spp. in wild mammals and birds

Hinney

Sak

Joachim

et al. 2016

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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Within the microsporidian genus Encephalitozoon, three species, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Encephalitozoon hellem and Encephalitozoon intestinalis have been described. Several orders of the Class Aves (Passeriformes, Psittaciformes, Apodiformes, Ciconiiformis, Gruiformes, Columbiformes, Suliformes, Podicipediformes, Anseriformes, Struthioniformes, Falconiformes) and of the Class Mammalia (Rodentia, Lagomorpha, Primates, Artyodactyla, Soricomorpha, Chiroptera, Carnivora) can become infected. Especially E. cuniculi has a very broad host range while E. hellem is mainly distributed amongst birds. E. intestinalis has so far been detected only sporadically in wild animals. Although genotyping allows the identification of strains with a certain host preference, recent studies have demonstrated that they have no strict host specificity. Accordingly, humans can become infected with any of the four strains of E. cuniculi as well as with E. hellem or E. intestinalis, the latter being the most common. Especially, but not exclusively, immunocompromised people are at risk. Environmental contamination with as well as direct transmission of Encephalitozoon is therefore highly relevant for public health. Moreover, endangered species might be threatened by the spread of pathogens into their habitats. In captivity, clinically overt and often fatal disease seems to occur frequently. In conclusion, Encephalitozoon appears to be common in wild warm-blooded animals and these hosts may present important reservoirs for environmental contamination and maintenance of the pathogens. Similar to domestic animals, asymptomatic infections seem to occur frequently but in captive wild animals severe disease has also been reported. Detailed investigations into the epidemiology and clinical relevance of these microsporidia will permit a full appraisal of their role as pathogens.

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Section: Encephalitzoon: Species Diagnosis and Transmissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

More than a rabbit's tale – Encephalitozoon spp. in wild mammals and birds

Hinney

Sak

Joachim

et al. 2016

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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“…There was also one case report of lenticular infection with E . cuniculi in a snow leopard that caused cataractous changes 31 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lenticular diseases such as cataracts and anterior lens luxation have been reported mostly in lions 24–28 but have also been reported in two tigers, 29,30 one snow leopard, 31 and one clouded leopard 32 25,26,28–30,32 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and type of ocular disease in a population of aged captive nondomestic felids

Nguyen

Boorstein²,

Wynn³

et al. 2021

Veterinary Ophthalmology

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Objectives Report of prevalence and type of ocular disease in a captive population of nondomestic felids. Methods Medical records of 202 cats from 1993 to 2018 were reviewed. Species, age at diagnosis, sex, ocular examination abnormalities, systemic/physical examination abnormalities, type of examination (visual, sedated, or anesthetized), ocular structures affected, other diagnostics, therapy, and resolution of ocular disease were recorded. Results A total of 202 nondomestic felids including 18 different species (bobcat, caracal, cougar, Fishing cat, Geoffroy's cat, jaguar, jungle cat, leopard, leopard cat, liger, lion, lynx, ocelot, Sand cat, Savannah cat, serval, snow leopard, and tiger) from a rescue facility were evaluated. Forty‐six ocular lesions were diagnosed in 33 (16.3%) cats from 8 different species (bobcat, caracal, cougar, leopard, lion, ocelot, serval, and tiger) with a mean age of 16 ± 5.9 years at time of diagnosis. Ocular lesions included corneal disease (37%) (ulcerations, perforations, keratitis, corneal scars), cataracts (23.9%), hyphema (8.7%), lens luxation (6.5%), retinal detachment (6.5%), uveitis (4.3%), conjunctival disease (4.3%), retinal degeneration (2.1%), glaucoma (2.1%), and optic neuritis (2.1%). Therapies included medical (topical antibiotics, anti‐inflammatories, serum, etc.) and/or surgical management (enucleation, intracapsular lens extraction, corneoconjunctival transposition, and corneal burr debridement). Conclusions To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of the prevalence of ocular disease in a population of captive nondomestic felids. It is difficult to diagnose and treat ocular disease in nondomestic cats due to challenges related to handling, diagnostics, and therapeutics in nondomestic species. Ocular disease seen in this population is similar to that found in domestic cat populations.

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“…Ocular microsporidiosis can affect the cornea and/or conjunctiva or lens. In the veterinary field, in utero infection of the lens with Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E cuniculi) is the most commonly recognized and reports include cataract and phacoclastic uveitis in rabbits, focal anterior cataract and anterior uveitis in domestic cats, focal anterior cataract and uveitis in dogs, bilateral phacoclastic uveitis in a snow leopard, and cataract in arctic blue fox puppies and mink . Microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis has been described in a parrot, and chronic unilateral keratoconjunctivitis due to infection with E hellem has been reported in an umbrella cockatoo .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microsporidial keratopathy in two dogs

Scurrell¹,

Manning

Malho

et al. 2019

Veterinary Ophthalmology

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A microsporidial keratopathy is described in two dogs. Both dogs presented with a unilateral stromal keratopathy characterized by multifocal coalescing opacities, and the diagnosis was made on histopathologic examination of keratectomy specimens. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded corneal tissue was performed in one dog, and the morphologic features were consistent with Nosema species infection. Both dogs were initially diagnosed and treated by superficial keratectomy. One dog received additional antifungal medication and underwent a penetrating keratoplasty following local recurrence two years later. No other systemic lesions attributable to the microsporidial infection were identified clinically. The clinical and diagnostic pathology findings, treatment, and follow‐up are discussed.

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Bilateral lenticular Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection in a snow leopard (Panthera uncia)

Cited by 19 publications

References 24 publications

More than a rabbit's tale – Encephalitozoon spp. in wild mammals and birds

More than a rabbit's tale – Encephalitozoon spp. in wild mammals and birds

Prevalence and type of ocular disease in a population of aged captive nondomestic felids

Microsporidial keratopathy in two dogs

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