Molecular Characterization of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Wild Carnivores in Spain

Abstract

Microsporidia comprises a diverse group of obligate intracellular parasites that infect a broad range of invertebrates and vertebrates. Among Microsporidia, Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most frequently detected species in humans and animals worldwide bringing into question the possible role of animal reservoirs in the epidemiology of this pathogen. Although E. bieneusi is an emerging zoonotic pathogen able to infect many domestic and wild mammals that could act as reservoir of infection for humans and other animals, only few studies have documented its occurrence in wild carnivores. To determine the occurrence of E. bieneusi in wild carnivores, we examined 190 wild carnivores collected from different locations in Spain. Twenty-five fecal samples (13.2%) from three host species (European badger, beech marten, and red fox) were E. bieneusi-positive by PCR. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the ITS region revealed a high degree of genetic diversity with a total of eight distinct genotypes including four known (PtEbIX, S5, S9, and WildBoar3) and four novel (EbCar1-EbCar4) genotypes identified. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the four novel genotypes (EbCar1-EbCar4), S5, S9, and WildBoar3 clustered within the previously designated zoonotic Group 1. Our results demonstrate that human-pathogenic genotypes are present in wild carnivores, corroborating their potential role as a source of human infection and environmental contamination.

Prevalence and genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in wildlife in Korea: a public health concern

“…A comparable prevalence of 41.2% was detected in Eurasian wild boars in China [28]. Similar rates of infection (~11%) have been observed in the herbivorous giant panda in China [26] and in wild carnivores ( ~ 13%) in Spain [33]. Humidity and temperature due to precipitation rate and vegetation types in forests in Korea are favorable environmental factors that maintain viability of E. bieneusi spores for long time and the social behavior of the Korean water deer and raccoon dogs that facilitates contact among families and groups of animals may be responsible for the high infection rate detected in the present study.…”

“…Enterocytozoon bieneusi is commonly detected in different wildlife, either in captive or free-living populations [5, 25–31], with ample range of genotypes of both host-adapted and those lacking host specificity [1, 32]. Thus, wildlife animals are recognized as environmental reservoir for many human and animal infections [32, 33]. In Korea, a few studies have reported the molecular detection of E. bieneusi in livestock [34, 35] and in bats [36]; however, the infection burden of this microsporidian fungal pathogen in wildlife is largely unknown.…”

Blastocystis sp. Subtype Diversity in Wild Carnivore Species from Spain

“…Our results demonstrate that STs with zoonotic potential are present in carnivores, corroborating their potential role as a source of Blastocystis human infection and environmental contamination. In addition, this population was examined for other intestinal parasites with zoonotic potential including several Cryptosporidium species and Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotypes supporting free-living carnivores as a source of zoonotic parasites (Mateo et al 2017;Santin et al 2018).…”

Unusual dominant genotype NIA1 of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in children in Southern Xinjiang, China

“…Microsporidia are fungal obligate intracellular pathogens. Among at least 10 genera including 17 species infecting humans, Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most frequently detected pathogen causing microsporidiosis [1]. Infection by E. bieneusi may have no symptoms or may cause persistent diarrhea, vomiting and a wasting syndrome, dissemination and presence in other organs, particularly in immunocompromised individuals such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals, organ transplant recipients or cancer patients.…”

“…Microsporidia are fungal obligate intracellular pathogens. Among at least 10 genera including 17 species infecting humans, Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most frequently detected pathogen causing microsporidiosis [ 1 ]. Infection by E .…”