New operational taxonomic units of Enterocytozoon in three marsupial species

Abstract

BackgroundEnterocytozoon bieneusi is a microsporidian, commonly found in animals, including humans, in various countries. However, there is scant information about this microorganism in Australasia. In the present study, we conducted the first molecular epidemiological investigation of E. bieneusi in three species of marsupials (Macropus giganteus, Vombatus ursinus and Wallabia bicolor) living in the catchment regions which supply the city of Melbourne with drinking water.MethodsGenomic DNAs were extracted from 1365 individual faecal deposits from these marsupials, including common wombat (n = 315), eastern grey kangaroo (n = 647) and swamp wallaby (n = 403) from 11 catchment areas, and then individually tested using a nested PCR-based sequencing approach employing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and small subunit (SSU) of nuclear ribosomal DNA as genetic markers.ResultsEnterocytozoon bieneusi was detected in 19 of the 1365 faecal samples (1.39%) from wombat (n = 1), kangaroos (n = 13) and wallabies (n = 5). The analysis of ITS sequence data revealed a known (designated NCF2) and four new (MWC_m1 to MWC_m4) genotypes of E. bieneusi. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequence data sets showed that MWC_m1 (from wombat) clustered with NCF2, whereas genotypes MWC_m2 (kangaroo and wallaby), MWC_m3 (wallaby) and MWC_m4 (kangaroo) formed a new, divergent clade. Phylogenetic analysis of SSU sequence data revealed that genotypes MWC_m3 and MWC_m4 formed a clade that was distinct from E. bieneusi. The genetic distinctiveness of these two genotypes suggests that they represent a new species of Enterocytozoon.ConclusionsFurther investigations of Enterocytozoon spp. from macropods and other animals will assist in clarifying the taxonomy and epidemiology of these species in Australia and elsewhere, and in assessing the public health risk of enterocytozoonosis.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2954-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

First identification and genotyping of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. in pet rabbits in China

“…Microsporidia are often considered as a major pathogen of chronic diarrhea in severely immunecompromised patients, such as AIDS patients and solid organ transplant recipients [6]. Besides, the discovery of microsporidia in water sources intended for human consumption has made it a Category B Priority Pathogen listed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and it has also been listed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a microbial pollutant potentially causing waterborne outbreaks [1,7].…”

Genotypes and public health potential of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia duodenalis in crab-eating macaques

“…Based on sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the rRNA gene, more than 200 E. bieneusi genotypes have been identified [15]. In phylogenetic analysis, these E. bieneusi genotypes are divided into at least 11 groups [16]. Among them, Group 1 contains most genotypes found in humans and many genotypes in animals, thus is considered to be the zoonotic group.…”

Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotypes in cats and dogs in Victoria, Australia

“…In 2018, we investigated E. bieneusi in wild herbivores. First, we identified some potentially zoonotic genotypes of E. bieneusi in wild sambar deer (D, J, MWC_d1-d2 and Type IV) [10] and marsupials (MWC_m1 and NCF2) inhabiting Melbourne’s water catchments (MWCs) [11]. Then, we extended our studies to farmed animals, including cattle in one of the MWCs (i.e.…”