Abstract
Enterocytozoon bieneusi, the most common zoonotic pathogen of microsporidiosis, has been found in various animals and humans, but no information is available concerning the prevalence and genotypes of E. bieneusi in white yaks (Bos grunniens). In the present study, 353 faecal samples from white yaks in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province, Northwestern China, were collected and examined by PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer gene to estimate E. bieneusi prevalence and identify their genotypes. Of the 353 faecal samples, 4 (1.13%) were tested E. bieneusi-positive. Sequences analysis revealed that two known genotypes, namely, I (n = 1) and BEB4 (n = 2), and a novel genotype, namely, WCY1 (n = 1), were found in this study. Among them, genotype WCY1 was clustered into Group 1, and genotypes I and BEB4 belonged to Group 2. The present study firstly indicates the existence of E. bieneusi in yaks in Gansu Province, Northwestern China. This is also the first record of E. bieneusi in white yaks. Effective measures should be taken to control E. bieneusi infection in white yaks, other animals, and humans.
Highlights
Microsporidiosis is caused by Microsporidia, which have been recognized as opportunistic pathogens for humans and animals [1, 2]
Of the 353 yak faecal samples, 4 (1.13%) were E. bieneusipositive tested by nested PCR
Three internal transcriber spacer (ITS) genotypes were identified in white yaks in China, with BEB4 being the predominant genotype, which is consistent with that reported in black yaks in Qinghai [6]
Summary
Microsporidiosis is caused by Microsporidia, which have been recognized as opportunistic pathogens for humans and animals [1, 2]. 14 species in 8 genera have been identified in humans [4]. Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common causative agent of human infection [5], with the symptoms of chronic diarrhea and other enteric disease [6]. Over 200 distinct genotypes of E. bieneusi have been identified based on ribosomal internal transcriber spacer (ITS) region of the rRNA gene [7]. These genotypes could be divided into several genetically isolated clusters, including a large cluster named as “the zoonotic genotypes” (Group 1) and some other groups, the so-called “host adapted groups” (Groups 2 to 9) [7]. It is surprising that some of the genotypes (I, J, and BEB4) in Group 2 have been found in humans in recent years [8,9,10], so investigations of E. bieneusi prevalence in different hosts and assessing their zoonotic potential are important
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