Is {Enterocytozoon bieneusi} threatening the food chain in Bombali District, Sierra Leone?

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Ebola survivors are at increased risk of mortality and require specific countermeasures to protect their compromised health. The aim was to investigate the presence of {Enterocytozoon bieneusi}, an emerging pathogen that causes chronic diarrhoea in immunocompromised individuals, in animals that are going to be used for human consumption across Bombali District (Sierra Leone), which has one of the highest number of notified Ebola survivors. METHODS: DNA was extracted from thirty-four fresh animal faecal samples collected in 2019 from three locations (animal market, slaughterhouse and pig slaughterhouse) in Bombali district, Sierra Leone, using Fast-Prep for Soil® kit. PCR inhibitors were removed using a QIAquick PCR kit (Qiagen) following manufacturer’s instructions. SYBR Green real-time polymerase chain reaction technique was used for specific detection of {E. bieneusi} according to previous methodologies. RESULTS:{E. bieneusi} was detected in eight samples, five from farm animals (four pig and one cow) and three from dogs collected directly from the ground in these locations. However, {E. bieneusi} was not detected in faeces collected from chickens (n=5) and goats (n=3). This pathogen has been reported in pigs in the literature, highlighting a potential risk for humans. Spores were detected in faeces from a range of different animal species in all areas monitored, indicating a high presence and distribution of {E. bieneusi} in this district in Sierra Leone. CONCLUSIONS:Our study confirms the presence and circulation of {E. bieneusi} in farm animals in Bombali District (and their environments), which require appropriate interventions to tackle this biothreat. Implementation of appropriate cleaning and food processing protocols at the slaughterhouses/markets would be required due to the high presence of spores of {E. bieneusi} found (23.5%), in conjunction with hygiene awareness when processing meat particularly for sensitive populations, such as Ebola survivors. KEYWORDS: Makeni, Sierra Leone, microsporidia, {E. bieneusi}, animal faeces, food.