Molecular characterization and new genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in minks (Neovison vison) in China.

Wei Cong,Si-Yuan Qin,Qing-Feng Meng

doi:10.1051/parasite/2018038

Abstract

Microsporidiosis is an emerging and opportunistic disease, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the main cause of this disease in humans. Little information is available on prevalence and genotyping of E. bieneusi in minks. We collected 559 feces samples of minks from Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces in 2017, and studied E. bieneusi prevalence by nested PCR. A total of 23 out of 559 minks (4.1%) were detected as E. bieneusi-positive, and were raised in five of the seven investigated farms. Age was the only risk factor associated with E. bieneusi prevalence in investigated minks through logistic regression analysis. Sequence analysis of the ITS gene revealed that five E. bieneusi ITS genotypes, including Peru11, EbpC, and three novel genotypes (HLJM-1, HLJM-2 and JLM-1) were present, suggesting minks may be a potential source of human microsporidiosis.

Highlights

Minks are a species of high economic importance: the animals are widely raised for their fur in Northern China, including in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces
Minks can serve as reservoirs for many pathogens including influenza viruses [7], Aleutian mink disease virus [17], thrombocytopenia syndrome virus [21], Pentatrichomonas hominis [14], and Toxoplasma gondii [30]
In order to determine whether minks can be infected by E. bieneusi, and to assess the zoonotic risk of E. bieneusi between minks and humans, a total of 559 mink feces samples were collected from seven farms in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces

Summary

Introduction

Minks are a species of high economic importance: the animals are widely raised for their fur in Northern China, including in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces. *Corresponding author: messicw@163.com the prevalence and genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in minks are scarce. In order to determine whether minks can be infected by E. bieneusi, and to assess the zoonotic risk of E. bieneusi between minks and humans, a total of 559 mink feces samples were collected from seven farms in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces.

Results

Conclusion