Occurrence, molecular characterization and predominant genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in dairy cattle in Henan and Ningxia, China.

Junqiang Li,Nannan Luo,Meng Qi,Longxian Zhang,Jianke Cao,Jianying Huang,Chenrong Wang,Rongjun Wang,Zhaohui Cui

doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1425-5

Abstract

BackgroundEnterocytozoon bieneusi is the most frequently diagnosed microsporidian species in humans and a wide range of animals. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence and molecular characteristics of E. bieneusi in dairy cattle in Henan Province of central China and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of northwest China.FindingsOf 879 fresh fecal specimens, 24.3 % (214/879) tested positive for E. bieneusi by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the internal transcriber spacer (ITS) gene. The highest infection rate, 46.8 % (51/109, P < 0.0001), was observed in a group of dairy cattle with diarrhea, located in Ningxia. The age groups with higher infection rates were pre-weaned calves (29.3 %, 127/434, P < 0.0001) and post-weaned calves (23.9 %, 63/264, P = 0.006). Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed 20 E. bieneusi ITS genotypes (15 known and five new), including members of Group 1 and Group 2. Genotypes I and J were detected in 64.5 % (138/214) of the E. bieneusi positive specimens.ConclusionsGenotypes I and J were the dominant genotypes in dairy cattle in the present study. The detection of zoonotic genotypes of E. bieneusi in dairy farms indicates that cattle may play an important role as a reservoir host for zoonotic infections.

Highlights

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most frequently diagnosed microsporidian species in humans and a wide range of animals
The detection of zoonotic genotypes of E. bieneusi in dairy farms indicates that cattle may play an important role as a reservoir host for zoonotic infections
Findings and discussion Among the 879 fecal specimens collected from dairy cattle, 214 (24.3 %, 214/879) were E. bieneusi positive

Summary

Introduction

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most frequently diagnosed microsporidian species in humans and a wide range of animals. Enterocytozoon bieneusi has been frequently reported in livestock, domestic animals and wildlife all over the world [3,4,5]. More than 200 E. bieneusi genotypes have been characterized in humans and animals on the basis of. Since the first report in three calves in Germany [11], E. bieneusi has been commonly detected in cattle, with more than 40 genotypes identified [6, 12]. The presence of zoonotic E. bieneusi genotypes in bovine milk [13] and the environment [14] indicates the possibility that dairy cattle may play a role in the transmission of E. bieneusi to humans or other species.

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Conclusion