title: Molecular karyotype diversity in the microsporidian Encephalitozoon cuniculi.
abstract: The microsporidian Encephalitozoon cuniculi can infect numerous mammals, including man. Three strains of E. cuniculi have been identified so far, the major marker being the number of a tetranucleotide repeats in the rDNA internal transcribed spacer. We investigated diversity at the chromosomal level through the electrophoretic karyotypes obtained from 15 E. cuniculi isolates from 5 different host species. All preparations provided patterns with 9-12 bands within a narrow molecular size range. Six karyotype forms were distinguished, involving subdivision of strain I into 3 types (A, B, C) and strain II into 2 types (D, E). The types A, B and C were mainly associated with isolates from rabbits of different geographical origins. The types D, E and F were characterized by a reduced chromosome size range, 2 of these appearing specific to a carnivorous host species (D in dog and F in blue fox). Hybridization experiments showed that all E. cuniculi isolates possess 11 chromosomes, with a size polymorphism entailing occasional electrophoretic comigration of heterologous chromosomes and differential migration of homologous ones. DNA rearrangements should occur during mitosis and the hypothesis of diploidy for the basic state of E. cuniculi seems likely.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Protistologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire des Parasites Opportunistes, Université Blaise Pascal, Aubière, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Biderre
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mathis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deplazes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Metenier
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Vivares
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry; D004285:Dogs; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D009670:Encephalitozoon cuniculi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D016890:Encephalitozoonosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005589:Foxes; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D016054:DNA, Protozoan