Genotyping of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in AIDS patients from the north west of England.
OBJECTIVE
In this study Enterocytozoon bieneusi -positive faeces samples from AIDS patients in the north west of England were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing for potential zoonotic origins.


METHODS
The ITS and flanking regions of the rDNA was amplified by PCR and product sequenced. Sequences were compared with those held on GenBank to ascribe known genotypes.


RESULTS
Of 13 E. bieneusi -positive samples tested, all gave a 508 bp amplification product by PCR. The samples yielded the following: genotypes B (n=11; so far only been found in humans), D (n=1; has been reported from humans and a laboratory macaque) and K (n=1; previously identified only from a cat).


CONCLUSIONS
A possible zoonotic link with cats has been demonstrated for one human case. The origin of the majority of cases in the north west of England is unknown and may indicate that genotype B is solely a human pathogen.
Sadler
F
F
Manchester Public Health Laboratory, Withington Hospital, Manchester, UK.
Peake
N
N
Borrow
R
R
Rowl
P L
PL
Wilkins
E G L
EG
Curry
A
A
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D021862:Enterocytozoon / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000469:parasitology
D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan