Disseminated lethal Encephalitozoon cuniculi (genotype III) infections in cotton-top tamarins (Oedipomidas oedipus)--a case report.
For the first time, Encephalitozoon (E.) cuniculi genotype III ('dog strain') was verified in two cotton-top tamarins (Oedipomidas oedipus) by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, PCR and sequencing. The animals had a disseminated lethal infection with this protist. In earlier reports, genotype III had been found only in domestic dogs, man, emperor tamarins (Saguinus imperator) and golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia). This investigation establishes now that the 'dog strain' can occur in cotton-top tamarins too. This is further evidence for the zoonotic potential of E. cuniculi. Furthermore, free E. cuniculi spores were identified also in blood vessels of several tissues. These findings indicate that during a disseminated infection E. cuniculi spores can occur in peripheral blood, too. We propose that blood should also be included in the investigations for the detection of microsporidia, so that a possible disseminated course of an infection can be detected.
Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Diedersdorfer Weg 1, 12277 Berlin, Germany. j.reetz@bfr.bund.de
Jochen
J
Reetz
Maximilian
M
Wiedemann
Angelika
A
Aue
Ulrich
U
Wittstatt
Andreas
A
Ochs
Angelika
A
Thomschke
Heide
H
Manke
Monika
M
Schwebs
Heinz
H
Rinder
D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D009670:Encephalitozoon cuniculi / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D016890:Encephalitozoonosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012452:Saguinus / Q000469:parasitology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000469:parasitology