title: Microsporidia detection and genotyping study of human pathogenic E. bieneusi in animals from Spain.
abstract: Microsporidia are ubiquitous parasites infecting all animal phyla and we present evidence that supports their zoonotic potential. Fecal samples taken from domestic (cats and dogs), farm (pigs, rabbits and ostriches) and wild animals (foxes) from different provinces of Spain were evaluated for microsporidia infection by light microscopy and PCR. After Microsporidia species identification, E. bieneusi genotypes were additionally studied by sequence analysis of the ITS region. Eighty-five samples out of 159 exhibited structures that were compatible with microsporidia spores by Webeŕs stain with 37 of them being confirmed by PCR. Microsporidia species identified included E. bieneusi, E. intestinalis and A. algerae. We report the first diagnosis of E. intestinalis and E. bieneusi in ostriches and A. algerae in pigs. We also provide new information on the molecular characterization of E. bieneusi isolates both in rabbits and ostriches. All of the E. bieneusi genotypes identified belonged to the zoonotic group of genotypes (Group I) including genotypes A (dogs), I (pigs), D (rabbits and foxes) and type IV (ostriches). Our results demonstrate that microsporidia are present in domestic, farm and wild animals in Spain, corroborating their potential role as a source of human infection and environmental contamination.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo CEU, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain; Escuela de Microbiología, Grupo de Parasitología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Ana Luz
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Galván-Díaz
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo CEU, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magnet
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo CEU, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fenoy
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad San Pablo CEU, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Henriques-Gil
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo CEU, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haro
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco Ponce
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Gordo
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Millán
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miró
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo CEU, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: del Águila
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo CEU, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
mesh_terms: D021862:Enterocytozoon / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005838:Genotype; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000662:veterinary; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013030:Spain; D013045:Species Specificity; D000818:Animals