title: Seroprevalence of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in Humans and Rabbits in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a microsporidian parasite commonly found in rabbits that can infect humans, causing encephalitozoonosis. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of this parasite in rabbits and humans in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Overall, 300 serum samples each from clinically healthy rabbit and human were collected from three regions of China (Sichuan Province, Chongqing Municipality and Jilin Province) from January to September 2013 and tested for anti-E. Cuniculi antibodies using an ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An overall seroprevalence of E. cuniculi was recorded as 56/300 (18.76%) and 29/300 (9.76%) in rabbit and human sera, respectively. The seropositivity of rabbit samples collected from Jilin province was 41%, which was significantly higher (P<0.01) than Sichuan Province (9%) and Chongqing Municipality (6%). Three breeds of rabbit were used in the present study and antibody detection in Rex Rabbit was significantly (P<0.01) higher than Japanese White and New Zealand Rabbit. In human, Jilin province was more prevalent (18%) followed by Sichuan Province (6%) and Chongqing Municipality (5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The E. cuniculi was present and widespread among healthy rabbits and humans in China.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Henan Higher Education Engineering Technology Research Center for Animal Diseases Control and Residues Supervision, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, PR China.
authors.forename: Yaoqian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, PR China.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Henan Higher Education Engineering Technology Research Center for Animal Diseases Control and Residues Supervision, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, PR China.
authors.forename: Xingyou
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Henan Higher Education Engineering Technology Research Center for Animal Diseases Control and Residues Supervision, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, PR China.
authors.forename: Ruizhen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Henan Higher Education Engineering Technology Research Center for Animal Diseases Control and Residues Supervision, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuqian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, PR China ; Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Javaid Ali
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gadahi
keywords: China; ELISA; Encephalitozoon cuniculi; Human; Rabbit