title: Genotyping and molecular analysis of Enterocytozoon bieneusi isolated from immunocompromised patients in Iran.
abstract: Microsporidia are known as opportunistic unicellular pathogens, particularly so in individuals with congenital or acquired immunodeficiency. Enterocytozoon bieneusi is one of the most common species infecting both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of E. bieneusi genotypes among immunocompromised patients in Iran. From 329 stool samples referred for parasitological analysis during 2011-2014, 14 samples from immunocompromised patients proving positive for E. bieneusi by SSU rDNA analysis were selected. Genotyping was carried out using specific primers targeting the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region. Subsequently, all samples were sequenced and results queried against the GenBank database. Moreover, sequences were subject to phylogenetic analysis. The expected amplification product was generated for all samples. Genotype D was identified in patients with HIV+/AIDS, transplant recipients, and cancer patients, while Genotype E was identified only in cancer and HIV+/AIDS patients. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that there was no relationship between genotypes and types of immunosuppression, whereas most genotype D isolates grouped with those described previously from cattle, horses, birds, and humans. E. bieneusi genotype D appears to be the most frequent genotype in immunocompromised patients, while Genotype E was observed only in HIV+/AIDS patients and cancer patients, not transplant recipients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mirjalali
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mirhendi
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Meamar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohebali
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zeynab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Askari
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Elnaz Sadat
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Mirsamadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: rezaiian@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rezaeian
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D021862:Enterocytozoon / Q000235:genetics*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D058889:Molecular Typing; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal
keywords: Enterocytozoon bieneusi; Genotyping; Immunocompromised patients; Iran; Microsporidia