title: Widespread presence of human-pathogenic Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotypes in chickens.
abstract: A total of 151 fecal specimens from chickens were randomly collected from local markets in Uberlândia and Belo Horizonte in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, to evaluate the presence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Enterocytozoon bieneusi was identified in 24 fecal samples (15.9%). This represents the first report of E. bieneusi in chickens in Brazil. All PCR-positive specimens were sequenced and 4 genotypes were identified, Peru 6, Peru 11, Type IV, and D. All four genotypes have previously been reported as human pathogens and are potentially zoonotic. Our results demonstrate that human-pathogenic E. bieneusi genotypes are present in chickens in Brazil, corroborating their potential role as a source of human infection and environmental contamination.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Building 173, BARC-East, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Laboratório de Parasitologia, Av. Pará, 1720, Campus Umuarama, 38400-902, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil; CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Caixa Postal 250, 70040-020 Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Júlia Rodrigues
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: da Cunha
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Laboratório de Parasitologia, Av. Pará, 1720, Campus Umuarama, 38400-902, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcia Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cury
authors.affiliation: Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Building 173, BARC-East, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. Electronic address: monica.santin-duran@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santín
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002645:Chickens; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D021862:Enterocytozoon / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
keywords: Birds; Brazil; Enterocytozoon bieneusi; Genotypes; PCR