FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Parasitol / Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon cuniculi in hors...
Veterinary parasitology2012; 190(3-4); 573-577; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.07.013

Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon cuniculi in horses kept under different management systems in the Czech Republic.

Abstract: Faecal samples were collected from 377 horses on 23 farms with varying management systems in the Czech Republic. Microsporidia were found on 16 farms and the overall prevalence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon cuniculi was 17.3% (66/377) and 6.9% (26/377), respectively. The prevalence of E. cuniculi in horses over 3 years of age was significantly higher (10.0%) compared to younger horses (4.0%). No significant differences in prevalence were observed among stallions, geldings, and mares for both microsporidia. Significantly higher infection rates of E. bieneusi and E. cuniculi were recorded in horses kept in stables than those on pasture. Two genotypes of E. cuniculi (I and II) and 15 genotypes of E. bieneusi including six previously described and nine novel genotypes were detected. The most common genotype detected was E. bieneusi genotype D identified in 51.5% (34/66) of positive horses. The identification of E. bieneusi genotypes D, EpbA, G and WL15, which were previously reported in pigs, humans, raccoons and horses, indicates that horses could be a potential source of zoonotic infection in humans.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2012-07-20 PubMed ID: 22877825DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.07.013Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research investigates the prevalence of two species of microsporidia that infect horses in the Czech Republic and finds that these infections may be more common in certain ages of horses and particular environments. The study also reveals various genotypes, suggesting that horses might be a potential source of these infections in humans.

Objective of the Research

  • The main objective of this research was to study the prevalence and genotypes of two microsporidia, Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon cuniculi, in horses managed in different systems within the Czech Republic, and to determine whether horses could be a potential source of zoonotic infection in humans.

Methodology

  • The researchers collected faecal samples from 377 horses across 23 farms with different management systems.
  • The samples were then examined for the presence of microsporidia, and the prevalence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon cuniculi was determined.
  • Furthermore, the relationship between the age and sex of the horses and the prevalence of the microsporidia was also analysed.
  • To ascertain if the management system affects the infection rate, the researchers compared horses kept in stables to those grazing on pastures.
  • Lastly, genotypic analysis was carried out to identify the strains of the microsporidia present.

Main Findings

  • Microsporidia were found on 16 out of 23 surveyed farms. The overall prevalence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon cuniculi was 17.3% and 6.9%, respectively.
  • E. cuniculi was found to be more common in horses older than 3 years (10.0%), in comparison to younger horses (4.0%). There were no significant differences in prevalence among stallions, geldings, and mares for both microsporidia.
  • The researchers observed higher infection rates of both microsporidia in horses kept in stables compared to those on pasture.
  • The genotypic analysis revealed two genotypes of E. cuniculi and 15 genotypes of E. bieneusi. These included six previously described and nine novel genotypes.
  • Of these, the most common was the E. bieneusi genotype D, found in 51.5% of positive horses.
  • The detection of E. bieneusi genotypes D, EpbA, G and WL15, which were previously reported in pigs, humans, raccoons and horses, pointed towards the possibility of horses being a potential source of zoonotic infection in humans.

Cite This Article

APA
Wagnerová P, Sak B, Květoňová D, Buňatová Z, Civišová H, Maršálek M, Kváč M. (2012). Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon cuniculi in horses kept under different management systems in the Czech Republic. Vet Parasitol, 190(3-4), 573-577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.07.013

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 1873-2550
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 190
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 573-577
PII: S0304-4017(12)00367-6

Researcher Affiliations

Wagnerová, Pavla
  • Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Studentská 13, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
Sak, Bohumil
    Květoňová, Dana
      Buňatová, Zita
        Civišová, Hana
          Maršálek, Miroslav
            Kváč, Martin

              MeSH Terms

              • Animal Husbandry
              • Animals
              • Czech Republic / epidemiology
              • Encephalitozoon cuniculi / isolation & purification
              • Encephalitozoonosis / epidemiology
              • Encephalitozoonosis / veterinary
              • Enterocytozoon / isolation & purification
              • Female
              • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
              • Horse Diseases / microbiology
              • Horses
              • Male
              • Microsporidiosis / epidemiology
              • Microsporidiosis / veterinary
              • Phylogeny

              Citations

              This article has been cited 31 times.
              1. Magalhães TR, Pinto FF, Queiroga FL. A multidisciplinary review about Encephalitozoon cuniculi in a One Health perspective. Parasitol Res 2022 Sep;121(9):2463-2479.
                doi: 10.1007/s00436-022-07562-zpubmed: 35840730google scholar: lookup
              2. Koehler AV, Zhang Y, Gasser RB. A Perspective on the Molecular Identification, Classification, and Epidemiology of Enterocytozoon bieneusi of Animals. Exp Suppl 2022;114:389-415.
                doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-93306-7_14pubmed: 35544010google scholar: lookup
              3. Sak B, Kváč M. Chronic Infections in Mammals Due to Microsporidia. Exp Suppl 2022;114:319-371.
                doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-93306-7_12pubmed: 35544008google scholar: lookup
              4. Sak B, Holubová N, Květoňová D, Hlásková L, Tinavská J, Kicia M, Zajączkowska Ż, Kváč M. Comparison of the Concentration of Encephalitozoon cuniculi Genotypes I and III in Inflammatory Foci Under Experimental Conditions. J Inflamm Res 2022;15:2721-2730.
                doi: 10.2147/JIR.S363509pubmed: 35502243google scholar: lookup
              5. Lee H, Lee SH, Lee YR, Kim HY, Moon BY, Han JE, Rhee MH, Kwon OD, Kwak D. Enterocytozoon bieneusi Genotypes and Infections in the Horses in Korea. Korean J Parasitol 2021 Dec;59(6):639-643.
                doi: 10.3347/kjp.2021.59.6.639pubmed: 34974671google scholar: lookup
              6. Santaniello A, Cimmino I, Dipineto L, Agognon AL, Beguinot F, Formisano P, Fioretti A, Menna LF, Oriente F. Zoonotic Risk of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in Animal-Assisted Interventions: Laboratory Strategies for the Diagnosis of Infections in Humans and Animals. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Sep 3;18(17).
                doi: 10.3390/ijerph18179333pubmed: 34501921google scholar: lookup
              7. Mohammad Rahimi H, Mirjalali H, Zali MR. Molecular epidemiology and genotype/subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Encephalitozoon spp. in livestock: concern for emerging zoonotic infections. Sci Rep 2021 Sep 1;11(1):17467.
                doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-96960-xpubmed: 34471179google scholar: lookup
              8. Li W, Xiao L. Ecological and public health significance of Enterocytozoon bieneusi. One Health 2021 Jun;12:100209.
                doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2020.100209pubmed: 33426263google scholar: lookup
              9. Zhao A, Zhang Y, Wang W, Jing B, Xing J, Tao D, Zhao W, Qi M. Enterocytozoon bieneusi in donkeys from Xinjiang, China: prevalence, molecular characterization and the assessment of zoonotic risk. BMC Vet Res 2020 Jun 15;16(1):196.
                doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02409-0pubmed: 32576195google scholar: lookup
              10. Zhou HH, Zheng XL, Ma TM, Qi M, Zhou JG, Liu HJ, Lu G, Zhao W. Molecular detection of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in farm-raised pigs in Hainan Province, China: infection rates, genotype distributions, and zoonotic potential. Parasite 2020;27:12.
                doi: 10.1051/parasite/2020009pubmed: 32129760google scholar: lookup
              11. Li F, Wang R, Guo Y, Li N, Feng Y, Xiao L. Zoonotic potential of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia duodenalis in horses and donkeys in northern China. Parasitol Res 2020 Mar;119(3):1101-1108.
                doi: 10.1007/s00436-020-06612-8pubmed: 32006227google scholar: lookup
              12. Zhou HH, Zheng XL, Ma TM, Qi M, Cao ZX, Chao Z, Wei LM, Liu QW, Sun RP, Wang F, Zhang Y, Lu G, Zhao W. Genotype identification and phylogenetic analysis of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in farmed black goats (Capra hircus) from China's Hainan Province. Parasite 2019;26:62.
                doi: 10.1051/parasite/2019064pubmed: 31670656google scholar: lookup
              13. Zhao A, Li D, Wei Z, Zhang Y, Peng Y, Zhu Y, Qi M, Zhang L. Molecular Detection and Genotyping of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Racehorses in China. Front Microbiol 2019;10:1920.
                doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01920pubmed: 31474973google scholar: lookup
              14. Hinney B, Sak B, Joachim A, Kváč M. More than a rabbit's tale - Encephalitozoon spp. in wild mammals and birds. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2016 Apr;5(1):76-87.
                doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2016.01.001pubmed: 28560162google scholar: lookup
              15. Yue DM, Ma JG, Li FC, Hou JL, Zheng WB, Zhao Q, Zhang XX, Zhu XQ. Occurrence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Donkeys (Equus asinus) in China: A Public Health Concern. Front Microbiol 2017;8:565.
                doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00565pubmed: 28408904google scholar: lookup
              16. Deng L, Li W, Zhong Z, Gong C, Liu X, Huang X, Xiao L, Zhao R, Wang W, Feng F, Zhang Y, Hu Y, Fu H, He M, Zhang Y, Wu K, Peng G. Molecular characterization and multilocus genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi among horses in southwestern China. Parasit Vectors 2016 Oct 25;9(1):561.
                doi: 10.1186/s13071-016-1844-3pubmed: 27776551google scholar: lookup
              17. Shi K, Li M, Wang X, Li J, Karim MR, Wang R, Zhang L, Jian F, Ning C. Molecular survey of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in sheep and goats in China. Parasit Vectors 2016 Jan 19;9:23.
                doi: 10.1186/s13071-016-1304-0pubmed: 26782742google scholar: lookup
              18. Yang Y, Lin Y, Li Q, Zhang S, Tao W, Wan Q, Jiang Y, Li W. Widespread presence of human-pathogenic Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype D in farmed foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in China: first identification and zoonotic concern. Parasitol Res 2015 Nov;114(11):4341-8.
                doi: 10.1007/s00436-015-4714-6pubmed: 26341801google scholar: lookup
              19. Jiang Y, Tao W, Wan Q, Li Q, Yang Y, Lin Y, Zhang S, Li W. Zoonotic and Potentially Host-Adapted Enterocytozoon bieneusi Genotypes in Sheep and Cattle in Northeast China and an Increasing Concern about the Zoonotic Importance of Previously Considered Ruminant-Adapted Genotypes. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015 May 15;81(10):3326-35.
                doi: 10.1128/AEM.00328-15pubmed: 25746997google scholar: lookup
              20. Karim MR, Dong H, Li T, Yu F, Li D, Zhang L, Li J, Wang R, Li S, Li X, Rume FI, Ning C. Predomination and new genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive nonhuman primates in zoos in China: high genetic diversity and zoonotic significance. PLoS One 2015;10(2):e0117991.
                doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117991pubmed: 25705879google scholar: lookup
              21. Sak B, Petrželková KJ, Květoňová D, Mynářová A, Pomajbíková K, Modrý D, Cranfield MR, Mudakikwa A, Kváč M. Diversity of microsporidia, Cryptosporidium and Giardia in mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. PLoS One 2014;9(11):e109751.
                doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109751pubmed: 25386754google scholar: lookup
              22. Li W, Li Y, Li W, Yang J, Song M, Diao R, Jia H, Lu Y, Zheng J, Zhang X, Xiao L. Genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in livestock in China: high prevalence and zoonotic potential. PLoS One 2014;9(5):e97623.
                doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097623pubmed: 24845247google scholar: lookup
              23. Cray C, Perritt E, Hughes C, Belgrave RL. Serological survey for antibody to Encephalitozoon cuniculi in horses in the USA. Parasitol Res 2014 Jul;113(7):2757-9.
                doi: 10.1007/s00436-014-3930-9pubmed: 24802871google scholar: lookup
              24. Li W, Diao R, Yang J, Xiao L, Lu Y, Li Y, Song M. High diversity of human-pathogenic Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotypes in swine in northeast China. Parasitol Res 2014 Mar;113(3):1147-53.
                doi: 10.1007/s00436-014-3752-9pubmed: 24442159google scholar: lookup
              25. Němejc K, Sak B, Květoňová D, Hanzal V, Janiszewski P, Forejtek P, Rajský D, Kotková M, Ravaszová P, McEvoy J, Kváč M. Prevalence and diversity of Encephalitozoon spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Central Europe. Parasitol Res 2014 Feb;113(2):761-7.
                doi: 10.1007/s00436-013-3707-6pubmed: 24292543google scholar: lookup
              26. Keeble E, Kϋnzel F, Montiani-Ferreira F, Graham J, Jeklová E, Kanfer S, Lennox A, Desoubeaux G, Biswell E, Cray C, Joachim A. Encephalitozoonosis in Pet Rabbits: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Immunology and Consensus on Clinical Management. Animals (Basel) 2026 Jan 22;16(2).
                doi: 10.3390/ani16020346pubmed: 41594534google scholar: lookup
              27. Imre M, Ilie MS, Florea T, Badea C, Pocinoc A, Imre K. Enterocytozoon bieneusi in European Domestic Ungulates and Pets: Occurrence, Genetic Diversity, and Public Health Perspectives from a Narrative Review. Pathogens 2025 Nov 13;14(11).
                doi: 10.3390/pathogens14111158pubmed: 41305395google scholar: lookup
              28. Solarczyk P, Perec-Matysiak A, Wojtkowiak-Giera A, Heddergott M. Molecular Detection of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in Migratory Waterfowl of the Genus Anser (Anseriformes: Anatidae) in Poland. Pathogens 2025 May 16;14(5).
                doi: 10.3390/pathogens14050489pubmed: 40430809google scholar: lookup
              29. Peng X, Wang X, Jian J, Zuo Q, Liu H, Wang Y, Su Y, Cao J, Jiang B, Shen Y. Investigation of Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in free-ranged livestock on the southeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, China. BMC Infect Dis 2025 Mar 13;25(1):356.
                doi: 10.1186/s12879-025-10737-5pubmed: 40082808google scholar: lookup
              30. Zhao L, Fan W, Yi C, Liu HX, Ding Y, Wang M, Wang Y, Zhang S, Su X, Liu Y. Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Donkeys of Inner Mongolia, Northern China. Acta Parasitol 2025 Jan 22;70(1):20.
                doi: 10.1007/s11686-024-00965-1pubmed: 39838230google scholar: lookup
              31. Ghebremichael ST, Meng X, Yang Y, Andegiorgish AK, Wu Z, Chen J, Wei J, Li T, Bao J, Zhou Z, Pan G. First identification and coinfection detection of Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon spp., Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in diarrheic pigs in Southwest China. BMC Microbiol 2023 Nov 11;23(1):334.
                doi: 10.1186/s12866-023-03070-xpubmed: 37951859google scholar: lookup
              Subscribe to our newsletter
              Join 99,359 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.