First report on the molecular prevalence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in horses in Turkey: genotype distributions and zoonotic potential.
Abstract: Horses might play an important role as reservoir hosts in the epidemiology of Enterocytozoon bieneusi, which is one of the most important zoonotic microsporidian pathogens, with a wide range of hosts. Nevertheless, limited information is available on the infection rates and genotypes of E. bieneusi in horses, and no data are available on the occurrence and molecular characteristics of E. bieneusi in horses in Turkey. We determined the prevalence of E. bieneusi among horses raised on farms from two provinces of Central Anatolia Region, by amplification of the partial small subunit ribosomal RNA gene using nested PCR. We identified the genotypes of E. bieneusi isolates by analyzing the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. The overall prevalence of E. bieneusi was 18.7% (56/300), with no significant differences in infection rates among age groups or between genders of horses. Sequence analysis revealed eight genotypes: two known genotypes (ERUSS1, BEB6) and six novel genotypes (named ERUH2 to ERUH7). The genotype ERUSS1 was the most common and was found on all farms, age groups, and genders. Phylogenetic analysis clustered all the identified genotypes in ruminant-specific group 2. Our findings contribute to the molecular epidemiology of E. bieneusi.
Publication Date: 2020-06-27 PubMed ID: 32594238DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06783-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study is about the prevalence of a disease-causing parasite called Enterocytozoon bieneusi in horses in Turkey. The research reveals the type and distribution of the parasite in Turkish horses, proposes that horses could be potential carriers, and uncovers a prevalence rate of 18.7%.
Study Aim and Methodology
- The primary goal of this study was to investigate the prevalence, genotypes, and zoonotic potential of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in horses in Turkey.
- The team selected horses from farms in two provinces of the Central Anatolia Region in Turkey for the study.
- The method used to determine the presence of E. bieneusi was the ‘nested PCR’ technique, which targeted a particular section of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene.
- The genotypes of E. bieneusi were identified by analyzing sequences from the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS).
Major Findings
- The overall prevalence of E. bieneusi in the horse sample was 18.7%, with no significant differences identified between different age groups or genders of horses.
- Through sequence analysis, eight genotypes of the parasite were identified, out of which two were already known (ERUSS1, BEB6) and six were newly discovered (and named ERUH2 to ERUH7).
- The genotype ERUSS1 was the most common one found, and it was detected in all the farms, age groups, and genders investigated in the study.
- Phylogenetic analysis pinned all the identified genotypes to a cluster identifiable as ruminant-specific group 2.
Significance of the Study
- The study is crucial as it adds to the limited knowledge available on the infection rates and genotypes of E. bieneusi in horses.
- It is the first research providing data on the presence and molecular characteristics of E. bieneusi in horses in Turkey, thus providing a valuable resource for related future studies.
- Establishing the prevalence and genotype distribution potentially sets the groundwork for the prevention and control of E. bieneusi infection in horses and potentially in other hosts.
Cite This Article
APA
Yildirim A, Okur M, Uslug S, Onder Z, Yetismis G, Duzlu O, Ciloglu A, Simsek E, Inci A.
(2020).
First report on the molecular prevalence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in horses in Turkey: genotype distributions and zoonotic potential.
Parasitol Res, 119(9), 2821-2828.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06783-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey. onderduzlu@erciyes.edu.tr.
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- China / epidemiology
- Enterocytozoon / classification
- Enterocytozoon / genetics
- Enterocytozoon / isolation & purification
- Farms
- Feces / parasitology
- Genotype
- Horses / parasitology
- Microsporidiosis / epidemiology
- Microsporidiosis / veterinary
- Phylogeny
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Prevalence
- Turkey / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Sak B, Kváč M. Chronic Infections in Mammals Due to Microsporidia. Exp Suppl 2022;114:319-371.
- 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.
- 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.
- Liu X, Du S, Yang X, Xia X, An Z, Qi M. First genotyping of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) from the Qinghai Plateau, Northwest China. Vet Res Commun 2021 Dec;45(4):453-457.
- 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).
- Sursal Simsek N, Cakmak I, Simsek E. Genotyping and Age-Related Distribution of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Preweaned Calves in Türkiye. Acta Parasitol 2025 Nov 20;70(6):238.
- Kalantari M, Azizi K, Junaghani NK, Vahedi M, Mohammadpour I, Asgari Q, Hosseinpour A, Miri M. Molecular evidence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in arid urban landscapes of shiraz cockroaches (Blattodea), Southwest Iran: Implications for urban public health surveillance. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2025 Aug;30:e00446.
- Simsek NS, Cakmak I, Simsek E. First Data on the Occurrence and Genotyping of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Wrestling Camels in Türkiye. Acta Parasitol 2025 Jun 2;70(3):121.
- Javanmard E, Rahimi HM, Taghipour A, Nemati S, Mohebali M, Rezaeian M, Badrifar A, Kazemirad E, Mirjalali H. High Prevalence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi Genotype BEB6 in Wild Boars in Lorestan Province, Iran: Potential Source of Zoonotic Transmission. Iran J Parasitol 2025 Jan-Mar;20(1):130-139.
- Pei Z, Zhang B, He Y, Zhao Q, Yu F, Jia T, Zhang Z, Qi M. Molecular evidence of host range expansion of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive wildlife at Beijing Zoo, China. One Health 2025 Jun;20:101011.
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