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Clinics in Laboratory Medicine Jun 2015Infection by the ingested pathogens of microsporidia occur primarily in immunosuppressed patients (including untreated HIV/AIDS) and are diagnosed by stool examination,... (Review)
Review
Infection by the ingested pathogens of microsporidia occur primarily in immunosuppressed patients (including untreated HIV/AIDS) and are diagnosed by stool examination, small bowel biopsy with special stains, or electron microscopy (for definitive speciation), or by various molecular techniques. Although electron microscopy has been the definitive diagnostic tool for speciation, genetic sequencing increasingly provides the definitive diagnosis for new species, such as Anncaliia algerae. Further genetic sequencing of the common pathogens may allow for the development of advanced molecular diagnostics providing high diagnostic sensitivity and throughput.
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Feces; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Microsporidia; Microsporidiosis
PubMed: 26004651
DOI: 10.1016/j.cll.2015.02.011 -
Parasitology Research Jun 2020Microsporidia is a group of spore-forming microorganisms with zoonotic potential. This study aimed to compare intestinal microsporidia infections in cat owners and...
Microsporidia is a group of spore-forming microorganisms with zoonotic potential. This study aimed to compare intestinal microsporidia infections in cat owners and non-pet owners. In total, 210 fecal samples were collected from indoor cats, cat owners, and non-pet owners. DNA extraction was performed and the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene was amplified. To characterize the genotypes, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) fragment was amplified and sequenced. The phylogenetic trees were drawn to evaluate the relationship among Enterocytozoon bieneusi isolates. Two (2.9%) and one (1.4%) fecal samples from cat owners and one (1.4%) and two (2.9%) fecal samples from non-pet owners were positive for E. bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis, respectively. E. bieneusi was detected in two cat samples (2.9%). Same infection was not seen between infected cats and their owners. There was no significant difference between the prevalence rate of microsporidia among the cat owners and non-pet owners. Indeed, the genotypes L and type IV were seen in cats, while the genotype D was only detected in human. In this study, E. bieneusi and E. intestinalis were more prevalent among the cat owners and non-pet owners, respectively. Indeed, the higher prevalence of E. bieneusi in cats and their owners might be resulted from the worldwide distribution of this species.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Case-Control Studies; Cat Diseases; Cats; Encephalitozoon; Enterocytozoon; Feces; Female; Genotype; Humans; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Iran; Male; Microsporidia; Microsporidiosis; Middle Aged; Pets; Phylogeny; Prevalence; Zoonoses
PubMed: 32385710
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06690-8 -
PLoS Biology Dec 2008A newly discovered species of Microsporidia, which are obligate intracellular parasitic fungi, has been found able to infect the intestinal cells of the nematode and... (Review)
Review
A newly discovered species of Microsporidia, which are obligate intracellular parasitic fungi, has been found able to infect the intestinal cells of the nematode and subvert their cytoskeletal architecture.
Topics: Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans; Intestines; Microsporidia; Paris; Soil
PubMed: 19108611
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000005 -
Mikrobiyoloji Bulteni Oct 2005Microsporidia are single celled, obligate intracellular, spore forming microorganisms which were first described as a cause of human disease in 1959. They are capable of... (Review)
Review
Microsporidia are single celled, obligate intracellular, spore forming microorganisms which were first described as a cause of human disease in 1959. They are capable of infecting a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Among the numerous microsporidial genera, seven have been described in human diseases such as Enterocytozoon, Encephalitozoon, Nosema, Pleistophora, Trachipleistophora, Vittaforma, Brachiola. Among these, Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most frequently identified microsporidian in the patients. Features used in identification include spore size, nuclear configuration of spores, the number of polar tubule coils and the parazite-host interaction. In the development of Microsporidia, there are two different phases, called as proliferative phase and sporogonic phase. The only stage of Microsporidia outside the host is infective spores. The microsporidial spore is highly specialized, environmentally resistant structure that varies in size and shape according to species. They can cause infections both in immunocompetent subjects and immunocompromised patients such as AIDS. Although it can cause self-limiting infections in immunocompetent patients, it can cause severe life threating infections especially AIDS patients. In this review, the basic biology, epidemiologic characteristics and immunopathogenesis of Microsporidia, together with the diagnosis and treatment of the infections have been discussed.
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Animals; Humans; Immunocompetence; Immunocompromised Host; Microsporidia; Microsporidiosis; Spores, Fungal
PubMed: 16544554
DOI: No ID Found -
Folia Parasitologica May 2005The phylum Microsporidia is a large group of parasitic unicellular eukaryotes that infect a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate taxa. These organisms are...
The phylum Microsporidia is a large group of parasitic unicellular eukaryotes that infect a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate taxa. These organisms are significant human and veterinary pathogens with impacts on medicine, agriculture and aquaculture. Scientists working on these pathogens represent diverse disciplines that have had limited opportunities for detailed interactions. A NATO Advanced Research Workshop 'Emergent Pathogens in the 21st Century: First United Workshop on Microsporidia from Invertebrate and Vertebrate Hosts' was held July 12-15, 2004 at the Institute of Parasitology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic to bring together experts in insect, fish, veterinary and human microsporidiosis for the exchange of information on these pathogens. At this meeting, discussions were held on issues related to taxonomy and phylogeny. It was recognized that microsporidia are related to fungi, but the strong opinion of the participants was that the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature should continue to be applied for taxonomic descriptions of the Microsporidia and that they be treated as an independent group emerging from a paraphyletic fungi. There continues to be exponential growth in the pace and volume of research on these ubiquitous intracellular protists. The small genomes of these organisms and the reduction in the size of many of their genes are of interest to many disciplines. Many microsporidia are dimorphic and the mechanisms underlying these morphologic changes remain to be elucidated. Epidemiologic studies to clarify the source of human microsporidiosis and ecologic studies to understand the multifaceted relationship of the Microsporidia and their hosts are important avenues of investigation. Studies on the Microsporidia should prove useful to many fields of biologic investigation.
Topics: Animals; Host-Parasite Interactions; Invertebrates; Microsporidia; Phylogeny; Vertebrates
PubMed: 16004358
DOI: 10.14411/fp.2005.001 -
Journal of Invertebrate Pathology Jul 2023Crayfish have strong ecological impacts in freshwater systems, yet our knowledge of their parasites is limited. This study describes the first systemic microsporidium...
Crayfish have strong ecological impacts in freshwater systems, yet our knowledge of their parasites is limited. This study describes the first systemic microsporidium (infects multiple tissue types) Alternosema astaquatica n. sp. (Enterocytozoonida) isolated from a crayfish host, Faxonius virilis, using histopathology, transmission electron microscopy, gene sequencing, and phylogenetics. The parasite develops in direct contact with the host cell cytoplasm producing mature spores that are monokaryotic and ellipsoid in shape. Spores have 9-10 coils of the polar filament and measure 3.07 ± 0.26 µm (SD) in length and 0.93 ± 0.08 µm (SD) in width. Our novel isolate has high genetic similarity to Alternosema bostrichidis isolated from terrestrial beetles; however, genetic data from this parasite is restricted to a small fragment (396 bp) of the SSU gene. Additional data related to spore morphology and development, host, environment, and ecology indicate that our novel isolate is distinct from A. bostrichidis, which supports a new species description. Alternosema astaquatica n. sp. represents a novel member of the Orthosomella-like group which appears to be a set of opportunists within the Enterocytozoonida. The presence of this microsporidium in F. virilis could be relevant for freshwater ecosystems across this crayfish's broad geographic range in North America and may affect interactions between F. virilis and invasive rusty crayfish Faxonius rusticus in the Midwest USA.
Topics: Animals; Microsporidia; Parasites; Astacoidea; Ecosystem; Phylogeny
PubMed: 37276935
DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2023.107948 -
Microbial Ecology May 2023Microsporidia are a large group of obligate intracellular eukaryotic parasites. Recent studies suggest that their diversity can be huge in freshwater lake ecosystems...
Microsporidia are a large group of obligate intracellular eukaryotic parasites. Recent studies suggest that their diversity can be huge in freshwater lake ecosystems especially in the < 150-µm size fraction. However, little is known about their hosts and therefore their impact on the trophic food web functioning. In this study, single cell analysis and fluorescence microscopy were used to detect new host-parasite association within rotifer communities in lake Aydat (France). Our analysis showed the existence of a potential new species belonging to the Crispospora genus able of infecting the rotifer Kellicottia with a high prevalence (42.5%) suggesting that Microsporidia could have a great impact on the rotifer populations' regulation in lakes.
Topics: Microsporidia; Lakes; Ecosystem; Food Chain; Single-Cell Analysis
PubMed: 35552794
DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-02023-7 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Mar 2024Total joint arthroplasty is a commonly used surgical procedure in orthopedics. Revision surgeries are required in >10% of patients mainly because of prosthetic joint...
Total joint arthroplasty is a commonly used surgical procedure in orthopedics. Revision surgeries are required in >10% of patients mainly because of prosthetic joint infection caused by bacteria or aseptic implant loosening caused by chronic inflammation. Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a microsporidium, an obligate intracellular parasite, capable of exploiting migrating proinflammatory immune cells for dissemination within the host. We used molecular detection methods to evaluate the incidence of E. cuniculi among patients who had total hip or knee arthroplasty revision. Out of 49 patients, E. cuniculi genotypes I, II, or III were confirmed in joint samples from 3 men and 2 women who had implant loosening. Understanding the risks associated with the presence of microsporidia in periprosthetic joint infections is essential for proper management of arthroplasty. Furthermore, E. cuniculi should be considered a potential contributing cause of joint inflammation and arthrosis.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Microsporidia; Encephalitozoon cuniculi; Czech Republic; Encephalitozoonosis; Inflammation
PubMed: 38289719
DOI: 10.3201/eid3003.231263 -
The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 2001
Topics: Animals; Encephalitozoon; Humans; Mice; Microsporidia; Microsporidiosis; Nosema; Phylogeny
PubMed: 11906076
DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2001.tb00450.x -
Revista Argentina de Microbiologia 2021Microsporidia are obligate intracellular fungi with a remarkable ability to infect a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. Namely, Enterocytozoon bieneusi is...
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular fungi with a remarkable ability to infect a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. Namely, Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most frequently microsporidia reported worldwide, and mainly associated with chronic diarrhea and wasting syndrome in AIDS patients. Microscopy and PCR-based detection techniques are effective for diagnosis and identification of species and genotypes; however, these methods should be standardized in each laboratory. In this study, we performed microscopy and nested PCR techniques with PCR product sequencing to detect E. bieneusi in human stool samples. These techniques, if applied together, might prove useful for diagnosis and future epidemiological studies of intestinal microsporidiosis in Argentina.
Topics: Enterocytozoon; Feces; Humans; Microsporidia; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Spores, Fungal
PubMed: 32595002
DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2020.04.005