Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Branisovská 31, Ceské Budejovice, Czech Republic.
Vet Parasitol. 2010 Mar 25;168(3-4):196-200. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.11.012. Epub 2009 Nov 24.
Nine naturally infected asymptomatic budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) were screened daily for microsporidia spore excretion during a 30-day period and the localization of infection was evaluated using microscopy and molecular methods. While the microscopic examination revealed 2.4% positivity out of all fecal samples, using PCR the positivity was 10x higher (24.6%). All nine budgerigars excreted microsporidial spores intermittently in irregular intervals with 1-11-day long interruptions. Most of the birds were infected simultaneously with Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Encephalitozoon hellem. While histological and TEM examination failed to confirm the presence of microsporidial spores in tissues, the PCR detected microsporidial DNA mostly in the small intestine, liver and lungs of four selected budgerigars dissected. Despite the chronic infection proved using molecular methods, no clinical signs of disease were observed during monitoring and no pathological findings were found during dissection.
在 30 天的时间里，每天对 9 只自然感染无症状的虎皮鹦鹉（Melopsittacus undulatus）进行微孢子虫孢子排泄筛查，并使用显微镜和分子方法评估感染的定位。虽然显微镜检查显示所有粪便样本中有 2.4%呈阳性，但使用 PCR 检测阳性率高出 10 倍（24.6%）。9 只虎皮鹦鹉均间歇性地间断性排出微孢子虫孢子，间隔 1-11 天。大多数鸟类同时感染了兔脑炎原虫和猪脑炎原虫。虽然组织学和 TEM 检查未能证实组织中存在微孢子虫孢子，但 PCR 在解剖的 4 只选定虎皮鹦鹉的小肠、肝脏和肺部检测到微孢子虫 DNA。尽管使用分子方法证实了慢性感染，但在监测过程中未观察到临床疾病迹象，在解剖过程中也未发现病理发现。
