Ávalos Gabriel, Caballero-Gómez Javier, Matas-Méndez Pablo, Castro-Scholten Sabrina, Jiménez-Martín Débora, Köster Pamela C, Santín Mónica, Bailo Begoña, Cano-Terriza David, González-Barrio David, Mateo Marta, García-Bocanegra Ignacio, Dashti Alejandro, Nájera Fernando, Carmena David
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Health Institute Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
Department of Animal Health, Animal Health and Zoonosis Research Group (GISAZ), UIC Zoonoses and Emerging Diseases (ENZOEM), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
Med Mycol. 2024 Mar 28;62(4). doi: 10.1093/mmy/myae027.
Microsporidia is a diverse group of obligate, intracellular, and spore-forming parasites that infect a wide range of animals. Among them, Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. are the most frequently reported species in humans. Limited information is available about the presence and molecular diversity of microsporidian species in the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus). Presence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. was investigated by molecular methods in wild and captive Iberian lynxes from Spain. Overall, E. bieneusi was detected in 3.2% (8/251) of the animals examined. None of the samples tested were positive for Encephalitozoon spp. Four known (D, EbfelA, PigEBITS7, and Type IV) and a novel (named as LynxSpEb1) E. bieneusi genotypes were identified. All the genotypes found belonged to the zoonotic Group 1 of E. bieneusi. This study provides the first genotyping data of E. bieneusi in Iberian lynx in Spain. Our result indicate that the Iberian lynx does not seem to play a relevant role in the epidemiology of Encephalitozoon spp., and that this endangered felid is likely acting as spillover host rather than a true reservoir of E. bieneusi. Additional studies should be conducted to assess the impact of this parasite in the health status of the endangered Iberian lynx.
微孢子虫是一类多样的专性细胞内形成孢子的寄生虫，可感染多种动物。其中，比氏肠微孢子虫和脑炎微孢子虫属是人类中报告最为频繁的物种。关于濒危伊比利亚猞猁（西班牙猞猁）体内微孢子虫物种的存在情况和分子多样性的信息有限。通过分子方法对来自西班牙的野生和圈养伊比利亚猞猁进行了比氏肠微孢子虫和脑炎微孢子虫属的检测。总体而言，在所检测的动物中，3.2%（8/251）检测到比氏肠微孢子虫。所检测的样本中没有一个对脑炎微孢子虫属呈阳性。鉴定出了四种已知的（D、EbfelA、PigEBITS7和IV型）和一种新的（命名为LynxSpEb1）比氏肠微孢子虫基因型。所发现的所有基因型均属于比氏肠微孢子虫的人畜共患病第1组。本研究提供了西班牙伊比利亚猞猁中比氏肠微孢子虫的首个基因分型数据。我们的结果表明，伊比利亚猞猁似乎在脑炎微孢子虫属的流行病学中不发挥相关作用，并且这种濒危猫科动物可能是溢出宿主而非比氏肠微孢子虫的真正储存宿主。应开展更多研究以评估这种寄生虫对濒危伊比利亚猞猁健康状况的影响。
