Moreira Guilherme, Cruz Andreia V S, Santos-Silva Sérgio, Moreira Rafaela S S, Mesquita João R
School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Jun 25;14(13):1874. doi: 10.3390/ani14131874.
, an intracellular eukaryote closely related to fungi, is recognized as a significant pathogen affecting humans, particularly those with compromised immune systems. While its transmission routes are still not fully elucidated, fecal-oral transmission remains the primary one. With a wide host range, the zoonotic potential of is a concern, albeit direct evidence of animal-to-human transmission remains scarce. Genotyping based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region facilitates the delineation of genetic diversity, with potentially zoonotic genotypes predominantly associated with Groups 1 and 2. Despite the broad spectrum of susceptible animal hosts, research into microsporidian infection among zoo animals remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of infection across diverse captive animals, focusing on zoo settings in Portugal. Fecal samples were collected from a variety of animals, and molecular detection of was conducted using nested PCR targeting the ITS region. Of 127 fecal samples, 1.57% (95% CI: 0.19-5.57) tested positive for , with non-human primates (NHP's) exhibiting an 18.18% (95% CI: 2.28-51.78) occurrence. Phylogenetic analysis revealed clustering within Group 2 genotypes, indicating potential zoonotic implications. This study highlights the need for further research to understand the epidemiology of in zoo environments and its potential transmission pathways to humans.
作为一种与真菌密切相关的细胞内真核生物，被认为是影响人类的重要病原体，尤其是那些免疫系统受损的人。虽然其传播途径仍未完全阐明，但粪-口传播仍然是主要途径。由于宿主范围广泛，其人畜共患病潜力令人担忧，尽管动物-to-人类传播的直接证据仍然很少。基于内部转录间隔区（ITS）区域的基因分型有助于描绘遗传多样性，具有潜在人畜共患病的基因型主要与第1组和第2组相关。尽管易感动物宿主种类繁多，但对动物园动物微孢子虫感染的研究仍然有限。本研究旨在评估不同圈养动物中感染的发生率，重点关注葡萄牙的动物园环境。从各种动物中采集粪便样本，并使用针对ITS区域的巢式PCR进行的分子检测。在127份粪便样本中，1.57%（95%CI：0.19-5.57）检测为阳性，非人灵长类动物（NHP）的发生率为18.18%（95%CI：2.28-51.78）。系统发育分析显示在第2组基因型内聚类，表明潜在的人畜共患病影响。本研究强调需要进一步研究，以了解动物园环境中感染的流行病学及其向人类的潜在传播途径。
