Sun Yuxin, Zhang Jing, Cui Yan, Zhao Yan, Yang Xin, Nan Huizhu, Ma Lei
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
Acta Parasitol. 2025 Aug 7;70(4):168. doi: 10.1007/s11686-025-01114-y.
Enterocytozoon bieneusi (E. bieneusi) is a microsporidium that causes intestinal disease in animals and humans, and transmits person to person and/or animals to people. A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence and genetic diversity E. bieneusi infection in cattle in Hebei Province, China.
A total of 2,746 cattle fecal samples were collected from 11 cities in Hebei Province. PCR amplification targeting the ITS gene of E. bieneusi was performed to detect infections. The subtypes, sequence signatures, pairwise genetic distances, and genetic diversity indices were analyzed using MEGA, PhyloSuite, and PopART.
The overall prevalence of E. bieneusi in cattle was 4.70% (129/2746). The infection rate varied significantly by region, age, breeding mode, and cattle type: higher in southern Hebei, cattle under one year old, intensively raised cattle, and dairy cattle. Six genotypes were identified (CHG3, SX1, BEB4, BEB6, BEB8, and J), with BEB6 being the dominant genotype. Sequence analysis revealed 260 polymorphic and conserved sites, including 41 variable sites (15.77% of total nucleotides). The nucleotide diversity index (Pi) was 0.06472, and the haplotype diversity index (Hd) was 1.000.
This study provides the first comprehensive epidemiological data on E. bieneusi infection in cattle in Hebei Province and highlights its rich genetic diversity. These findings offer insights into the potential risk of zoonotic transmission and serve as a reference for further control and prevention strategies.
微小隐孢子虫是一种可导致动物和人类肠道疾病，并可在人与人之间和/或动物与人之间传播的微孢子虫。本研究旨在调查中国河北省牛群中微小隐孢子虫感染的流行情况及其遗传多样性。
从河北省11个城市共采集2746份牛粪便样本。采用针对微小隐孢子虫内转录间隔区（ITS）基因的PCR扩增技术检测感染情况。利用MEGA、PhyloSuite和PopART软件分析亚型、序列特征、成对遗传距离和遗传多样性指数。
牛群中微小隐孢子虫的总体感染率为4.70%（129/2746）。感染率因地区、年龄、饲养方式和牛的类型而异：冀南地区、1岁以下的牛、集约化饲养的牛和奶牛的感染率较高。共鉴定出6种基因型（CHG3、SX1、BEB4、BEB6、BEB8和J），其中BEB6为优势基因型。序列分析揭示了260个多态性和保守位点,包括41个可变位点（占总核苷酸的15.77%）。核苷酸多样性指数（Pi）为0.06472，单倍型多样性指数（Hd）为1.000。
本研究首次提供了河北省牛群中微小隐孢子虫感染的全面流行病学数据，并突出了其丰富的遗传多样性,这些发现为了解人畜共患病传播的潜在风险提供了依据，并为进一步的防控策略提供了参考。
