Encephalitozoon cuniculi in rabbits: Serological screening and histopathological findings

Maestrini, G; Ricci, Emanuele; Cantile, Carlo; Mannella, R.; Mancianti, Francesca; Paci, Gisella; D’Ascenzi, Carlo; Perrucci, Stefania

doi:10.1016/j.cimid.2016.11.012

Cited by 17 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…In clinically healthy rabbits, the present study showed that the seropositivity rate for E. cuniculi infection was 49.5%, which is similar to rates (50-53%) of infection in previous studies (6,14,20), although it is higher than the rates of infection reported in some (4,13,17,26,28,(30)(31)(32). In contrast, in the current study, the seropositivity rate of the disease was lower than those previously reported (71-93%) in various countries (3,10,21,37). Serostatus was also investigated by sex, and no difference was found between sexes in terms of seropositivity (Fig 1).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…This parasite can cause a potential latent infection in many wild and domestic animal species, including humans, and is best documented in the lagomorphs (12,15,16,20). Encephalitozoonosis is one of the most common health problems in rabbits, and it is found at industrial and family farms and in pet, zoo and laboratory rabbits in many countries (16,21,37). The determination of antibody serostatus is useful to confirm exposure to the parasite, but antibody serostatus is also reported not to be correlated with clinical signs of a true infection (6,7,33), which ranges from a total lack of symptoms to sudden death in infected rabbits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Relationship between seropositivity of Encephalitozoon cuniculi and renal biochemical markers in clinically healthy rabbits

Özkan¹,

Yücesan²,

Pekkaya³

et al. 2019

Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi

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Encephalitozoon cuniculi can cause latent disease, especially in lagomorphs and many wild and domestic animals in various countries. This infection is important for veterinary and public health because it is caused by a potentially zoonotic and opportunistic pathogen. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between seropositivity of E. cuniculi and renal function markers, which may be useful in predicting the disease in clinically healthy rabbits. In this study, the seropositivity of E. cuniculi infection in clinically healthy rabbits was determined, and necropsy findings were evaluated along with the results of renal function tests. In a laboratory rabbit breeding facility, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests showed that 48 (49.5%) of 97 rabbits were seropositive against E. cuniculi. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels were significantly elevated in seropositive animals. Two seropositive rabbits were necropsied to confirm the infection. According to histopathological findings in the kidney, degenerative changes and E. cuniculi spores were identified in the tubule epithelia. Serum creatinine (p<0.001) and BUN (p<0.01) levels were found to have a statistically significant relationship with the serological status of rabbits. Serological and histopathological methods are not routinely used in rabbits to diagnose E. cuniculi infection. The kidneys were one of the most affected organs in encephalitozoonosis in rabbits. As revealed in this study, the testing blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels would be useful for the evaluation of general health status and renal function of the seropositive rabbits, and clinical interpretation as well.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between seropositivity of Encephalitozoon cuniculi and renal biochemical markers in clinically healthy rabbits

Özkan¹,

Yücesan²,

Pekkaya³

et al. 2019

Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi

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“…and Nosema spp.) are relevant to livestock veterinary medicine or pest control (Lomer et al, 2001; Maestrini et al, 2017). With the emergence of a large immunosuppressed population in the late 1980s, as a consequence of the AIDS/HIV pandemic, microsporidia (especially E. bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp.)…”

Section: A Primer On Microsporidia and Major Microsporidian Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multilocus Sequence Typing and Population Genetic Analysis of Enterocytozoon bieneusi: Host Specificity and Its Impacts on Public Health

Xiao

2019

Front. Genet.

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Microsporidia comprise a large class of unicellular eukaryotic pathogens that are medically and agriculturally important, but poorly understood. There have been nearly 1,500 microsporidian species described thus far, which are variable in biology, genetics, genomics, and host specificity. Among those, Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the well-known species responsible for the most recorded cases of human microsporidian affections. The pathogen can colonize a broad range of mammals and birds and most of the animals surveyed share some genotypes with humans, posing a threat to public health. Based on DNA sequence analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and phylogenetic analysis, several hundreds of E. bieneusi genotypes have been defined and clustered into different genetic groups with varied levels of host specificity. However, single locus-based typing using ITS might have insufficient resolution to discriminate among E. bieneusi isolates with complex genetic or hereditary characteristics and to assess the elusive reproduction or transmission modes of the organism, highlighting the need for exploration and application of multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and population genetic tools. The present review begins with a primer on microsporidia and major microsporidian species, briefly introduces the recent advances on E. bieneusi ITS genotyping and phylogeny, summarizes recent MLST and population genetic data, analyzes the inter- and intragroup host specificity at the MLST level, and interprets the public health implications of host specificity in zoonotic or cross-species transmission of this ubiquitous fungus.

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“…Las conejas adultas y los seis gazapos examinados en consulta no presentaron ninguna manifestación clínica de enfermedad, sin embargo, Maestrini et al concluyen que un 70 % de los conejos seropositivos que no presentan signos de enfermedad. 8 El diagnóstico puede realizarse a través de exámenes serológicos como el ensayo por inmunoabsorción ligado a enzima (ELISA), inmunofluorescencia indirecta y carbón inmunoensayo; pero, la evidencia serológica indica exposición, aunque no está relacionada con el grado de parasitosis activa.…”

Section: Discusión Y Relevancia Clínicaunclassified

Encefalitozoonosis en un grupo de conejos (Oryctolagus cuniculus) de compañía

Aguilar

Sánchez-Sánchez

Martínez-Chavarría

et al. 2019

ClíVet

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Descripción del caso. Dos gazapos en una población de diez conejos de compañía murieron súbitamente y el estudio histopatológico reveló que tenían lesiones compatibles con encefalitozoonosis (uveítis facoclástica, encefalitis piogranulomatosa con esporas y pseudoquistes compatibles con E. cuniculi). El resto de la población (ocho conejos) se presentó en el Hospital Veterinario de Especialidades en Fauna Silvestre y Etología Clínica (HVE-FSEC) de la Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia de la UNAM para ser evaluados clínicamente.Tratamiento y evolución No hay tratamiento curativo para E. cuniculi y es una zoonosis. En la familia de los propietarios, había dos adultos mayores, personas con mayor riesgo potencial, por lo que se recomendó confinar a la población de conejos de compañía en un lugar aislado y minimizar la exposición. Por razones económicas los propietarios no podían mantener a los conejos en confinamiento, así que se les propuso aplicar la eutanasia a los ocho individuos; ellos estuvieron de acuerdo.Pruebas de laboratorio. Se realizó el estudio histopatológico que incluyó tinciones de rutina y tinciones especiales. Además, a partir de los bloques de parafina que contenían fragmentos de los órganos con las principales lesiones (cerebro y riñón), se extrajo ADN para realizar la prueba de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) anidada. El resultado fue positivo para este microorganismo, ya que se amplificó el fragmento de 549 pb del gen 16S específico de E. cuniculi.Relevancia clínica. En este artículo se reporta por primera vez la presencia de E. cuniculi en una población de conejos de compañía en México. La prueba confirmatoria es la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa anidada. La encefalitozoonosis es una enfermedad zoonótica, que tiene alta seroprevalencia en las poblaciones de conejos a nivel mundial, sin embargo es una enfermedad altamente subdiagnosticada. El diagnóstico es difícil de realizarse in vivo, sin embargo, se puede realizar la PCR como prueba confirmatoria del patógeno. Es necesario establecer medidas de bioseguridad por su potencial zoonótico, así como seguir generando información epidemiológica para mejorar la sanidad animal y la salud pública. Encephalitozoonosis in a group of pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Case description. Two young rabbits in a population of ten pet rabbits died suddenly and the histopathological study revealed that they had compatible lesions with encephalitozoonosis (phacoclastic uveitis, pyogranulomatous encephalitis with spores and pseudocysts compatible with E. cuniculi). The rest of the population (eight rabbits) was presented at the Hospital Veterinario de Especialidades en Fauna Silvestre y Etología Clínica (HVE-FSEC) of the Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia of the UNAM to be evaluated clinically.Treatment and evolution. There is no curative treatment for E. cuniculi and it is a zoonosis. In the owners' family, there were two older adults, people at higher potential risk, so it was recommended to confine the pet rabbit population to an isolated location and minimize exposure. For economic reasons the owners could not keep the rabbits in confinement, so they were proposed to euthanize the eight individuals; they agreed.Laboratory tests. The histopathological study was performed which included routine stains and special stains. In addition, from paraffin blocks containing fragments of the organs with the main lesions (brain and kidney), DNA was extracted to perform the nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The result was positive for this microorganism, as the 549 pb fragment of the 16S gene specific to E. cuniculi was amplified.Clinical relevance. This article reports for the first time the presence of E. cuniculi in a population of companion rabbits in Mexico. The confirmatory test is the chain reaction of the nested polymerase. Encephalophozoonosis is a zoonotic disease, which has high seroprevalence in rabbit populations worldwide, but is a highly underdiagnosed disease. The diagnosis is difficult to make in vivo, however, PCR may be performed as a confirmatory pathogen test. It is necessary to establish biosafety measures for their zoonotic potential, as well as to continue generating epidemiological information to improve animal health and public health.Keywords: Encephalitozoon cuniculi, rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, phacoclastic uveitis, interstitial nephritis, pyogranulomatous encephalitis, zoonosis.

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Encephalitozoon cuniculi in rabbits: Serological screening and histopathological findings

Cited by 17 publications

References 28 publications

Relationship between seropositivity of Encephalitozoon cuniculi and renal biochemical markers in clinically healthy rabbits

Relationship between seropositivity of Encephalitozoon cuniculi and renal biochemical markers in clinically healthy rabbits

Multilocus Sequence Typing and Population Genetic Analysis of Enterocytozoon bieneusi: Host Specificity and Its Impacts on Public Health

Encefalitozoonosis en un grupo de conejos (Oryctolagus cuniculus) de compañía

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