First detection and genotyping of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in pet fancy rats (Rattus norvegicus) and guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) in China

Abstract

Enterocytozoon bieneusi, an obligate intracellular microsporidian parasite, can infect humans and a wide variety of animals worldwide. However, information on the prevalence and molecular characterization of E. bieneusi in pet rats and guinea pigs is lacking. In this study, 325 fecal samples were collected from 152 pet fancy rats and 173 pet guinea pigs purchased from pet shops in Henan and Shandong provinces. The prevalence of E. bieneusi was 11.2% (17/152) in pet fancy rats and 20.2% (35/173) in pet guinea pigs. Genotypes D (n = 12), Peru11 (n = 3), S7 (n = 1) and SCC-2 (n = 1) were identified in pet fancy rats, and genotype S7 (n = 30) and a novel genotype PGP (n = 5) were identified in pet guinea pigs. The ITS sequence and its phylogenetic analysis showed that the novel genotype PGP was distinctly different; it exhibited less than 50% similarity to the reference sequences, and did not cluster with any of the known E. bieneusi genotype groups, forming a unique branch between groups 6 and 7. These data suggest that this is a new E. bieneusi genotype group. This is the first report of E. bieneusi infection in pet fancy rats and pet guinea pigs worldwide. The identification of zoonotic genotypes D, Peru11, and S7 suggests that pet fancy rats and guinea pigs can be potential sources of human microsporidiosis.

Host-adaptation of Rare Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype CHN4 in Coypus (Myocastor coypus) in China

“…Geographical locationbased variation in the prevalence of E. bieneusi in rodents has been reported. Such as in brown rats in different provinces in China, which was ranged from 2.9% to 14.7% [8,14,16,23,24]. This phenomenon has also been reported in other animals, for example, in alpacas (Vicugna pacos) in China (0 -42.9%) [25] and in Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in China (0 -50%) [26].…”

“…Genotype D was identi ed in squirrels from China [29] and USA [13], chipmunks [30], bamboo rats [15] and brown rats [8,23] from China, house mice from Czech Republic-Germany border [19] and striped eld mice from Poland [21], and genotype WL4 was observed in squirrels, chipmunks and muskrats from USA [13,20] (Table 3). EbpA, EbpC, PigEBITS7, S7, Peru16 and CHG14 have also been reported as the most common genotypes in experimental brown rat, beaver, giant rat, guinea pig, guinea pig and brown rat, respectively [10,14,16,20,23,31]. Additionally, in a more recent study of E. bieneusi in Himalayan marmots (Marmota himalayana) and Alashan ground squirrels (Spermophilus alashanicus) revealed that genotype ZY37 was the most common one [9].The rare genotype CHN4 was the dominant genotype, indicating that the transmission dynamic of E. bieneusi in coypus is different from other rodents.…”

First identification and genotyping of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. in pet rabbits in China

“…Genotypes N, I, and J were originally detected in cattle, but recently these genotypes have also been detected in non-human primates, donkey, cats, sika deer, birds, and humans [21]. Genotype CHY1 is a synonym of genotype S7, which was identified in a patient in the Netherlands [33], as well as in yaks [34], in pet chipmunks [25], and more recently, in pet rats [35]. Notably, Cama et al reported a possible transmission of E. bieneusi between children and guinea pigs in the same household, suggesting the possibility of zoonotic transmission between human and pet animal [36].…”

Host-adaptation of the rare Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype CHN4 in Myocastor coypus (Rodentia: Echimyidae) in China

“…Genotype D was identified in squirrels from China [29] and USA [13], chipmunks [30], bamboo rats [15] and brown rats [8,23] from China, house mice from Czech Republic-Germany border [19] and striped field mice from Poland [21], and genotype WL4 was observed in squirrels, chipmunks and muskrats from the USA [13,20] (Table 3). EbpA, EbpC, PigEBITS7, S7, Peru16 and CHG14 have also been reported as the most common genotypes in experimental brown rat, beaver, giant rat, guinea pig, guinea pig and brown rat, respectively [10,14,16,20,23,31]. Additionally, in a more recent study of E. bieneusi in Himalayan marmots (Marmota himalayana) and Alashan ground squirrels (Spermophilus alashanicus) revealed that genotype ZY37 was the most common one [9].…”

“…A variation of the positive rate of E. bieneusi in coypus was observed in the present study with the highest being detected in Anyang (72.3%, 73/101) and the lowest in Laibin (9.1%, 2/22). Geographical location-based variation in the prevalence of E. bieneusi in rodents has been reported such as in brown rats in different provinces in China, which was ranged between 2.9–14.7% [ 8 , 14 , 16 , 23 , 24 ]. This phenomenon has also been reported in other animals, for example, in alpacas ( Vicugna pacos ) in China (0–42.9%) [ 25 ] and in Asiatic black bear ( Ursus thibetanus ) in China (0–50%) [ 26 ].…”