First identification of genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi (Microsporidia) among symptomatic and asymptomatic children in Mozambique

Abstract

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a human pathogen with a broad range of animal hosts. Initially, E. bieneusi was considered an emerging opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised, mainly HIV-infected patients, but it has been increasingly reported in apparently healthy individuals globally. As in other African countries, the molecular epidemiology of E. bieneusi in Mozambique remains completely unknown. Therefore, we undertook a study to investigate the occurrence and genetic diversity of E. bieneusi infections in children with gastrointestinal symptoms as well as in asymptomatic children in Mozambique. Individual stool specimens were collected from 1,247 children aged between 0 and 14 years-old living in urban and rural settings in Zambé zia (n = 1,097) and Maputo (n = 150) provinces between 2016 and 2019. Samples were analysed for E. bieneusi by nested-PCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rRNA gene. All positive amplicons were confirmed and genotyped. Penalised logistic regression (Firth) was used to evaluate risk associations. The overall prevalence of E. bieneusi in this children population was 0.7% (9/1,247). A 10-fold higher prevalence was found in Maputo (4.0%; 6/150) than in Zambé zia (0.3%; 3/1,097). All E. bieneusi-positive samples were from children older than 1-year of age, and most (8/9) from asymptomatic children. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the ITS region revealed the presence of four genotypes, three previously reported (Peru11, n = 1; Type IV, n = 2, and S2, n = 2) and a novel genotype (named HhMzEb1, n = 4). Novel genotype HhMzEb1 was

Sparse Evidence for Giardia intestinalis, Cryptosporidium spp. and Microsporidia Infections in Humans, Domesticated Animals and Wild Nonhuman Primates Sharing a Farm–Forest Mosaic Landscape in Western Uganda

“…Our findings suggest that humans and livestock in Bulindi also have low levels of protist infections compared to results of surveys elsewhere in Africa (e.g., [ 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 ]), including the only previous study using amplification by PCR and sequencing conducted in Uganda (around Kibale National Park, 150 km south of Bulindi). In that study, 40.7% of 108 human fecal samples were positive for G. intestinalis [ 31 ].…”

Molecular Diversity of Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., and Blastocystis sp. in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Schoolchildren in Zambézia Province (Mozambique)

“…in Mozambique. Of note, our research group has previously investigated in this very same paediatric populations the occurrence of the microsporidia Enterocytozoon bieneusi and conducted risk association analyses for intestinal parasites [27,30].…”

UDP-Glucosyltransferases Induced by Nosema bombycis Provide Resistance to Microsporidia in Silkworm (Bombyx mori)

“…Microsporidia infection can cause major economic losses; for example, Nosema ceranae causes serious disease in adult honey bees [ 3 , 4 ], Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei affects cultured shrimp [ 5 , 6 ], and Cryptosporidium baileyi impacts the digestive and/or respiratory tract of many bird species across various orders [ 7 , 8 ]. Moreover, infection with some microsporidia is a serious threat to human life and health [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Although there are many studies on microsporidia, there has not been sufficient research on host response because of the complexity of host–pathogen interactions and the differences among species [ 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”