Zoonotic potential of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in pre-weaned Korean native calves

Abstract

Background: Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common microsporidian species infecting humans and various animals worldwide. To date, there has been limited information on the prevalence of infection and genotypes of E. bieneusi in cattle in the Republic of Korea. Therefore, this study investigated the prevalence and genotypes of E. bieneusi circulating in pre-weaned Korean native calves and determined the age pattern of E. bieneusi infection and the relationship between E. bieneusi infection and diarrhea. Methods: The prevalence of E. bieneusi infection in pre-weaned Korean native calves was screened by polymerase chain reaction. PCR-positive products were sequenced to determine the genotype of E. bieneusi. A Chi-square analysis was used to compare the association between diarrhea and the infection rate of E. bieneusi in each age range or for all ages. Results: PCR and sequencing analysis revealed an overall prevalence (16.9%, 53/314) of E. bieneusi in pre-weaned calves. The prevalence of E. bieneusi was highest in September (36.2%), followed by March (28.3%). Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection was associated with diarrhea in calves (χ 2 = 5.82, P = 0.016). Our results also indicated that E. bieneusi infection was significantly associated with calf age (χ 2 = 11.61, P = 0.003), and the prevalence of E. bieneusi infection was significantly higher in calves aged 21-40 days-old (odds ratio: 2.90, 95% confidence interval: 1.54-5.45; P = 0.001) than in those aged 1-20 days-old. Interestingly, the association between E. bieneusi infection and diarrhea was observed only in calves aged 1-20 days-old (χ 2 = 5.82, P = 0.010). We identified three known genotypes, BEB4 (n = 12), BEB8 (n = 21) and J (n = 16), and three novel genotypes, BEB8-like (n = 21), KCALF1 (n = 1) and KCALF2 (n = 1). The genotype BEB8 was the most prevalent among all age groups. All genotypes identified in this study exhibited zoonotic potential. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of the genotype BEB4 in pre-weaned Korean native calves. Zoonotic E. bieneusi infection was prevalent in pre-weaned calves, indicating that cattle may play an important role as a reservoir host for E. bieneusi transmission to humans.

Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Diarrheic and Non-Diarrheic Calves from Ningxia, Northwestern China

“…The present study showed that the infection rate of E. bieneusi in calves from Ningxia was 10.0% (44/438), which is similar to that reported in other studies for cattle in China and several other countries [45][46][47][48][49]. On the other hand, in the present study, although there was no certain association between diarrhea and the prevalence of E. bieneusi infection, E. bieneusi genotypes were more diverse in diarrheic calves than in non-diarrheic calves, with all four genotypes found in diarrheic calves, while only the J genotype was found in non-diarrheic calves.…”

“…On the other hand, in the present study, although there was no certain association between diarrhea and the prevalence of E. bieneusi infection, E. bieneusi genotypes were more diverse in diarrheic calves than in non-diarrheic calves, with all four genotypes found in diarrheic calves, while only the J genotype was found in non-diarrheic calves. Based on the high diversity of ITS, many genotypes of E. bieneusi have been found in cattle worldwide [ 45 ]. In earlier studies, phylogenetic analyses revealed the existence of 11 groups; genotypes in groups 1 and 2 were associated with potential zoonotic or cross-species infections [ 18 ].…”

Molecular Detection and Characterization of Blastocystis sp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Cattle in Northern Spain

“…Domestic ruminants show a diverse pattern of genotype distribution; they are infected predominantly by Group 2 genotypes, especially BEB4 (the same E. bieneusi genotype detected in the present study), BEB6, I, and J [ 7 ]. Thus, BEB4 has been identified as infecting cattle in Argentina [ 74 ], Brazil [ 38 ], China [ 75 ], Korea [ 76 ], South Africa [ 77 ], and the USA [ 78 ]. In addition to cattle, genotype BEB4 has also been reported in pigs, yaks, donkeys, and NHP [ 75 , 79 , 80 , 81 ].…”

Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Cattle in Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China

“…Because the ITS gene has a high diversity rate, E. bieneusi can be categorized into many genotypes. This has been reported in cattle worldwide [73]. Phylogenetic analysis has indicated that all genotypes of E. bieneusi should be divided into 11 groups, with genotypes in groups 1 and 2 being associated with potential zoonotic or cross-species infections [74].…”