ABSTRACT

Year : 2018  |  Volume : 11  |  Issue : 13  |  Page : 15

Occurrence and molecular characterization of Enterocytozoon bieneusi among long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in Hainan Province: High genetic diversity and zoonotic potential

Wei Zhao¹, Huan-huan Zhou¹, Hai-rong Jin², Bing-yong Li², Shan-shan Wang¹, Li-hua Li¹, Xiu-ji Cui¹, Fei-fei Yin¹, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan³, Kwok-Yung Yuen³, Gang Lu^1
1 Department of Pathogenic Biology; Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases; Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine Tropical Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
² Hainan Jingang Biological Technology Co., Ltd., Haikou, Hainan, China
³ Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan; State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China

Correspondence Address:
Gang Lu
Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan
China

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

DOI: 10.4103/1995-7645.243080

Objective: Microsporidia have been rapidly emerging as pathogens in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent humans. Enterocytozoon bieneusi (E. bieneusi) is the most common microsporidial species found in human. E. bieneusi has also been found in a wide range of animals and is considered to be a potentially important zoonotic pathogen. The epidemiological and genetic characterization of E. bieneusi among long-tailed macaques [Macaca fascicularis (M. fascicularis) is not fully understood. Here, we conducted the first molecular epidemiological investigation of E. bieneusi among M. fascicularis in Hainan Province, the southernmost part of China. Methods: A total of 193 fecal specimens of M. fascicularis were collected from a breeding base housing non-human primates for experimental use in Hainan Province, China. E. bieneusi was identified and genotyped by nested PCR analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rRNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by constructing a neighboring-joining tree of the ITS gene sequences using MEGA6. Results: A total of 59 (30.6%) of the M. fascicularis were PCR-positive for E. bieneusi. All 59 samples were sequenced successfully and 16 ITS genotypes were identified. These included nine known genotypes: Type IV (n=19), D (n=11), CM1 (n=8), PigEBITS7 (n=4), Pongo2 (n=4), Peru 8 (n=3), Peru11 (n=1), WL21 (n=1) and CM2 (n=1). Additionally, seven novel genotypes named as HNM-I to HNM-VII (one each) were identified. Importantly, genotypes D, Type IV, Peru8, PigEBITS7, and Peru11, which were the predominant (38/59, 64.4%) genotypes identified among M. fascicularis in this study, are also well-known human-pathogenic genotypes. All the genotypes of E. bieneusi identified in this study, including the seven novel ones, belonged to zoonotic group 1. Conclusions: This is the first report of the identification of E. bieneusi in M. fascicularis in Hainan Province, China. The findings of numerous known human-pathogenic types and seven novel genotypes (HNM-I to HNM-VII) of E. bieneusi all belong to zoonotic group 1 indicate the possibility of transmission of this important pathogenic parasite between M. fascicularis and humans.

Keywords: Enterocytozoon bieneusi; Genotype; ITS region; Macaca; Zoonotic