Stray cats and dogs carrying zoonoticEnterocytozoon bieneusigenotype D in China: a public health concern

Abstract

AbstractEnterocytozoon bieneusiis reported to be a common microsporidian of humans and animals in various countries. However, scarce information onE. bieneusihas been recorded in cats (Felis catus) and dogs (Canis familiaris) in China. As such, we undertook molecular epidemiological investigation ofE. bieneusiin cats and dogs in Shanghai, China. A total of 359 genomic DNAs were extracted from individual faecal samples from cats (n= 59) and dogs (n= 300), and then tested using a nested PCR-based sequencing approach employing internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA as the genetic marker.Enterocytozoon bieneusiwas detected in 34 of all 359 (9.5%) faecal samples from cats (32.2%; 19/59) and dogs (5.0%; 15/300), including 24 stray cats and dogs (22.6%; 24/106), as well as ten household/raised cats and dogs (4.0%; 10/253). Correlation analyses revealed thatE. bieneusipositive rates were significantly associated with stray cats and dogs (P< 0.05). The analysis of ITS sequence data revealed the presentation of five known genotypes CD7, CHN-HD2, D, PtEb IX and Type IV and two novel genotypes D-like1 and PtEb IX-like1. Zoonotic genotype D was the predominant type with percentage of 61.8 (21/34). Phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequence data sets showed that genotypes D, D-like1 and Type IV clustered within Group 1, showing zoonotic potential. The others were assigned into Group 10 with host specificity. These findings suggested that cats and dogs in Shanghai harbor zoonotic genotype D ofE. bieneusiand may have a significant risk for zoonotic transmission. Further insight into the epidemiology ofE. bieneusiin animals, water and the environment from other areas in China will be important to have an informed position on the public health significance of microsporidiosis caused by this microbe.