Occurrence and Molecular Characteristics of Microsporidia in Captive Red Pandas () in China

Overview

Journal Animals (Basel)

Date 2023 Oct 27

PMID 37889781

Authors

Jinpeng Yang

Yangyang Zeng

Caiwu Li

Songrui Liu

Wanyu Meng

Wenqing Zhang

Ming He

Liqin Wang

Zhili Zuo

Chanjuan Yue

Desheng Li

Guangneng Peng

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

and spp. are microsporidian pathogens with zoonotic potential that pose significant public health concerns. To ascertain the occurrence and genotypes of and spp., we used nested PCR to amplify the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene and DNA sequencing to analyze 198 fecal samples from red pandas from 6 zoos in China. The total rate of microsporidial infection was 15.7% (31/198), with 12.1% (24/198), 1.0% (2/198), 2.0% (4/198) and 1.0% (2/198) for infection rate of , , and , respectively. One red panda was detected positive for a mixed infection ( and ). Red pandas living in semi-free conditions are more likely to be infected with microsporidia (χ = 6.212, df = 1, < 0.05). Three known (SC02, D, and PL2) and one novel (SCR1) genotypes of were found. Three genotypes of (SC02, D, SCR1) were grouped into group 1 with public health importance, while genotype PL2 formed a separate clade associated with group 2. These findings suggest that red pandas may serve as a host reservoir for zoonotic microsporidia, potentially allowing transmission from red pandas to humans and other animals.

Citing Articles

Encephalitozoon intestinalis infection in free-ranging giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and armadillo species (Priodontes maximus, Euphractus sexcinctus, Cabassous squamicaudis).

Carvalho B, de Araujo R, Kluyber D, Desbiez A, Caiaffa M, Alves M J Vet Med Sci. 2025; 87(3):320-325.

PMID: 39894526 PMC: 11903348. DOI: 10.1292/jvms.24-0348.

Molecular prevalence and genotype identification of in cattle and goats from Zhejiang Province, China.

Xin X, Sun L, Liu W, Zhang J, Ma S, Fu X Front Vet Sci. 2024; 11:1415813.

PMID: 39628867 PMC: 11613171. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1415813.

Molecular Screening and Characterization of Enteric Protozoan Parasites and Microsporidia in Wild Ducks from Portugal.

Gomes-Goncalves S, Rodrigues D, Santos N, Gantois N, Chabe M, Viscogliosi E Animals (Basel). 2024; 14(20).

PMID: 39457886 PMC: 11503927. DOI: 10.3390/ani14202956.

Occurrence and genotyping of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in flying squirrels (Trogopterus xanthipes) from China.

Liu X, Zhang C, Li T, Xia X, Xu Y, Hu J Parasite. 2024; 31:37.

PMID: 38963405 PMC: 11223590. DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2024037.

References

Zhang Y, Mi R, Yang L, Gong H, Xu C, Feng Y . Wildlife Is a Potential Source of Human Infections of and in Southeastern China. Front Microbiol. 2021; 12:692837. PMC: 8383182. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.692837. View

Mynarova A, Foitova I, Kvac M, Kvetonova D, Rost M, Morrogh-Bernard H . Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon spp. and Giardia intestinalis in Wild, Semi-Wild and Captive Orangutans (Pongo abelii and Pongo pygmaeus) on Sumatra and Borneo, Indonesia. PLoS One. 2016; 11(3):e0152771. PMC: 4816420. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152771. View

Han B, Pan G, Weiss L . Microsporidiosis in Humans. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2021; 34(4):e0001020. PMC: 8404701. DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00010-20. View

Talabani H, Sarfati C, Pillebout E, van Gool T, Derouin F, Menotti J . Disseminated infection with a new genovar of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in a renal transplant recipient. J Clin Microbiol. 2010; 48(7):2651-3. PMC: 2897537. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.02539-09. View

Santin M, Fayer R . Microsporidiosis: Enterocytozoon bieneusi in domesticated and wild animals. Res Vet Sci. 2010; 90(3):363-71. DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2010.07.014. View

Li W, Xiao L . Multilocus Sequence Typing and Population Genetic Analysis of : Host Specificity and Its Impacts on Public Health. Front Genet. 2019; 10:307. PMC: 6454070. DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00307. View

Zhang Y, Koehler A, Wang T, Gasser R . Enterocytozoon bieneusi of animals-With an 'Australian twist'. Adv Parasitol. 2021; 111:1-73. DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2020.10.001. View

Liguory O, Fournier S, Sarfati C, Derouin F, Molina J . Genetic homology among thirteen Encephalitozoon intestinalis isolates obtained from human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with intestinal microsporidiosis. J Clin Microbiol. 2000; 38(6):2389-91. PMC: 86816. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.38.6.2389-2391.2000. View

Lieb M, Helse W, Loscher T, Rinder H . Direct amplification and species determination of microsporidian DNA from stool specimens. Trop Med Int Health. 1996; 1(3):373-8. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-3156.1996.d01-51.x. View

10.

Huang X, Zhou Z, Liu H, Deng L, Bi B, Chai Y . New genotypes and molecular characterization of in captive black bears in China. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl. 2019; 10:1-5. PMC: 6611995. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.06.012. View

11.

Wang L, Zhang H, Zhao X, Zhang L, Zhang G, Guo M . Zoonotic Cryptosporidium species and Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotypes in HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral therapy. J Clin Microbiol. 2012; 51(2):557-63. PMC: 3553929. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.02758-12. View

12.

Yu Z, Wen X, Huang X, Yang R, Guo Y, Feng Y . Molecular characterization and zoonotic potential of Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium sp. in farmed masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) in southern China. Parasit Vectors. 2020; 13(1):403. PMC: 7414269. DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04274-0. View

13.

Lesnianska K, Perec-Matysiak A . Wildlife as an environmental reservoir of Enterocytozoon bieneusi (Microsporidia) – analyses of data based on molecular methods. Ann Parasitol. 2018; 63(4):265-281. DOI: 10.17420/ap6304.113. View

14.

Deng L, Li W, Zhong Z, Gong C, Cao X, Song Y . Multi-locus genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive Asiatic black bears in southwestern China: High genetic diversity, broad host range, and zoonotic potential. PLoS One. 2017; 12(2):e0171772. PMC: 5300288. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171772. View

15.

Karim M, Dong H, Li T, Yu F, Li D, Zhang L . Predomination and new genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive nonhuman primates in zoos in China: high genetic diversity and zoonotic significance. PLoS One. 2015; 10(2):e0117991. PMC: 4338232. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117991. View

16.

Valencakova A, Balent P, Huska M, Novotny F, Luptakova L . First report on Encephalitozoon intestinalis infection of swine in Europe. Acta Vet Hung. 2006; 54(3):407-11. DOI: 10.1556/AVet.54.2006.3.11. View

17.

Xu C, Ma X, Zhang H, Zhang X, Zhao J, Ba H . Prevalence, risk factors and molecular characterization of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in five provinces of Northern China. Acta Trop. 2016; 161:68-72. DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.05.015. View

18.

Su B, Fu Y, Wang Y, Jin L, Chakraborty R . Genetic diversity and population history of the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) as inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence variations. Mol Biol Evol. 2001; 18(6):1070-6. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a003878. View

19.

Wang Y, Zhang K, Zhang Y, Wang K, Gazizova A, Wang L . First detection of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) in China. Parasit Vectors. 2020; 13(1):5. PMC: 6947823. DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-3884-y. View

20.

Xiao L, Li L, Moura H, Sulaiman I, Lal A, Gatti S . Genotyping Encephalitozoon hellem isolates by analysis of the polar tube protein gene. J Clin Microbiol. 2001; 39(6):2191-6. PMC: 88110. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.39.6.2191-2196.2001. View