Serum Proteomic Changes in Pet Rabbits with Subclinical and Clinical Encephalitozoonosis in Thailand

<i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> causes both clinical and subclinical infections in rabbits, complicating a diagnosis due to the limitations of conventional tools like ELISA. This study analyzes serum proteomic profiles across clinical, subclinical, and healthy rabbits to identify discrim...

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Main Authors: Taksaon Duangurai, Onrapak Reamtong, Tipparat Thiangtrongjit, Siriluk Jala, Peerut Chienwichai, Naris Thengchaisri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1962
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author Taksaon Duangurai
Onrapak Reamtong
Tipparat Thiangtrongjit
Siriluk Jala
Peerut Chienwichai
Naris Thengchaisri
author_facet Taksaon Duangurai
Onrapak Reamtong
Tipparat Thiangtrongjit
Siriluk Jala
Peerut Chienwichai
Naris Thengchaisri
author_sort Taksaon Duangurai
collection DOAJ
description <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> causes both clinical and subclinical infections in rabbits, complicating a diagnosis due to the limitations of conventional tools like ELISA. This study analyzes serum proteomic profiles across clinical, subclinical, and healthy rabbits to identify discriminatory biomarkers. Serum from 90 pet rabbits (30 per group) was pooled (10 samples per pool, 3 pools per group) and analyzed using one-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. The proteomic analysis revealed 109, 98, and 74 proteins expressed in healthy, subclinical, and clinical groups, respectively. Of these, 50, 40, and 33 proteins were unique to the healthy, subclinical, and clinical groups, respectively, with only 10 proteins shared across all. A total of 88 proteins were differentially expressed in infected groups compared to healthy controls. Importantly, 12 proteins were consistently upregulated in both subclinical and clinical infections. These include markers related to the immune response (beta-2-microglobulin, alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein), coagulation (antithrombin-III, alpha-1-antiproteinase S-1), vitamin A transport (retinol-binding proteins), lipid metabolism (apolipoprotein C-III), cytoskeletal regulation (actin-depolymerizing factor), extracellular matrix integrity (fibrillin 2), and oxidative stress (monooxygenase DBH-like 1). Additionally, Gc-globulin and ER lipid-raft-associated 1 were linked to immune modulation and signaling. These findings identify specific serum proteins as promising biomarkers for distinguishing subclinical from clinical encephalitozoonosis in rabbits, enabling an early diagnosis and effective disease monitoring.
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spelling doaj-art-a43444b2b4774509bcab0adeba6352e62025-08-20T03:16:42ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-07-011513196210.3390/ani15131962Serum Proteomic Changes in Pet Rabbits with Subclinical and Clinical Encephalitozoonosis in ThailandTaksaon Duangurai0Onrapak Reamtong1Tipparat Thiangtrongjit2Siriluk Jala3Peerut Chienwichai4Naris Thengchaisri5Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, ThailandDepartment of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, ThailandDepartment of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, ThailandKamphaeng Saen Veterinary Diagnostic Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, ThailandPrincess Srisavangavadhana Faculty of Medicine, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok 10210, ThailandDepartment of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand<i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> causes both clinical and subclinical infections in rabbits, complicating a diagnosis due to the limitations of conventional tools like ELISA. This study analyzes serum proteomic profiles across clinical, subclinical, and healthy rabbits to identify discriminatory biomarkers. Serum from 90 pet rabbits (30 per group) was pooled (10 samples per pool, 3 pools per group) and analyzed using one-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. The proteomic analysis revealed 109, 98, and 74 proteins expressed in healthy, subclinical, and clinical groups, respectively. Of these, 50, 40, and 33 proteins were unique to the healthy, subclinical, and clinical groups, respectively, with only 10 proteins shared across all. A total of 88 proteins were differentially expressed in infected groups compared to healthy controls. Importantly, 12 proteins were consistently upregulated in both subclinical and clinical infections. These include markers related to the immune response (beta-2-microglobulin, alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein), coagulation (antithrombin-III, alpha-1-antiproteinase S-1), vitamin A transport (retinol-binding proteins), lipid metabolism (apolipoprotein C-III), cytoskeletal regulation (actin-depolymerizing factor), extracellular matrix integrity (fibrillin 2), and oxidative stress (monooxygenase DBH-like 1). Additionally, Gc-globulin and ER lipid-raft-associated 1 were linked to immune modulation and signaling. These findings identify specific serum proteins as promising biomarkers for distinguishing subclinical from clinical encephalitozoonosis in rabbits, enabling an early diagnosis and effective disease monitoring.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1962<i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i>gel electrophoresismass spectrometryrabbitsserum proteome
spellingShingle Taksaon Duangurai
Onrapak Reamtong
Tipparat Thiangtrongjit
Siriluk Jala
Peerut Chienwichai
Naris Thengchaisri
Serum Proteomic Changes in Pet Rabbits with Subclinical and Clinical Encephalitozoonosis in Thailand
Animals
<i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i>
gel electrophoresis
mass spectrometry
rabbits
serum proteome
title Serum Proteomic Changes in Pet Rabbits with Subclinical and Clinical Encephalitozoonosis in Thailand
title_full Serum Proteomic Changes in Pet Rabbits with Subclinical and Clinical Encephalitozoonosis in Thailand
title_fullStr Serum Proteomic Changes in Pet Rabbits with Subclinical and Clinical Encephalitozoonosis in Thailand
title_full_unstemmed Serum Proteomic Changes in Pet Rabbits with Subclinical and Clinical Encephalitozoonosis in Thailand
title_short Serum Proteomic Changes in Pet Rabbits with Subclinical and Clinical Encephalitozoonosis in Thailand
title_sort serum proteomic changes in pet rabbits with subclinical and clinical encephalitozoonosis in thailand
topic <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i>
gel electrophoresis
mass spectrometry
rabbits
serum proteome
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1962
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