Presence and Distribution of Human-Related Microsporidian Spores across Different Topsoil Areas across Alcalá de Henares (Spain)
Humans can potentially be exposed to <i>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</i> and <i>Encephalitozoon</i> spp. from topsoils when playing or spending time in recreational areas. Two hundred and seventy-seven topsoil samples were collected across Alcalá de Henares (Spain) in July 2017: o...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Biology and Life Sciences Forum |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9976/31/1/5 |
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| Summary: | Humans can potentially be exposed to <i>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</i> and <i>Encephalitozoon</i> spp. from topsoils when playing or spending time in recreational areas. Two hundred and seventy-seven topsoil samples were collected across Alcalá de Henares (Spain) in July 2017: one hundred and fifty-five urban, sixty industrial and twelve from a public garden. Simultaneous detection was performed using a SYBR Green real-time PCR following the appropriate extraction of DNA with Fast-Prep for Soil<sup>®</sup>. The organic matter content (OM), pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and soil texture (percentages of sand, clay and silt) were also determined. <i>E. bieneusi</i> was detected in nine (five urban, four industrial); meanwhile, <i>Encephalitozoon</i> spp. was detected in 22 topsoil samples (sixteen urban, six industrial; ten <i>E. intestinalis,</i> nine <i>E. intestinalis/E. hellem</i> and three <i>E. cuniculi</i>). The presence of <i>E. bieneusi</i> was associated with urban soils that presented lower EC (0.50 vs. 0.71 dS/m; <i>p</i>-value = 0.0110), as this factor may provide a richer environment for the survival of spores. The presence of microsporidian spores was higher in those topsoils with a higher OM content for <i>E. bieneusi</i> (6.96% vs. 4.98%; <i>p</i>-value = 0.0342) and <i>E. intestinalis</i>/<i>E. hellem</i> in one of the four quadrants into which the urban area was divided (5.54% vs. 3.12%; <i>p</i>-value = 0.0007). <i>E. intestinalis</i> is present in industrial topsoils with significantly lower contents of sand (14.5% vs. 21.74; <i>p</i>-value = 0.00003) but higher contents of silt (78.5% vs. 64.9%; <i>p</i>-value = 0.0229), which might be attributed to the differences in the capacity of topsoils to retain moisture, depending on their texture. Moreover, the provision of enough oxygen might play a role in the higher presence of <i>E. intestinalis/E. hellem</i> in urban topsoils with lower contents of clay (11% vs. 19%; <i>p</i>-value = 0.0200). A better understanding of these potential associations is critical in selecting appropriate decontamination techniques and strategies to prevent and minimise human exposure. |
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| ISSN: | 2673-9976 |