Molecular evidence of host range expansion of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive wildlife at Beijing Zoo, China

Enterocytozoon bieneusi has become a significant public health concern due to its ability to infect both humans and animals on a global scale. However, there is a paucity of epidemiological data regarding this pathogen in captive wildlife. In this study, 445 fecal samples were collected from captive...

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Main Authors: Zhiyang Pei, Bowen Zhang, Yongqiang He, Qianming Zhao, Fuchang Yu, Ting Jia, Zhenjie Zhang, Meng Qi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:One Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771425000473
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author Zhiyang Pei
Bowen Zhang
Yongqiang He
Qianming Zhao
Fuchang Yu
Ting Jia
Zhenjie Zhang
Meng Qi
author_facet Zhiyang Pei
Bowen Zhang
Yongqiang He
Qianming Zhao
Fuchang Yu
Ting Jia
Zhenjie Zhang
Meng Qi
author_sort Zhiyang Pei
collection DOAJ
description Enterocytozoon bieneusi has become a significant public health concern due to its ability to infect both humans and animals on a global scale. However, there is a paucity of epidemiological data regarding this pathogen in captive wildlife. In this study, 445 fecal samples were collected from captive animals at Beijing Zoo and analyzed using PCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA of E. bieneusi. The overall prevalence was determined to be 7.0 % (31/445), with infection rates of 7.1 % (23/322) in mammals and 6.5 % (8/123) in Aves. Genotypic characterization 12 distinct genotypes, including 11 known genotypes belonging to Groups 1 (EbpA, PigEBITS7, D, HND-1, SC02, CM16, MJ13), 2 (BEB6), 7 (CM 4), and 13 (CHB1, CHK1), along with one novel genotype (BJZ-1) in Group 1. The detection of zoonotic genotypes from Groups 1 and 2 underscores the potential for cross-species transmission between captive wildlife and humans. Notably, this study presents the first molecular identification of E. bieneusi in caracals, polar bears, giant anteaters, and grey herons, thereby significantly expanding the known host range of this pathogen. These findings emphasise the necessity of implementing One Health surveillance strategies to monitor and mitigate zoonotic risks at the human-animal interface.
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spelling doaj-art-e025ee0a8a8f4a3ebc402ef065b674822025-08-20T03:47:20ZengElsevierOne Health2352-77142025-06-012010101110.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101011Molecular evidence of host range expansion of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive wildlife at Beijing Zoo, ChinaZhiyang Pei0Bowen Zhang1Yongqiang He2Qianming Zhao3Fuchang Yu4Ting Jia5Zhenjie Zhang6Meng Qi7College of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Alaer, Xinjiang 843300, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Alaer, Xinjiang 843300, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Alaer, Xinjiang 843300, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Alaer, Xinjiang 843300, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Alaer, Xinjiang 843300, ChinaBeijing Zoo, Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing 100044, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Alaer, Xinjiang 843300, China; Corresponding authors.College of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Alaer, Xinjiang 843300, China; Corresponding authors.Enterocytozoon bieneusi has become a significant public health concern due to its ability to infect both humans and animals on a global scale. However, there is a paucity of epidemiological data regarding this pathogen in captive wildlife. In this study, 445 fecal samples were collected from captive animals at Beijing Zoo and analyzed using PCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA of E. bieneusi. The overall prevalence was determined to be 7.0 % (31/445), with infection rates of 7.1 % (23/322) in mammals and 6.5 % (8/123) in Aves. Genotypic characterization 12 distinct genotypes, including 11 known genotypes belonging to Groups 1 (EbpA, PigEBITS7, D, HND-1, SC02, CM16, MJ13), 2 (BEB6), 7 (CM 4), and 13 (CHB1, CHK1), along with one novel genotype (BJZ-1) in Group 1. The detection of zoonotic genotypes from Groups 1 and 2 underscores the potential for cross-species transmission between captive wildlife and humans. Notably, this study presents the first molecular identification of E. bieneusi in caracals, polar bears, giant anteaters, and grey herons, thereby significantly expanding the known host range of this pathogen. These findings emphasise the necessity of implementing One Health surveillance strategies to monitor and mitigate zoonotic risks at the human-animal interface.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771425000473Enterocytozoon bieneusiCaptive wildlifePrevalenceGenotypeZoo
spellingShingle Zhiyang Pei
Bowen Zhang
Yongqiang He
Qianming Zhao
Fuchang Yu
Ting Jia
Zhenjie Zhang
Meng Qi
Molecular evidence of host range expansion of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive wildlife at Beijing Zoo, China
One Health
Enterocytozoon bieneusi
Captive wildlife
Prevalence
Genotype
Zoo
title Molecular evidence of host range expansion of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive wildlife at Beijing Zoo, China
title_full Molecular evidence of host range expansion of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive wildlife at Beijing Zoo, China
title_fullStr Molecular evidence of host range expansion of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive wildlife at Beijing Zoo, China
title_full_unstemmed Molecular evidence of host range expansion of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive wildlife at Beijing Zoo, China
title_short Molecular evidence of host range expansion of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive wildlife at Beijing Zoo, China
title_sort molecular evidence of host range expansion of enterocytozoon bieneusi in captive wildlife at beijing zoo china
topic Enterocytozoon bieneusi
Captive wildlife
Prevalence
Genotype
Zoo
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771425000473
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