Molecular Detection of <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> in Migratory Waterfowl of the Genus <i>Anser</i> (Anseriformes: Anatidae) in Poland
Microsporidiosis is a zoonotic disease that derives from disparate sources. Most of the microsporidial agents are host-specific but some are capable of interspecies transmission, causing disease in various animals including humans. Human microsporidiosis may be caused by 17 species, with <i>En...
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| author | Piotr Solarczyk Agnieszka Perec-Matysiak Agnieszka Wojtkowiak-Giera Mike Heddergott |
| author_facet | Piotr Solarczyk Agnieszka Perec-Matysiak Agnieszka Wojtkowiak-Giera Mike Heddergott |
| author_sort | Piotr Solarczyk |
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| description | Microsporidiosis is a zoonotic disease that derives from disparate sources. Most of the microsporidial agents are host-specific but some are capable of interspecies transmission, causing disease in various animals including humans. Human microsporidiosis may be caused by 17 species, with <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i>, <i>E. intestinalis</i> and <i>E. hellem</i> mostly being responsible for human infections worldwide. Wildlife and migratory waterfowl can serve as reservoirs of these human-infectious agents and play a significant role in disseminating these pathogens into the environment. The aim of the study was to detect <i>E. cuniculi</i>, <i>E. intestinalis</i> and <i>E. hellem</i> in wild, migratory greater white-fronted geese (<i>Anser albifrons</i>) and other Anatidae members in feacal samples obtained in north-western Poland, using a molecular method. We collected 189 fecal droppings from Anatidae species (75 samples from greater white-fronted geese and 114 from other <i>Anser</i> spp.) during autumn migration. New species specific primers for PCR amplification were used to amplify a fragment of the small subunit ribosomal (SSU) rRNA of <i>E. cuniculi</i>, <i>E. intestinalis</i> and <i>E. hellem</i>. All fecal droppings were negative for <i>E. intestinalis</i> and <i>E. hellem</i> whereas <i>E cuniculi</i> was detected in 6 of 189 fecal samples (3.2%; 95% CI: 1.3–6.3%). In total, 1 of 75 tested fecal samples of greater white-fronted geese was positive (1.3%; 95% CI: 0.08–5.7%) while 5 of 114 (4.4%; 95% CI: 1.6–9.1%) tested fecal samples without exact species affiliation (only <i>Anser</i> sp.) were also positive. The phylogenetic analysis placed the sequences obtained from the birds’ droppings in the clade <i>E. cuniculi</i> from various rodents, wild carnivores and humans. Our results provide the first description of the occurrence and genotyping of the microsporidian <i>E. cuniculi</i> in greater white-fronted geese and in other members of the Anserinae Subfamily. Our findings support the results of other authors that <i>E. cuniculi</i> may originate from diverse sources, including common waterfowl. Our results are important in a One Health context, as wild migrating waterfowl may disseminate this zoonotic agent in remote regions through their migratory behaviour. These species should be considered significant sources of zoonotic pathogens, potentially hazardous to domestic and farmed animals as well as humans. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e3380ab3ab944790bece5f02b6d062f62025-08-20T03:14:43ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-05-0114548910.3390/pathogens14050489Molecular Detection of <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> in Migratory Waterfowl of the Genus <i>Anser</i> (Anseriformes: Anatidae) in PolandPiotr Solarczyk0Agnieszka Perec-Matysiak1Agnieszka Wojtkowiak-Giera2Mike Heddergott3Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Parasitology, University of Wrocław, 51-148 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Zoology, Musée National d‘Histoire Naturelle, 2160 Luxembourg, LuxembourgMicrosporidiosis is a zoonotic disease that derives from disparate sources. Most of the microsporidial agents are host-specific but some are capable of interspecies transmission, causing disease in various animals including humans. Human microsporidiosis may be caused by 17 species, with <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i>, <i>E. intestinalis</i> and <i>E. hellem</i> mostly being responsible for human infections worldwide. Wildlife and migratory waterfowl can serve as reservoirs of these human-infectious agents and play a significant role in disseminating these pathogens into the environment. The aim of the study was to detect <i>E. cuniculi</i>, <i>E. intestinalis</i> and <i>E. hellem</i> in wild, migratory greater white-fronted geese (<i>Anser albifrons</i>) and other Anatidae members in feacal samples obtained in north-western Poland, using a molecular method. We collected 189 fecal droppings from Anatidae species (75 samples from greater white-fronted geese and 114 from other <i>Anser</i> spp.) during autumn migration. New species specific primers for PCR amplification were used to amplify a fragment of the small subunit ribosomal (SSU) rRNA of <i>E. cuniculi</i>, <i>E. intestinalis</i> and <i>E. hellem</i>. All fecal droppings were negative for <i>E. intestinalis</i> and <i>E. hellem</i> whereas <i>E cuniculi</i> was detected in 6 of 189 fecal samples (3.2%; 95% CI: 1.3–6.3%). In total, 1 of 75 tested fecal samples of greater white-fronted geese was positive (1.3%; 95% CI: 0.08–5.7%) while 5 of 114 (4.4%; 95% CI: 1.6–9.1%) tested fecal samples without exact species affiliation (only <i>Anser</i> sp.) were also positive. The phylogenetic analysis placed the sequences obtained from the birds’ droppings in the clade <i>E. cuniculi</i> from various rodents, wild carnivores and humans. Our results provide the first description of the occurrence and genotyping of the microsporidian <i>E. cuniculi</i> in greater white-fronted geese and in other members of the Anserinae Subfamily. Our findings support the results of other authors that <i>E. cuniculi</i> may originate from diverse sources, including common waterfowl. Our results are important in a One Health context, as wild migrating waterfowl may disseminate this zoonotic agent in remote regions through their migratory behaviour. These species should be considered significant sources of zoonotic pathogens, potentially hazardous to domestic and farmed animals as well as humans.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/5/489encephalitozoonosismicrosporidiagenotypingmolecular epidemiologyzoonosis one health |
| spellingShingle | Piotr Solarczyk Agnieszka Perec-Matysiak Agnieszka Wojtkowiak-Giera Mike Heddergott Molecular Detection of <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> in Migratory Waterfowl of the Genus <i>Anser</i> (Anseriformes: Anatidae) in Poland Pathogens encephalitozoonosis microsporidia genotyping molecular epidemiology zoonosis one health |
| title | Molecular Detection of <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> in Migratory Waterfowl of the Genus <i>Anser</i> (Anseriformes: Anatidae) in Poland |
| title_full | Molecular Detection of <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> in Migratory Waterfowl of the Genus <i>Anser</i> (Anseriformes: Anatidae) in Poland |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Detection of <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> in Migratory Waterfowl of the Genus <i>Anser</i> (Anseriformes: Anatidae) in Poland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Detection of <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> in Migratory Waterfowl of the Genus <i>Anser</i> (Anseriformes: Anatidae) in Poland |
| title_short | Molecular Detection of <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> in Migratory Waterfowl of the Genus <i>Anser</i> (Anseriformes: Anatidae) in Poland |
| title_sort | molecular detection of i encephalitozoon cuniculi i in migratory waterfowl of the genus i anser i anseriformes anatidae in poland |
| topic | encephalitozoonosis microsporidia genotyping molecular epidemiology zoonosis one health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/5/489 |
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