1
|
Mascarenhas Dos Santos AC, Julian AT, Liang P, Juárez O, Pombert JF. Telomere-to-Telomere genome assemblies of human-infecting Encephalitozoon species. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:237. [PMID: 37142951 PMCID: PMC10158259 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09331-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microsporidia are diverse spore forming, fungal-related obligate intracellular pathogens infecting a wide range of hosts. This diversity is reflected at the genome level with sizes varying by an order of magnitude, ranging from less than 3 Mb in Encephalitozoon species (the smallest known in eukaryotes) to more than 50 Mb in Edhazardia spp. As a paradigm of genome reduction in eukaryotes, the small Encephalitozoon genomes have attracted much attention with investigations revealing gene dense, repeat- and intron-poor genomes characterized by a thorough pruning of molecular functions no longer relevant to their obligate intracellular lifestyle. However, because no Encephalitozoon genome has been sequenced from telomere-to-telomere and since no methylation data is available for these species, our understanding of their overall genetic and epigenetic architectures is incomplete. METHODS In this study, we sequenced the complete genomes from telomere-to-telomere of three human-infecting Encephalitozoon spp. -E. intestinalis ATCC 50506, E. hellem ATCC 50604 and E. cuniculi ATCC 50602- using short and long read platforms and leveraged the data generated as part of the sequencing process to investigate the presence of epigenetic markers in these genomes. We also used a mixture of sequence- and structure-based computational approaches, including protein structure prediction, to help identify which Encephalitozoon proteins are involved in telomere maintenance, epigenetic regulation, and heterochromatin formation. RESULTS The Encephalitozoon chromosomes were found capped by TTAGG 5-mer telomeric repeats followed by telomere associated repeat elements (TAREs) flanking hypermethylated ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene loci featuring 5-methylcytosines (5mC) and 5-hemimethylcytosines (5hmC), themselves followed by lesser methylated subtelomeres and hypomethylated chromosome cores. Strong nucleotide biases were identified between the telomeres/subtelomeres and chromosome cores with significant changes in GC/AT, GT/AC and GA/CT contents. The presence of several genes coding for proteins essential to telomere maintenance, epigenetic regulation, and heterochromatin formation was further confirmed in the Encephalitozoon genomes. CONCLUSION Altogether, our results strongly support the subtelomeres as sites of heterochromatin formation in Encephalitozoon genomes and further suggest that these species might shutdown their energy-consuming ribosomal machinery while dormant as spores by silencing of the rRNA genes using both 5mC/5hmC methylation and facultative heterochromatin formation at these loci.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pingdong Liang
- Department of Biology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Oscar Juárez
- Department of Biology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ebani VV, Guardone L, Bertelloni F, Perrucci S, Poli A, Mancianti F. Survey on the Presence of Bacterial and Parasitic Zoonotic Agents in the Feces of Wild Birds. Vet Sci 2021; 8:171. [PMID: 34564565 PMCID: PMC8472958 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8090171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Wild avifauna may act as fecal source of bacterial and parasitic pathogens for other birds and mammals. Most of these pathogens have a relevant impact on human and livestock health which may cause severe disease and economic loss. In the present study, the fecal samples collected from 121 wild birds belonging to 15 species of the genera Anas, Tadorna, Fulica, Arddea, Larus, Falco, Athene, Accipiter, and Columba were submitted to bacteriological and molecular analyses to detect Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii, Mycobacterium spp., Salmonella spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., and microsporidia. Four (3.3%) animals were positive for one pathogen: one Anas penelope for C. burnetii, one Larus michahellis for S. enterica serovar Coeln, and two Columba livia for Encephalitozoon hellem. Although the prevalence rates found in the present survey were quite low, the obtained results confirm that wild birds would be the a potential fecal source of bacterial and parasitic zoonotic pathogens which sometimes can also represent a severe threat for farm animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Virginia Ebani
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (L.G.); (F.B.); (S.P.); (A.P.); (F.M.)
- Centre for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Lisa Guardone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (L.G.); (F.B.); (S.P.); (A.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Fabrizio Bertelloni
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (L.G.); (F.B.); (S.P.); (A.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Stefania Perrucci
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (L.G.); (F.B.); (S.P.); (A.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Alessandro Poli
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (L.G.); (F.B.); (S.P.); (A.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Francesca Mancianti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (L.G.); (F.B.); (S.P.); (A.P.); (F.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abstract
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular pathogens identified ∼150 years ago as the cause of pébrine, an economically important infection in silkworms. There are about 220 genera and 1,700 species of microsporidia, which are classified based on their ultrastructural features, developmental cycle, host-parasite relationship, and molecular analysis. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that microsporidia are related to the fungi, being grouped with the Cryptomycota as a basal branch or sister group to the fungi. Microsporidia can be transmitted by food and water and are likely zoonotic, as they parasitize a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. Infection in humans occurs in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient hosts, e.g., in patients with organ transplantation, patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and patients receiving immune modulatory therapy such as anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha antibody. Clusters of infections due to latent infection in transplanted organs have also been demonstrated. Gastrointestinal infection is the most common manifestation; however, microsporidia can infect virtually any organ system, and infection has resulted in keratitis, myositis, cholecystitis, sinusitis, and encephalitis. Both albendazole and fumagillin have efficacy for the treatment of various species of microsporidia; however, albendazole has limited efficacy for the treatment of Enterocytozoon bieneusi. In addition, immune restoration can lead to resolution of infection. While the prevalence rate of microsporidiosis in patients with AIDS has fallen in the United States, due to the widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), infection continues to occur throughout the world and is still seen in the United States in the setting of cART if a low CD4 count persists.
Collapse
|
4
|
Taghipour A, Ghodsian S, Shajarizadeh M, Sharbatkhori M, Khazaei S, Mirjalali H. Global prevalence of microsporidia infection in cats: A systematic review and meta-analysis of an emerging zoonotic pathogen. Prev Vet Med 2021; 188:105278. [PMID: 33548904 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Microsporidiosis in pet and stray cats is an emerging zoonotic threat with public health significance worldwide. However, the epidemiological patterns of feline microsporidiosis is still neglected around the world. Hence, current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at characterizing the prevalence estimates and genotypes of microsporidian parasites among cats of the world. Several databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google scholar) were systematically explored to find relevant studies. Evaluation of the weighted prevalences among included studies was done using random-effects model. Totally, 30 studies (34 datasets) reported from 19 countries were included in the present work. Microsporidia infection demonstrated higher prevalence rates using microscopy 29.7 % (19.7-42.2 %), followed by serology and molecular techniques with 11 % (4.6-24.2 %) and 8.2 % (5.9-11.4 %), respectively. Moreover, molecular data showed Enterocytozoon bieneusi as the most dominant reported species with 7.4 % (5.1-10.5 %). Also, investigations (11 studies) mostly isolated D genotype among all E. bieneusi genotypes. These results highlight cats as a potential reservoir for acquisition of microsporidia infection in humans, and surveillance programs should be implemented in high-risk areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Taghipour
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Sahar Ghodsian
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Shajarizadeh
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mitra Sharbatkhori
- Laboratory Sciences Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran; Department of Parasitology & Mycology, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Sasan Khazaei
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirjalali
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
With the transformation of HIV infection from an acutely life-threatening disease into a chronic condition (as a consequence of the development of effective antiretroviral medication), the perceived clinical importance of diagnosing and treating microsporidian infections diminished, at least in industrialized countries. In locales where effective antiretroviral therapy is not available, as well as in patients with immunodeficiency for reasons other than HIV infection (e.g., following organ transplantation), and in individuals with suspected ocular microsporidiosis, diagnosing microsporidian infections remains a clinical priority. Molecular techniques can readily distinguish different species of microsporidia. At least one molecular diagnostic platform that can detect the intestinal parasites Encephalitozoon intestinalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi is commercially available.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin F Heyworth
- Research Service (151), Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, University and Woodland Avenues, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.,Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
Microsporidia are eukaryotic unicellular parasites that have been studied for more than 150 years. They are found throughout the world and are capable of infecting various invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. They can cause disease in both immune-compromised and immune-competent humans. In immune-compromised individuals, infections can be severe and often fatal. Microsporidia possess a unique, highly specialized invasion mechanism that involves a structure known as the polar tube as well as the spore wall. During spore germination, the polar tube rapidly discharges from the spore and deliver the sporoplasm into the host cell. Spores are the only stage of microsporidia that can survive outside of host cells. Since the first attempt to culture microsporidia in vitro in 1930s, their cultivation has served a critical role in the study and diagnosis of these parasites. In this chapter, we include methods on the cultivation, isolation, and cryopreservation of Encephalitozoon cuniculi, which can infect humans and provides a useful model for other microsporidia. These methods can also be utilized for the culture of Encephalitozoon hellem or Encephalitozoon intestinalis. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bing Han
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Magali Moretto
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, D.C
| | - Louis M Weiss
- Department of Pathology, Division of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.,Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Heyworth MF. Genetic aspects and environmental sources of microsporidia that infect the human gastrointestinal tract. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2018; 111:18-21. [PMID: 28339881 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trx001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis are microsporidia that infect the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Each of these microsporidia has been shown to infect various non-human hosts (mammalian and avian), raising the possibility of inter-species transmission, for example, from such hosts to human subjects via waterborne dispersal of microsporidian spores. During the past two decades, genome sequencing has delineated more than 90 genotypes of Ent. bieneusi, and has led to the conclusion that not all the genotypes of this organism infect human subjects. Well documented in the HIV-infected population, GI tract microsporidiosis is also known to occur in immunocompetent, HIV-negative, individuals. The prevalence of HIV-associated microsporidiosis diminished following the introduction of effective anti-retroviral therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin F Heyworth
- Research Service (151), Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, University and Woodland Avenues, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.,Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kord-Sarkachi E, Tavalla M, Beiromvand M. Molecular diagnosis of microsporidia strains in slaughtered cows of southwest of Iran. J Parasit Dis 2017; 42:81-86. [PMID: 29491564 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-017-0969-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia is often considered as an opportunistic infection in patients with impaired immune systems such as patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, transplant recipients, children and old people. Due to the ability of the parasite to transmit from animals to human as well as the increasing prevalence of parasitic infections and immune deficiency diseases; therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate molecular diagnosis of microsporidia strains in slaughtered cows of southwest of Iran. Initially, 256 stool samples of cows were collected from 5 regions of Khuzestan province, southwest of Iran and stained by modified trichrome (weber). Then, the parasite spores were examined by optical microscope. Total DNA was extracted from samples using DNA extraction kit for stool (Bioneer) and evaluated by multiplex/nested PCR method. The products of nested-PCR were explored by RFLP method using restriction enzyme MnlI. For genotyping, positive samples of RFLP were sequenced. Of 256, 21 and 48 samples were found positive by the staining and nested PCR tests, respectively. Of 48, 36 samples were Enterocytozoon bieneusi with genotype frequency D (22), J (9) and M (5). Also 9 were detected as Encephalitozoon species among which 2 were E. cuniculi, 6 were E. intestinalis and 1 was E. hellem Eventually, 3 samples were found positive for both Enterocytozoon and Encephalitozoon. The results showed that cows can be a source of microsporidia infections. Due to the zoonotic importance of this parasite and its ability to transmit from animals to humans; the detection and species determination of the parasite seems essential. The highest risk of infection is for individuals with impaired immune systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elham Kord-Sarkachi
- 1Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- 3Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Tavalla
- 2Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- 3Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Moluok Beiromvand
- 2Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- 3Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Shibasaki K, Tokiwa T, Sukegawa A, Kondo H, Tamukai K, Haga Y, Ike K. First report of fatal disseminated microsporidiosis in two inland bearded dragons Pogona vitticeps in Japan. JMM Case Rep 2017; 4:e005089. [PMID: 29026616 PMCID: PMC5630957 DOI: 10.1099/jmmcr.0.005089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction.Encephalitozoon pogonae is a newly described pathogen belonging to the phylum Microsporidia. In Austria and the USA, this species has been isolated from fatal and disseminated cases of captive-bred inland bearded dragons. Here, we report the case of fatal disseminated microsporidiosis caused by E. pogonae in two bearded dragons in Japan. Case Presentation. The two lizards from different private households in Tokyo, Japan, had been brought to an animal hospital for examination. In both cases, the animal presented with a history of weight loss for several weeks. There were no improvements in clinical symptoms and the lizards deteriorated and finally died. Histopathological examination demonstrated necrotizing granulomatous inflammation attributed to disseminated microsporidian infection. Nucleotide sequencing of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region identified the microsporidian as E. pogonae with sequence identity of 100 %. Conclusion. We report the first case, to our knowledge, of disseminated microsporidiosis caused by E. pogonae in inland bearded dragons in Japan. Although it is difficult to diagnose prenatally since the signs are nonspecific, the disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic infections that do not respond to antibiotics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kojiro Shibasaki
- Allieys Animal Hospital, 1-30-3 Sasazuka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Tokiwa
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiro Sukegawa
- Allieys Animal Hospital, 1-30-3 Sasazuka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Kondo
- Synergy Animal General Hospital, 815 Ishigami, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kenichi Tamukai
- Den-en-chofu Animal Hospital, 2-1-3 Denenchofu, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yumiko Haga
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazunori Ike
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Vergneau-Grosset C, Larrat S. Microsporidiosis in Vertebrate Companion Exotic Animals. J Fungi (Basel) 2015; 2:E3. [PMID: 29376921 DOI: 10.3390/jof2010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Veterinarians caring for companion animals may encounter microsporidia in various host species, and diagnosis and treatment of these fungal organisms can be particularly challenging. Fourteen microsporidial species have been reported to infect humans and some of them are zoonotic; however, to date, direct zoonotic transmission is difficult to document versus transit through the digestive tract. In this context, summarizing information available about microsporidiosis of companion exotic animals is relevant due to the proximity of these animals to their owners. Diagnostic modalities and therapeutic challenges are reviewed by taxa. Further studies are needed to better assess risks associated with animal microsporidia for immunosuppressed owners and to improve detection and treatment of infected companion animals.
Collapse
|
11
|
Seguel M, Howerth EW, Ritter J, Paredes E, Colegrove K, Gottdenker N. Encephalitozoonosis in 2 South American Fur Seal (Arctocephalus australis) Pups. Vet Pathol 2014; 52:720-3. [PMID: 25248519 DOI: 10.1177/0300985814551424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Cerebral and disseminated encephalitozoonosis was diagnosed by histopathology, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry in 2 free-ranging South American fur seal pups found dead at Guafo Island (43°33'S 74°49'W) in southern Chile. In the brain, lesions were characterized by random foci of necrosis with large numbers of macrophages containing numerous microsporidial organisms within parasitophorous vacuoles. In addition, occasional histiocytes loaded with numerous mature and immature microsporidia spores consistent with Encephalitozoon sp were observed in pulmonary alveolar septa, splenic red pulp, glomerular capillaries, and proximal renal tubules by Gram and immunohistochemical stains. To our knowledge, microsporidial infection in a marine mammal species has not been previously reported.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Seguel
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - E W Howerth
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - J Ritter
- Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - E Paredes
- Department of Animal Pathology, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - K Colegrove
- Zoological Pathology Program, University of Illinois, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - N Gottdenker
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Nagpal A, Pritt BS, Lorenz EC, Amer H, Nasr SH, Cornell LD, Iqbal S, Wilhelm MP. Disseminated microsporidiosis in a renal transplant recipient: case report and review of the literature. Transpl Infect Dis 2013; 15:526-32. [PMID: 23947513 DOI: 10.1111/tid.12119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2012] [Revised: 06/05/2012] [Accepted: 02/18/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Microsporidia are opportunistic pathogens that usually cause a limited disease in the gastrointestinal tract. Occasionally, they can cause disseminated disease. In solid organ transplant recipients, disseminated disease has been reported only rarely. We describe a 68-year-old woman who presented with fever, cough, and acute kidney injury 6 months after kidney transplantation. Dissemination was confirmed by identification of microsporidial spores in urine and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Polymerase chain reaction analysis identified the species as Encephalitozoon cuniculi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Nagpal
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|