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Int J Infect Dis 2021 Apr 30. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Aust Vet J 2021 Apr 26. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, 2650, Australia.

Case Report: A 1-year-old, neutered male German Shepherd was presented with a 5-month history of episodic lethargy, intermittent fever, weight loss and a hunched posture. The dog was diagnosed with presumptive microsporidian meningoencephalitis based on cytological findings on cerebrospinal fluid analysis and a positive PCR test. The dog initially responded favourably to a 4-week course of trimethoprim-sulfadiazine, pyrimethamine and fenbendazole, and remained well for 12 weeks following cessation of treatment. Read More

Malays J Pathol 2021 Apr;43(1):9-18

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Disseminated microsporidiosis is a life-threatening disease resulting from the haematogenous spread of microsporidia species. The diagnosis is challenging owing to its subtle nonspecific clinical presentation, which usually reflects the underlying organ involved. Therefore, a high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis. Read More

J Zoo Wildl Med 2021 Apr;52(1):396-400

School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.

Microsporidia are obligate, intracellular fungi. In reptiles, they are most commonly reported in squamates. We report the first detection of microsporidiosis in inland bearded dragons () from Australia, and for the first time, mixed infections of microsporidium and adenovirus in asymptomatic inland bearded dragons. Read More

J Zoo Wildl Med 2021 Apr;52(1):337-342

Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, College of Ecology and Environmental Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Republic of Korea,

is the most common species of microsporidia that infects humans and animals worldwide. However, no information is available on infection among zoo animals in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Here, we investigated the prevalence of among animals kept in zoos and the zoonotic potential of the identified. Read More

Parasite 2021 2;28:31. Epub 2021 Apr 2.

The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, PR China.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a common intracellular parasite that infects a wide range of hosts, including humans and companion animals, raising concerns of zoonotic transmission. However, there is limited epidemiological information on the prevalence and genotypes of E. bieneusi in sheltered dogs and cats in Sichuan province, southwestern China. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 Apr 1;14(4). Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Cornea and Anterior Segment Service, The Cornea Institute, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Parasit Vectors 2021 Apr 1;14(1):186. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.

Background: Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites that can infect nearly all invertebrates and vertebrates, posing a threat to public health and causing large economic losses to animal industries such as those of honeybees, silkworms and shrimp. However, the global epidemiology of these pathogens is far from illuminated.

Methods: Publications on microsporidian infections were obtained from PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Science and filtered according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Read More

Exp Parasitol 2021 May 25;224:108101. Epub 2021 Mar 25.

Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.

Out of three genotypes of Encephalitozoon cuniculi (I-III) available for experimental studies, E. cuniculi genotype I remains the less characterized. This study describes for the first time individual phases of microsporidiosis caused by E. Read More

J Fungi (Basel) 2021 Feb 24;7(3). Epub 2021 Feb 24.

Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Mycologie, UR17SP03, La Rabta Hospital, Tunis 1007, Tunisia.

Microsporidiosis is an emerging opportunistic infection causing severe digestive disorders in immunocompromised patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of intestinal microsporidia carriage among immunocompromised patients hospitalized at a major hospital complex in the Tunis capital area, Tunisia (North Africa), and perform molecular epidemiology and population structure analyses of , which is an emerging fungal pathogen. We screened 250 stool samples for the presence of intestinal microsporidia from 171 patients, including 81 organ transplant recipients, 73 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive patients, and 17 patients with unspecified immunodeficiency. Read More

PLoS One 2021 5;16(3):e0247658. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Programa de Patologia Ambiental e Experimental da Universidade Paulista-Unip, São Paulo, Brazil.

Microsporidia are recognized as opportunistic pathogens in individuals with immunodeficiencies, especially related to T cells. Although the activity of CD8+ T lymphocytes is essential to eliminate these pathogens, earlier studies have shown significant participation of macrophages at the beginning of the infection. Macrophages and other innate immunity cells play a critical role in activating the acquired immunity. Read More

Prev Vet Med 2021 Mar 27;188:105278. Epub 2021 Jan 27.

Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

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. Read More

Adv Parasitol 2021 8;111:1-73. Epub 2021 Jan 8.

Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia. Electronic address:

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a microsporidian microorganism that causes intestinal disease in animals including humans. E. bieneusi is an obligate intracellular pathogen, typically causing severe or chronic diarrhoea, malabsorption and/or wasting. Read More

Parasitol Res 2021 Feb 8;120(2):497-514. Epub 2021 Jan 8.

College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.

A novel microsporidial disease was documented in two ornamental fish species, black tetra Gymnocorymbus ternetzi Boulenger 1895 and cardinal tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi Schultz 1956. The non-xenoma-forming microsporidium occurred diffusely in most internal organs and the gill, thus referring to the condition as tetra disseminated microsporidiosis (TDM). The occurrence of TDM in black tetra was associated with chronic mortality in a domestic farmed population, while the case in cardinal tetra occurred in moribund fish while in quarantine at a public aquarium. Read More

J Mol Diagn 2021 Apr 30;23(4):417-423. Epub 2020 Dec 30.

Laboratory of Parasitology and Mycology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Clermont-Ferrand, Infection Inflammation et Interaction Hôtes Pathogènes, Clermont-Ferrand, France; Université Clermont Auvergne, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement, Clermont-Ferrand, France. Electronic address:

Microsporidiosis and cryptosporidiosis are associated with chronic diarrhea in immunocompromised patients. The objectives of this study were to: i) assess a multiplex quantitative PCR assay targeting Cryptosporidium spp and the microsporidian Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp, and ii) provide an update on the epidemiology of these pathogens. A prospective study was conducted from January 2017 to January 2019. Read More

Turkiye Parazitol Derg 2020 Dec;44(4):232-238

Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biophysics, Kayseri, Turkey.

Objective: Microsporidia are opportunistic obligate intracellular pathogens which infect many vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. This study aimed at investigating all evidence about microsporidia infection in human and other vertebrate hosts in Turkey.

Methods: This study covered all prevalence studies, related to microsporidiosis in Turkey until April 2020, that were found in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and ULAKBIM databases were considered in this meta-analysis. Read More

Microorganisms 2020 Nov 29;8(12). Epub 2020 Nov 29.

State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.

Background: () belongs to a group of opportunistic pathogens called microsporidia. Microsporidia infection symptoms vary and include diarrhea, ocular disorders and systemic inflammations. Traditionally, immunodeficient animals were used to study microsporidia infection. Read More

Parasite 2020 24;27:65. Epub 2020 Nov 24.

Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, 571199 Haikou, PR China - Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hainan Medical University, 571199 Haikou, Hainan, PR China - Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hainan Medical University, 571199 Haikou, Hainan, PR China.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is an intestinal pathogen that infects a wide range of species, including humans. Cattle constitute an important host for E. bieneusi; however, there is a scarcity of information on the prevalence and genotyping of E. Read More

Acta Parasitol 2020 Nov 13. Epub 2020 Nov 13.

Department of Haematology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareili road, Lucknow, UP, 226014, India.

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Microsporidia, associated risk factors and species identification in patients with haematological malignancies (HM).

Methods: A total of 148 consecutive patients with HM and 101 healthy subjects were evaluated for Cryptosporidium and Microsporidia using modified Kinyoun and modified Trichrome staining. Clinical, demographic and laboratory parameters were studied. Read More

Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2020 Dec 21;13:191-195. Epub 2020 Oct 21.

College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, 625014, China.

is an obligate intracellular parasite and the most common pathogen of microsporidiosis in humans and animals. In this study, a total of 198 fecal samples were collected from 11 captive populations of Rhesus macaque in Chinese zoos, to investigate the prevalence and analyze the zoonotic potential of by genotype of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) gene on the rRNA of via nested PCR. Results showed that the average infection rate of in the 11 populations was 13. Read More

Ann Parasitol 2020 ;66(3):303-310

Genomic Division, Seribiotech Research Laboratory, Carmelaram Post, Kodathi, Bengaluru 560035, India.

Pebrine is one of the devastating diseases mostly caused by notorious Nosema - a microsporidian infecting silkworms. Identification of novel genes associated with the pathogen plays a key role in developing a reliable diagnostic tool for the detection of disease. Targeting potential biomarkers will help in developing strategies for fast and efficient control measures, which can prevent the spread of infection. Read More

J Antimicrob Chemother 2021 Jan;76(2):487-494

Department of Infectious Diseases, St-Louis Hospital, APHP and University of Paris, France.

Background: Intestinal microsporidiosis due to Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a cause of chronic diarrhoea in immunocompromised patients. Fumagillin has been approved in France for its treatment.

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy and safety of fumagillin in a real-life setting. Read More

Indian J Ophthalmol 2020 Nov;68(11):2552-2554

L V Prasad Eye Institute, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.

Microsporidial stromal keratitis is refractory to topical drugs and is classically described in immunocompetent hosts. A 55-year-old patient with renal transplant and oral immunosuppressants, presented with a 15-day history of redness, pain, and diminution of vision in the right eye. Slit-lamp examination revealed epithelial defect and mid-stromal infiltrate. Read More

J Fish Dis 2021 Mar 26;44(3):305-313. Epub 2020 Oct 26.

Institute of Aquatic Biology and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biofunctional Molecules, College of Life Science and Chemistry, Jiangsu Second Normal University, Nanjing, China.

The microsporidia Hepatospora eriocheir has been identified as an emerging pathogenic agent in the commercial crab Eriocheir sinensis. Histology analysis indicated that hepatopancreas was a significant target for H. eriocheir infection. Read More

J Feline Med Surg 2020 11;22(11):1084-1088

European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases www.abcdcatsvets.org.

Overview: is a common obligate intracellular microsporidian parasite of rabbits that is increasingly recognised as a pathogen of cats and other mammalian species. These guidelines aim to review the literature on feline infection and provide recommendations on prevention and management.

Infection In Cats: infection should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of feline uveitis and cataract formation. Read More

J Fish Dis 2021 Jan 24;44(1):107-112. Epub 2020 Oct 24.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.

J Inflamm Res 2020 25;13:583-593. Epub 2020 Sep 25.

Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.

Background: Microsporidia of the genus are generally connected with severe infections with lethal outcome in immunodeficient hosts. In immunocompetent hosts, microsporidiosis typically establishes a balanced host-parasite relationship that produces minimal clinically overt disease. Although the alimentary tract represents one of the main primary target tissues, the mechanisms of reaching other tissues during systemic microsporidian infections remain unclear. Read More

Parasitol Res 2020 Dec 12;119(12):3947-3956. Epub 2020 Oct 12.

Escuela Superior de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Morón, Morón, Argentina.

Nosema ceranae is a ubiquitous microsporidian pathogen infecting the midgut of honey bees. The infection causes bee nosemosis, a disease associated with malnutrition, dysentery, and lethargic behavior, and results in considerable economic losses in apiculture. The use of a rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive DNA-based molecular detection method assists in the surveillance and eventual control of this pathogen. Read More

Res Vet Sci 2020 Dec 29;133:251-261. Epub 2020 Sep 29.

Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. Electronic address:

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is an obligate intracellular fungus-like parasite with high genetic diversity among mammalian and avian hosts. Based on polymorphism analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), nearly 500 genotypes were identified within E. bieneusi. Read More

Acta Parasitol 2020 Sep 29. Epub 2020 Sep 29.

Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, 165 El Horreya Avenue, El Hadara, Alexandria, Egypt.

Background: Microsporidia infection was originally described as an immunocompromised associated pathogen. Limitations to correct microscopic diagnosis of microsporidia include size of the organism presenting a challenge even to a highly competent laboratory expert.

Objective: The present study aimed to detect microsporidia infection among leukemic children. Read More