Microsporidiosis in Vertebrate Companion Exotic Animals

• Published in: Journal of fungi (Basel) Vol. 2; no. 1; p. 3
• Main Authors: Vergneau-Grosset, Claire, Larrat, Sylvain
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 24.12.2015; MDPI
• Subjects: albendazole; Animals; Birds; Diagnostic tests; Digestive tract; Encephalitozoon; Feces; fenbendazole; Fungi; Genomes; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Infections; Microscopy; Microsporidia; Microsporidiosis; Mitochondria; Pleistophora; Review; Risk factors; Stains & staining; Veterinary surgeons; Zoonoses; Pleistophora; Encephalitozoon; fenbendazole; albendazole; microsporidia
• ISSN: 2309-608X; 2309-608X
• DOI: 10.3390/jof2010003

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 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.