"Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Cryptosporidium: a cross-sectional study conducted throughout Thailand"

• Published in: BMC infectious diseases Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 808
• Main Authors: Prasertbun, Rapeepun, Mori, Hirotake, Sukthana, Yaowalark, Popruk, Supaluk, Kusolsuk, Teera, Hagiwara, Katsuro, Mahittikorn, Aongart
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 14.09.2019; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adolescent; Animals; Cats; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Correlation analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cryptosporidiosis; Cryptosporidiosis - epidemiology; Cryptosporidiosis - parasitology; Cryptosporidiosis - transmission; Cryptosporidium; Cryptosporidium - classification; Cryptosporidium - genetics; Cryptosporidium - isolation & purification; Disease transmission; Elementary school students; Enterocytozoon; Enterocytozoon - classification; Enterocytozoon - genetics; Enterocytozoon - isolation & purification; Enterocytozoon bieneusi; Epidemiologic methods; Epidemiology; Feces - parasitology; Female; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genotype; Genotypes; Humans; Hygiene; Infection; Intestine; Longitudinal studies; Male; Microsporidiosis - epidemiology; Microsporidiosis - parasitology; Microsporidiosis - transmission; Novels; Parasites; Phylogeny; Polymerase chain reaction; Prevalence; Protozoa; Risk factors; RNA; rRNA; Rural areas; Rural Population; Sanitation; Spacer; Swine; Thailand; Thailand - epidemiology; Zoonoses; Zoonoses - epidemiology; Zoonoses - transmission; Thailand; Thailand; Cryptosporidium; Enterocytozoon
• ISSN: 1471-2334; 1471-2334
• DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4422-4

Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Cryptosporidium spp. are prevalent zoonotic parasites associated with a high burden among children. To date only limited molecular epidemiological data on E. bieneusi and Cryptosporidium spp. in humans living in Thailand has been published. PCR-based tools were used to detect and characterize E. bieneusi and Cryptosporidium spp. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rRNA gene was used to investigate E. bieneusi, and the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene was used to investigate Cryptosporidium spp., and 697 fecal samples from villagers and school children in rural areas in Thailand were analyzed. The infection rates were 2.15% (15/697) for E. bieneusi and 0.14% (1/697) for Cryptosporidium spp. The prevalence of E. bieneusi was significantly high in Loei province. Sequence analysis indicated that the Cryptosporidium isolate was C. parvum. Nine E. bieneusi genotypes were identified, EbpC, Peru12, TMH6, TMH3, TMH7, H, D, and two novel genotypes TMLH1 and TMLH2. E. bieneusi prevalence was significantly higher in male participants than in female participants, and in children aged 3-15 years than in participants aged > 15 years. The prevalence, genotypes, and zoonotic potential of E. bieneusi were found to vary significantly high even in one country. Transmission routes and key animal carriers of E. bieneusi may be associated with differences in hygiene, sanitation, and cultural behaviors. Further molecular studies including longitudinal studies will be required to unveil epidemiological characteristics of these opportunistic intestinal protozoa in all over the countries.