First detection and genotyping of human-associated microsporidia in wild waterfowl of Slovakia

Acta Parasitol. 2013 Mar;58(1):13-7. doi: 10.2478/s11686-013-0108-z. Epub 2013 Feb 2.

Abstract

A total of 47 avian faecal samples of wild waterfowl (great cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo, great crested grebe - Podiceps cristatus, white stork - Ciconia ciconia) trapped in the eastern Slovakia were screened for the presence of human pathogenic microsporidia by microscopy and real-time SYBR Green PCR method using species primers and sequenced. Microscopic analysis showed presence in 32 samples (29 cormorants, 3 dippers). Microsporidial DNA (Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype I) was identified in 19 faeces samples (40.4%) namely cormorants in 17 out of 40, one dipper of 5 and a stork out of 2. The present work describes three new host species of the bird population in microsporidium Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype I which confirms the theory of low specificity of this species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bird Diseases / epidemiology
  • Bird Diseases / parasitology*
  • Birds
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Genotype*
  • Humans
  • Microsporidia / genetics*
  • Microsporidia / isolation & purification*
  • Microsporidiosis / epidemiology
  • Microsporidiosis / parasitology
  • Microsporidiosis / veterinary*
  • Slovakia / epidemiology