This study investigated the prevalence, genetic diversity, and zoonotic concerns of microsporidia in household dogs and cats in Poland. A total of 126 (82 dogs and 44 cats) fecal specimens were analyzed for the presence of specific DNA of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. using a nested PCR protocol amplifying the internal transcribed spacer region of the rRNA gene. Microsporidia were found in 10 (7.9%) out of the 126 examined stool samples. Of the 82 dogs, 4 (4.9%) and 2 (2.4%) were positive for E. bieneusi (genotypes D and PtEbIX) and Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype II, respectively. Of the 44 cats, 4 (9.1%) were positive for E. bieneusi (genotypes PtEbIX and eb52). Additionally, one cat (2.3%) was concurrently infected with E. bieneusi (PtEbIX) and E. cuniculi (genotype II). Considering that all detected microsporidia in dogs and cats have been previously associated with human microsporidiosis, companion animals may be a potential source of microsporidia infections in humans.

Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology Wroclaw Medical University Mikulicza Radeckiego 9 50 367 Wroclaw Poland

Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses Dogs and Cats Division of Parasitology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences Norwida 31 50 375 Wroclaw Poland

Institute of Parasitology Biology Centre of the AS CR Branišovská 31 České Budějovice 37005 Czech Republic

Institute of Parasitology Biology Centre of the AS CR Branišovská 31 České Budějovice 37005 Czech Republic; Faculty of Agriculture University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice Branišovská 31 České Budějovice 37005 Czech Republic

References provided by Crossref.org

Host-specific Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in shelter dogs from central Europe

Chronic Infections in Mammals Due to Microsporidia