PURPOSE: Parasites of genus Encephalitozoon are well known pathogens of domestic animals however less attention was paid to its spread among wildlife that can play an important role of reservoir of infection. The aim of the study was to conduct molecular detection and genotype characterization of Encephalitozoon spp. in wild small mammals trapped in localities both near to and at a large distance from residential areas. METHODS: In total, 300 wild small mammals (274 Rodentia and 26 Eulipotyphla) were trapped in 41 localities of the Czech Republic and tested by nested PCR for Encephalitozoon spp. RESULTS: The DNA of Encephalitozoon spp. was proved in tissues (brain or liver) of 11% (32/300) of animals. There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) in positivity among animal species with the most infected species Micromys minutus (50%, 4/8) and Myodes glareolus (17%, 9/53). There was also statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) between localities with the higher positivity (29%, 12/42) in localities near to residential areas, compared to localities with a large distance from residential areas (8%, 20/258). Sex and age of wild small mammals did not have effect on their positivity. Genotyping analysis revealed E. cuniculi genotype II in 22 samples and E. hellem genotype 1 A in one sample. CONCLUSION: This study brings new information on the molecular characterization of Encephalitozoon spp. isolated from wild small mammals trapped in two different areas (localities in near to residential areas and localities with a large distance from residential areas).

Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology University of Veterinary Sciences Brno Palackého tř 1946 1 Brno 61242 Czech Republic

Department of Biology Faculty of Education Masaryk University Kamenice 753 5 Brno 625 00 Czech Republic

Department of Experimental Biology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Kamenice 5 Brno 625 00 Czech Republic

Department of Mathematics and Statistics Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

Department of Zoology and Fisheries Faculty of Agrobiology Food and Natural Resources Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Kamýcká 129 Prague Suchdol 165 00 Czech Republic

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