OBJECTIVE: In recent years new infectious diseases, i.e. emerging or re-emerging diseases, have been coming to the forefront. Currently, microsporidia, considered to be a major cause of emerging and opportunistic infections particularly in immunocompromised individuals, are also included in this group. Therefore, the aim of our study was to map the prevalence of Encephalitozoon intestinalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection in a group of patients and to compare it with the occurrence of specific antigens in immunocompetent people. METHODS: Detection of spores of both pathogens in faecal samples was performed by an immunofluorescence test using species-specific monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: Positivity to E. intestinalis in 91 examined immunosuppressed patients reached 33% (30/91), while only 4.3% (3/70) of the control group samples were found to be positive (relative risk 7.7, p < 0.001). In case of E. bieneusi 14.3% (13/91) of immunocompromised patients were positive, as were 5.7% (4/70) of people from the control group (relative risk 2.5, p = 0.095). CONCLUSION: In case of development of any opportunistic infection, the infection is detected and removed in most cases at an early stage. The incidence of clinically manifested microsporidiosis in patients with immunodeficiency is rare as they are under constant medical supervision. However, we must not forget about opportunistic infections, and in case of any non-specific symptoms it is necessary to exclude or confirm the diagnosis for immediate treatment.
- MeSH
- Encephalitozoon izolace a purifikace MeSH
- encephalitozoonóza diagnóza epidemiologie MeSH
- Enterocytozoon izolace a purifikace MeSH
- feces mikrobiologie MeSH
- imunokompromitovaný pacient * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mikrosporidióza diagnóza epidemiologie MeSH
- oportunní infekce diagnóza mikrobiologie MeSH
- plošný screening * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovenská republika MeSH
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Microsporidia are identified as ubiquitous organisms of almost every animal group and are now recognized as emerging opportunistic pathogens of human. The risk factors include immunodeficiency, lack of sanitation, and exposure to contaminated water and infected animals. In Slovakia, the places with an increased risk of infection due to the presence of risk factors and routes of transmission are represented by Roma settlements. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the occurrence of Encephalitozoon spp. and E. bieneusi in children living in Roma settlements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stool samples were examined of 72 clinically healthy children coming from a group of the non-integrated Roma minority for the presence of microsporidia Encephalitozoon spp. and E. bieneusi. Microsporidian spores were detected by standard Rylux D, staining and by PCR and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: Of the total number of 72 stool smears examined, 22 were positive, which represented 30.6%. By the Real Time PCR, E. bieneusi was detected in 3 samples (4.2 %) and E. cuniculi in 19 samples (26.4 %). By comparing the sequences with sequences in the GenBank, E. cuniculi genotype I (Accession No. AJ005581.1) and E. bieneusi genotype A (Accession No. AF101197.1). CONCLUSIONS: Microsporidia, as newly emerging pathogens of humans and animals, are characterised by the production of spores which are environmentally resistant. Diseases caused by them have a cosmopolitan occurrence. Although E. bieneusi and E. cuniculi belong to the most frequently diagnosed species of microsporidia in humans, in Slovakia, this is the first confirmed evidence of E. bieneusi genotype A, as well as E. cuniculi genotype I in humans by the molecular method.
- MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- Encephalitozoon izolace a purifikace MeSH
- encephalitozoonóza epidemiologie etnologie MeSH
- feces mikrobiologie MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- objevující se infekční nemoci epidemiologie etnologie MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- veřejné zdravotnictví MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovenská republika MeSH
Stav imunitného systému jedinca zohráva kľúčovú úlohu pri regulácii oportúnnych infekcií. V bojiproti intracelulárnym parazitom sa uplatňujú viaceré nešpecifické ako aj špecifické imunitnémechanizmy. Dominantnú úlohu v reakcii na infekciu zástupcami rodu Encephalitozoon mábunkousprostredkovaná imunitná odpoveď. Encephalitozoon cuniculi, ako najviac preskúmaný zástupcatohto rodu, je schopný prežívať v organizme hostiteľa aj napriek jeho aktívnej imunitnej odpovedi.Latentná asymptomatická infekcia prebieha len dovtedy, kým sú množenie parazita a imunitnáodpoveď v rovnováhe. Preto je dôležité poznať imunitné mechanizmy, ktoré sa zúčastňujú nazvládnutí tejto infekcie.
The immunity systemstatus of an individual plays the key role in regulation of opportune infection.In the fight against the intracellular parasites several non-specific as well as specific immunitymechanisms are applied. The dominant role in response to infection caused by the representativesof genus Encephalitozoon plays the cell-mediated immune response. Encephalitozoon cuniculi, asthe most explored representative of this genus is able to survive in the host organism despite hisactive immunity response. Latent asymptomatic infection goes on only as long as the parasitemultiplication and immune response are balanced.
