The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is an expanding species in Europe in recent decades due to reintroductions and natural population growth. Beavers expanded rapidly in the second half of the 20th century, and their expansion was particularly rapid in the Danube basin. Nowadays, the majority of the continuous population located in the central and eastern parts of the continent and a large disjunct population in Norway and Sweden. Despite the increasing population size, the role of the beaver as a source of waterborne pathogens is not firmly established or is often inferred from circumstantial data. In order to extend knowledge about the composition of the parasite fauna of beavers occurring in Slovakia, 21 faecal samples taken near their burrows from three sites (located in the Topľa, Poprad and Danube river basin) were examined microscopically and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR-positive specimens were further examined by DNA sequencing. Parasites were detected in 21% of the examined beavers, specifically the protozoa Cryptosporidium spp. (n = 2), Blastocystis sp. (n = 1), and microsporidia Enterocytozoon bieneusi (n = 1) and Encephalitozoon spp. (n = 1). Using the sequence analysis, two variants of Cryptosporidium proliferans, a new subtype of Blastocystis sp., genotype D of E. bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis were identified. A putatively novel Blastocystis subtype (ST), originated from a site near the Danube river (southwestern Slovakia), was proposed based on high genetic divergence from the closest described subtype ST12 (11.9%) and unique phylogenetic position in a clade composed of ST's 35-38. The increased risk of zoonotic transmission or transmission to other animals was particularly evident in the site near the Topľa river (northeastern Slovakia), where fungal spores of zoonotic genotype D of E. bieneusi and E. intestinalis, together with oocysts of the potentially zoonotic C. proliferans, were found.

• Klíčová slova
• Gastrointestinal parasites, Molecular analysis, Protected animals, Protozoan, Rodents, Zoonoses,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Microsporidia of the genus Encephalitozoon are usually associated with severe infections in immunodeficient hosts while, in immunocompetent ones, microsporidiosis produces minimal clinically apparent disease. Despite their microscopic size, microsporidia are capable of causing systemic infection within a few days. However, the mechanisms by which microsporidia reach target tissues during acute infection remain unclear. Out of four genotypes of Encephalitozoon cuniculi, only three are available for experimental studies, with E. cuniculi genotype II being the best characterized. METHODS: In the present study, we tested the association between inflammation induction in immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice and the presence of spores of E. cuniculi genotypes I and III in selected organs using molecular methods and compared the results with previously published data on E. cuniculi genotype II. RESULTS: We reported the positive connection between inflammation induction and the significant increase of E. cuniculi genotypes I and III occurrence in inflammatory foci in both immunocompetent BALB/c and immunodeficient severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice in the acute phase of infection. The induction of inflammation resulted in increased concentration of E. cuniculi of both genotypes in the site of inflammation, as previously reported for E. cuniculi genotype II. Moreover, our study extended the spectrum of differences among E. cuniculi genotypes by the variations in dispersal rate within host bodies after experimentally induced inflammation. CONCLUSION: The results imply possible involvement of immune cells serving as vehicles transporting E. cuniculi towards inflammation foci. The elucidation of possible connection with pro-inflammatory immune responses represents an important challenge with implications for human health and the development of therapeutic strategies.

• Klíčová slova
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype I, Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype III, inflammation, targeted migration,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Zoonotic pathogen transmission is considered a leading threat to the survival of non-human primates and public health in shared landscapes. Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp. and Microsporidia are unicellular parasites spread by the fecal-oral route by environmentally resistant stages and can infect humans, livestock, and wildlife including non-human primates. Using immunoassay diagnostic kits and amplification/sequencing of the region of the triosephosphate isomerase, small ribosomal subunit rRNA and the internal transcribed spacer genes, we investigated Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and microsporidia infections, respectively, among humans, domesticated animals (livestock, poultry, and dogs), and wild nonhuman primates (eastern chimpanzees and black and white colobus monkeys) in Bulindi, Uganda, an area of remarkably high human-animal contact and spatial overlap. We analyzed 137 fecal samples and revealed the presence of G. intestinalis assemblage B in two human isolates, G. intestinalis assemblage E in one cow isolate, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype II in two humans and one goat isolate. None of the chimpanzee and colobus monkey samples were positive for any of the screened parasites. Regular distribution of antiparasitic treatment in both humans and domestic animals in Bulindi could have reduced the occurrence of the screened parasites and decreased potential circulation of these pathogens among host species.

• Klíčová slova
• Cryptosporidium, Giardia, PCR, Uganda, anthropogenic disturbance, coproantigen, domestic animals, humans, microsporidia, non-human primates,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Within the microsporidian genus Encephalitozoon, three species, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Encephalitozoon hellem and Encephalitozoon intestinalis have been described. Several orders of the Class Aves (Passeriformes, Psittaciformes, Apodiformes, Ciconiiformis, Gruiformes, Columbiformes, Suliformes, Podicipediformes, Anseriformes, Struthioniformes, Falconiformes) and of the Class Mammalia (Rodentia, Lagomorpha, Primates, Artyodactyla, Soricomorpha, Chiroptera, Carnivora) can become infected. Especially E. cuniculi has a very broad host range while E. hellem is mainly distributed amongst birds. E. intestinalis has so far been detected only sporadically in wild animals. Although genotyping allows the identification of strains with a certain host preference, recent studies have demonstrated that they have no strict host specificity. Accordingly, humans can become infected with any of the four strains of E. cuniculi as well as with E. hellem or E. intestinalis, the latter being the most common. Especially, but not exclusively, immunocompromised people are at risk. Environmental contamination with as well as direct transmission of Encephalitozoon is therefore highly relevant for public health. Moreover, endangered species might be threatened by the spread of pathogens into their habitats. In captivity, clinically overt and often fatal disease seems to occur frequently. In conclusion, Encephalitozoon appears to be common in wild warm-blooded animals and these hosts may present important reservoirs for environmental contamination and maintenance of the pathogens. Similar to domestic animals, asymptomatic infections seem to occur frequently but in captive wild animals severe disease has also been reported. Detailed investigations into the epidemiology and clinical relevance of these microsporidia will permit a full appraisal of their role as pathogens.

• Klíčová slova
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Encephalitozoon intestinalis, Encephalitzoon hellem, Genotype, Reservoir, Zoonosis,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

BACKGROUND: Orangutans are critically endangered primarily due to loss and fragmentation of their natural habitat. This could bring them into closer contact with humans and increase the risk of zoonotic pathogen transmission. AIMS: To describe the prevalence and diversity of Cryptosporidium spp., microsporidia and Giardia intestinalis in orangutans at seven sites on Sumatra and Kalimantan, and to evaluate the impact of orangutans' habituation and location on the occurrence of these zoonotic protists. RESULT: The overall prevalence of parasites in 298 examined animals was 11.1%. The most prevalent microsporidia was Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype II, found in 21 animals (7.0%). Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype D (n = 5) and novel genotype Pongo 2 were detected only in six individuals (2.0%). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of these parasites in orangutans. Eight animals were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. (2.7%), including C. parvum (n = 2) and C. muris (n = 6). Giardia intestinalis assemblage B, subtype MB6, was identified in a single individual. While no significant differences between the different human contact level groups (p = 0.479-0.670) or between the different islands (p = 0.992) were reported in case of E. bieneusi or E. cuniculi, Cryptosporidium spp. was significantly less frequently detected in wild individuals (p < 2×10-16) and was significantly more prevalent in orangutans on Kalimantan than on Sumatra (p < 2×10-16). CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that wild orangutans are significantly less frequently infected by Cryptosporidium spp. than captive and semi-wild animals. In addition, this parasite was more frequently detected at localities on Kalimantan. In contrast, we did not detect any significant difference in the prevalence of microsporidia between the studied groups of animals. The sources and transmission modes of infections were not determined, as this would require repeated sampling of individuals, examination of water sources, and sampling of humans and animals sharing the habitat with orangutans.

• MeSH
• Cryptosporidium * MeSH
• Encephalitozoon * MeSH
• Enterocytozoon * MeSH
• Giardia lamblia * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci lidoopů * epidemiologie   parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• parazitární nemoci střev * epidemiologie   parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• Pongo abelii parazitologie   MeSH
• Pongo pygmaeus parazitologie   MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• protozoální infekce zvířat * epidemiologie   parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Borneo epidemiologie   MeSH
• Indonésie epidemiologie   MeSH

BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases represent the greatest threats to endangered species, and transmission from humans to wildlife under increased anthropogenic pressure has been always stated as a major risk of habituation. AIMS: To evaluate the impact of close contact with humans on the occurrence of potentially zoonotic protists in great apes, one hundred mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) from seven groups habituated either for tourism or for research in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda were screened for the presence of microsporidia, Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. using molecular diagnostics. RESULTS: The most frequently detected parasites were Enterocytozoon bieneusi found in 18 samples (including genotype EbpA, D, C, gorilla 2 and five novel genotypes gorilla 4-8) and Encephalitozoon cuniculi with genotype II being more prevalent (10 cases) compared to genotype I (1 case). Cryptosporidium muris (2 cases) and C. meleagridis (2 cases) were documented in great apes for the first time. Cryptosporidium sp. infections were identified only in research groups and occurrence of E. cuniculi in research groups was significantly higher in comparison to tourist groups. No difference in prevalence of E. bieneusi was observed between research and tourist groups. CONCLUSION: Although our data showed the presence and diversity of important opportunistic protists in Volcanoes gorillas, the source and the routes of the circulation remain unknown. Repeated individual sampling, broad sampling of other hosts sharing the habitat with gorillas and quantification of studied protists would be necessary to acquire more complex data.

• MeSH
• Cryptosporidium klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Encephalitozoon klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• encephalitozoonóza epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• Giardia klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• giardiáza epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• Hominidae MeSH
• intergenová DNA genetika   MeSH
• kryptosporidióza epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• nemoci lidoopů epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• veřejné parky MeSH
• zoonózy epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Rwanda epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• intergenová DNA MeSH

BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases pose one of the greatest threats to endangered species, and a risk of gastrointestinal parasite transmission from humans to wildlife has always been considered as a major concern of tourism. Increased anthropogenic impact on primate populations may result in general changes in communities of their parasites, and also in a direct exchange of parasites between humans and primates. AIMS: To evaluate the impact of close contact with humans on the occurrence of potentially zoonotic protists in great apes, we conducted a long-term monitoring of microsporidia, Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections in western lowland gorillas at different stages of the habituation process, humans, and other wildlife in Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas in the Central African Republic. RESULTS: We detected Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotypes I and II (7.5%), Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype D and three novel genotypes (gorilla 1-3) (4.0%), Giardia intestinalis subgroup A II (2.0%) and Cryptosporidium bovis (0.5%) in gorillas, whereas in humans we found only G. intestinalis subgroup A II (2.1%). In other wild and domestic animals we recorded E. cuniculi genotypes I and II (2.1%), G. intestinalis assemblage E (0.5%) and C. muris TS03 (0.5%). CONCLUSION: Due to the non-specificity of E. cuniculi genotypes we conclude that detection of the exact source of E. cuniculi infection is problematic. As Giardia intestinalis was recorded primarily in gorilla groups with closer human contact, we suggest that human-gorilla transmission has occurred. We call attention to a potentially negative impact of habituation on selected pathogens which might occur as a result of the more frequent presence of humans in the vicinity of both gorillas under habituation and habituated gorillas, rather than as a consequence of the close contact with humans, which might be a more traditional assumption. We encourage to observe the sections concerning hygiene from the IUCN best practice guidelines for all sites where increased human-gorilla contact occurs.

• MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• Cryptosporidium klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Enterocytozoon klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• feces mikrobiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• Giardia klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• giardiáza parazitologie   veterinární   MeSH
• Gorilla gorilla MeSH
• habituace (psychofyziologie) MeSH
• kryptosporidióza parazitologie   veterinární   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Microsporidia klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• mikrosporidióza mikrobiologie   veterinární   MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• nemoci lidoopů mikrobiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• sociální prostředí MeSH
• zoonózy mikrobiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Středoafrická republika MeSH