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).

• Klíčová slova
• Encephalitozoonosis, Genotyping, Urban area, Wildlife, Zoonosis,
• MeSH
• divoká zvířata * parazitologie   MeSH
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi genetika   izolace a purifikace   klasifikace   MeSH
• Encephalitozoon * genetika   izolace a purifikace   klasifikace   MeSH
• encephalitozoonóza * veterinární   epidemiologie   parazitologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• genotyp * MeSH
• hlodavci * parazitologie   MeSH
• hmyzožravci parazitologie   MeSH
• játra parazitologie   MeSH
• mozek parazitologie   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• zdroje nemoci * parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Microsporidia are pathogenic organism related to fungi. They cause infections in a wide variety of mammals as well as in avian, amphibian, and reptilian hosts. Many microsporidia species play an important role in the development of serious diseases that have significant implications in human and veterinary medicine. While microsporidia were originally considered to be opportunistic pathogens in humans, it is now understood that infections also occur in immune competent humans. Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Encephalitozoon intestinalis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi are primarily mammalian pathogens. However, many other species of microsporidia that have some other primary host that is not a mammal have been reported to cause sporadic mammalian infections. Experimental models and observations in natural infections have demonstrated that microsporidia can cause a latent infection in mammalian hosts. This chapter reviews the published studies on mammalian microsporidiosis and the data on chronic infections due to these enigmatic pathogens.

• Klíčová slova
• Epidemiology, Infection, Latency, Mammals, Microsporidia, Recurrent infection, Transmission,
• MeSH
• Enterocytozoon * MeSH
• feces mikrobiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Microsporidia * genetika   MeSH
• perzistentní infekce MeSH
• savci MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Microsporidia of the genus Encephalitozoon are generally connected with severe infections with lethal outcome in immunodeficient hosts. In immunocompetent hosts, microsporidiosis typically establishes a balanced host-parasite relationship that produces minimal clinically overt disease. Although the alimentary tract represents one of the main primary target tissues, the mechanisms of reaching other tissues during systemic microsporidian infections remain unclear. METHODS: In the present study, we tested the relation between inflammation induction in immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice and the presence of spores of E. cuniculi genotype II in selected organs and in fecal specimens by using molecular and histology methods. RESULTS: We reported the positive connection between inflammation induction and the significant increase of E. cuniculi genotype II occurrence in inflammation foci in both immunocompetent BALB/c and immunodeficient severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice in the acute phase of infection and the re-activation of latent microsporidial infection following inflammation induction in immunocompetent mice. CONCLUSION: The results imply possible involvement of immune cells serving as vehicles transporting E. cuniculi genotype II purposefully across the whole host body towards inflammation. With increasing number of records of infections, it is necessary to reconsider microsporidia as agents responsible for various pathologies. The elucidation of possible connection with pro-inflammatory immune responses represents an important challenge with consequences for human health and development of therapeutic strategies.

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