We detected 24 Encephalitozoon cuniculi positive Ixodes ricinus ticks of 284 collected in the Czech Republic. Since the route of transmission of microsporidia is not fully understood, the presence of microsporidia in ticks raises the question of whether they may be involved in the transmission of these pathogens.

• Keywords
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Ixodes ricinus, PCR, qPCR, vector,
• MeSH
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi isolation & purification   genetics   MeSH
• Encephalitozoonosis transmission   microbiology   MeSH
• Ixodes * microbiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microsporidiosis transmission   MeSH
• Tick-Borne Diseases transmission   microbiology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

We retrospectively analyzed of 211 frozen cerebrospinal fluid samples from immunocompetent persons in the Czech Republic and detected 6 Encephalitozoon cuniculi-positive samples. Microsporidiosis is generally underestimated and patients are not usually tested for microsporidia, but latent infection in immunodeficient and immunocompetent patients can cause serious complications if not detected and treated.

• Keywords
• Czech Republic, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, PCR, cerebrospinal fluid, latent infection, parasites, qPCR, zoonoses,
• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi * isolation & purification   genetics   MeSH
• Encephalitozoonosis * cerebrospinal fluid   microbiology   epidemiology   MeSH
• Immunocompetence MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic epidemiology   MeSH

Total joint arthroplasty is a commonly used surgical procedure in orthopedics. Revision surgeries are required in >10% of patients mainly because of prosthetic joint infection caused by bacteria or aseptic implant loosening caused by chronic inflammation. Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a microsporidium, an obligate intracellular parasite, capable of exploiting migrating proinflammatory immune cells for dissemination within the host. We used molecular detection methods to evaluate the incidence of E. cuniculi among patients who had total hip or knee arthroplasty revision. Out of 49 patients, E. cuniculi genotypes I, II, or III were confirmed in joint samples from 3 men and 2 women who had implant loosening. Understanding the risks associated with the presence of microsporidia in periprosthetic joint infections is essential for proper management of arthroplasty. Furthermore, E. cuniculi should be considered a potential contributing cause of joint inflammation and arthrosis.

• Keywords
• Czech Republic, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, PCR, arthroplasty, hip, implant loosening, knee, microsporidia, parasites, prosthetic joint infection, qPCR, zoonosis,
• MeSH
• Encephalitozoon cuniculi * genetics   MeSH
• Encephalitozoonosis * epidemiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microsporidia * genetics   MeSH
• Inflammation MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic epidemiology   MeSH