Intestinal microsporidia infection among cat owners and non-pet owners in Iran: a case-control study

Vahedi, Seyed Milad; Jamshidi, Shahram; Shayan, Parviz; Bokaie, Saied; Ashrafi Tamai, Iraj; Javanmard, Ehsan; Mirjalali, Hamed

doi:10.1007/s00436-020-06690-8

Protozoology - Original Paper
Published: 09 May 2020

Intestinal microsporidia infection among cat owners and non-pet owners in Iran: a case-control study

Seyed Milad Vahedi¹,
Shahram Jamshidi¹,
Parviz Shayan²,
Saied Bokaie³,
Iraj Ashrafi Tamai⁴,
Ehsan Javanmard⁵ &
Hamed Mirjalali⁶

Parasitology Research volume 119, pages 1903–1913 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Microsporidia is a group of spore-forming microorganisms with zoonotic potential. This study aimed to compare intestinal microsporidia infections in cat owners and non-pet owners. In total, 210 fecal samples were collected from indoor cats, cat owners, and non-pet owners. DNA extraction was performed and the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene was amplified. To characterize the genotypes, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) fragment was amplified and sequenced. The phylogenetic trees were drawn to evaluate the relationship among Enterocytozoon bieneusi isolates. Two (2.9%) and one (1.4%) fecal samples from cat owners and one (1.4%) and two (2.9%) fecal samples from non-pet owners were positive for E. bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis, respectively. E. bieneusi was detected in two cat samples (2.9%). Same infection was not seen between infected cats and their owners. There was no significant difference between the prevalence rate of microsporidia among the cat owners and non-pet owners. Indeed, the genotypes L and type IV were seen in cats, while the genotype D was only detected in human. In this study, E. bieneusi and E. intestinalis were more prevalent among the cat owners and non-pet owners, respectively. Indeed, the higher prevalence of E. bieneusi in cats and their owners might be resulted from the worldwide distribution of this species.

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Abbreviations

SSU:: small subunit
rRNA:: ribosomal RNA
ITS:: internal transcribed spacer
TEM:: transmission electron microscopy
IFA:: immunofluorescence assays

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Small Animal Teaching Hospital staff of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Funding

This study was funded by the University of Tehran, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

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Affiliations

Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1419963111, Iran
Seyed Milad Vahedi & Shahram Jamshidi
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1419963111, Iran
Parviz Shayan
Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Saied Bokaie
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Iraj Ashrafi Tamai
Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ehsan Javanmard
Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Hamed Mirjalali

Authors

Seyed Milad Vahedi
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Shahram Jamshidi
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Parviz Shayan
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Saied Bokaie
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Iraj Ashrafi Tamai
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Ehsan Javanmard
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Hamed Mirjalali
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Contributions

SMV, SJ, and SB presented the idea of the study and designed the study. SMV performed the sampling. SMV, IAT, EJ, and HM were in charge of the laboratory analyses. SB performed the statistical analyses. SMV and HM performed BLAST and phylogenetic analyses. SMV, IAT, SJ, and PS drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Seyed Milad Vahedi or Shahram Jamshidi.

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Informed consent was obtained from all participating cat owners and non-pet owners.

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Vahedi, S.M., Jamshidi, S., Shayan, P. et al. Intestinal microsporidia infection among cat owners and non-pet owners in Iran: a case-control study. Parasitol Res 119, 1903–1913 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06690-8

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Received: 06 December 2019
Accepted: 15 April 2020
Published: 09 May 2020
Issue Date: June 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06690-8

Keywords

Iran
Human
Cat
Enterocytozoon bieneusi
Encephalitozoon intestinalis
Genotyping