BACKGROUND Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a microsporidian parasite commonly found in rabbits that can infect humans, causing encephalitozoonosis. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of this parasite in rabbits and humans in China. METHODS Overall, 300 serum samples each from clinically healthy rabbit and human were collected from three regions of China (Sichuan Provin...

background: microsporidia species are obligatory intracellular agents that can in­fect all major animal groups including mammals, birds, fishes and insects. whereas world­wide human infection reports are increasing, the cognition of sources of infec­tion particularly zoonotic transmission could be helpful. we aimed to detect zoono­tic microsporidia spore in fecal samples from some animals with ...

The microsporidia are emerging human and veterinary pathogens known to infect every tissue type and organ system. Their infectious spore possesses a number of peculiar organelles, including the diagnostic polar tube. In a proteomics-driven effort to find novel components of this organelle in the human-pathogenic species Encephalitozoon cuniculi, we unexpectedly discovered a protein which locali...

Several species of bumblebees have recently experienced range contractions and possible extinctions. While threats to bees are numerous, few analyses have attempted to understand the relative importance of multiple stressors. Such analyses are critical for prioritizing conservation strategies. Here, we describe a landscape analysis of factors predicted to cause bumblebee declines in the USA. We...

The immune response to Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection in a dog was investigated by means of the indirect fluorescent antibody test, the leucocyte migration inhibition test and the radial immunodiffusion test for serum IgG and IgM levels. Specific antibodies were detected within 7 days of infection and they persisted for 370 days. A cell-mediated immune response was detected from Day 13 foll...

Microsporidia are eukaryotic, obligate intracellular organisms defined by small spores that contain a single invasion organelle, the polar tube, which coils around the interior of the spore. When these parasites infect host cells, the polar tube is discharged from the anterior pole of the spore, pierces the cell, and transfers sporoplasm into the cytoplasm of the host. Three polar tube proteins...

OBJECTIVE Microsporidian Encephalitozoon cuniculi has been recognized as an opportunistic pathogen in immunosuppressed individuals, such as AIDS patients. The objective of the study was to develop pharmacologically immunosuppressed animals as a model of the natural occurring E. cuniculi infection. METHODS Distinct groups of adult Balb-C mice were immunosuppressed with different doses of dexam...