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Doboși AA, Bel LV, Paștiu AI, Pusta DL. A Review of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in Domestic Rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus)-Biology, Clinical Signs, Diagnostic Techniques, Treatment, and Prevention. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11121486. [PMID: 36558820 PMCID: PMC9785705 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a eukaryote, unicellular, spore-forming, obligate intracellular microorganism of the phylum Microsporidia, with domestic rabbits as its main host. Another important species in which this pathogen has been identified are humans, the infection being therefore called a "zoonosis". The transmission takes place via the horizontal route or the vertical route, and cell-mediated immunity plays the biggest role in the infected hosts' protection. Encephalitozoonosis can manifest itself as an acute infection, with neurological signs, renal signs, and ocular lesions, or as a chronic or subclinical infection, which is usually the case for asymptomatic carriers. The diagnostic techniques usually carried out are histological examination, serological tests, and molecular genetic techniques. The treatment of encephalitozoonosis is usually symptomatic, with unrewarding results, and prevention methods include periodical serological screening, prophylactic administration of fenbendazole, and maintenance of a clean environment. The purpose of this article is to review the current data regarding the pathogenesis, host immunity, clinical signs, diagnostic methods, treatment, and prevention methods of encephalitozoonosis in the domestic rabbit, as well as to analyze the prevalence of this disease in different countries of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca-Alexandra Doboși
- Department of Genetics and Hereditary Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- New Companion Animals Veterinary Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Lucia-Victoria Bel
- New Companion Animals Veterinary Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Anamaria Ioana Paștiu
- Department of Genetics and Hereditary Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Dana Liana Pusta
- Department of Genetics and Hereditary Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Magalhães TR, Pinto FF, Queiroga FL. A multidisciplinary review about Encephalitozoon cuniculi in a One Health perspective. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:2463-2479. [PMID: 35840730 PMCID: PMC9286959 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07562-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a microsporidian parasite mostly associated with its natural host, the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). However, other animals can be infected, like other mammals, birds, and even humans. Although it usually causes subclinical infection, it can also lead to encephalitozoonosis, a clinical disease characterized by neurological, ocular, and/or renal signs that can be even fatal, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Therefore, this multidisciplinary review contributes with updated information about the E. cuniculi, deepening in its molecular and genetic characterization, its mechanisms of infection and transmission, and its prevalence among different species and geographic locations, in a One Health perspective. Recent information about the diagnostic and therapeutic approach in the main host species and the prophylaxis and infection control measures currently suggested are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomás Rodrigues Magalhães
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-Os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta dos Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-Os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-Os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Filipe Fontes Pinto
- HIPRA, Malveira, Portugal
- Cytology Diagnostic Services, Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Felisbina Luisa Queiroga
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-Os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta dos Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-Os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
- Center for the Study of Animal Sciences, CECA-ICETA, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Sak B, Kváč M. Chronic Infections in Mammals Due to Microsporidia. EXPERIENTIA SUPPLEMENTUM (2012) 2022; 114:319-371. [PMID: 35544008 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-93306-7_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohumil Sak
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Martin Kváč
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Rodríguez-Tovar LE, Nevárez-Garza AM, Trejo-Chávez A, Hernández-Martínez CA, Hernández-Vidal G, Zarate-Ramos JJ, Castillo-Velázquez U. Encephalitozoon cuniculi: Grading the Histological Lesions in Brain, Kidney, and Liver during Primoinfection Outbreak in Rabbits. J Pathog 2016; 2016:5768428. [PMID: 27022485 PMCID: PMC4789044 DOI: 10.1155/2016/5768428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This is the first confirmed report of Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi) in farm meat rabbits located in Northern Mexico. Eighty young rabbits exhibited clinical signs of this zoonotic emerging disease, like torticollis, ataxia, paresis, circling, and rolling. Samples of brain, kidney, and liver were examined for histology lesions. For the first time the lesions caused by E. cuniculi were graded according to their severity (I, II, and III) and the size of the granulomas (Types A, B, and C). The main cerebral injuries were Grade III, coinciding with the presence of Type C granulomas. The cerebral lesions were located in the cortex, brain stem, and medulla. The renal lesions were also Grade III distributed throughout cortex and renal medulla, with no granuloma formation. The involvement of hypersensitivity Types III and IV is suggested. All of the rabbits were seropositive to E. cuniculi by CIA testing, suggesting that this zoonotic and emerging pathogen is widely distributed among animals intended for human consumption. We believe this work could be used as a guide when examining E. cuniculi and will provide direction to confirm the diagnosis of this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis E. Rodríguez-Tovar
- Cuerpo Académico de Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Calle Francisco Villa s/n, Ex-Hacienda El Canadá, 66050 Escobedo, NL, Mexico
| | - Alicia M. Nevárez-Garza
- Cuerpo Académico de Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Calle Francisco Villa s/n, Ex-Hacienda El Canadá, 66050 Escobedo, NL, Mexico
| | - Armando Trejo-Chávez
- Cuerpo Académico de Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Calle Francisco Villa s/n, Ex-Hacienda El Canadá, 66050 Escobedo, NL, Mexico
| | - Carlos A. Hernández-Martínez
- Cuerpo Académico de Nutrición y Forrajes, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Calle Francisco Villa s/n, Ex-Hacienda El Canadá, 66050 Escobedo, NL, Mexico
| | - Gustavo Hernández-Vidal
- Cuerpo Académico de Patobiología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Calle Francisco Villa s/n, Ex-Hacienda El Canadá, 66050 Escobedo, NL, Mexico
| | - Juan J. Zarate-Ramos
- Cuerpo Académico de Epidemiología Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Calle Francisco Villa s/n, Ex-Hacienda El Canadá, 66050 Escobedo, NL, Mexico
| | - Uziel Castillo-Velázquez
- Cuerpo Académico de Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Calle Francisco Villa s/n, Ex-Hacienda El Canadá, 66050 Escobedo, NL, Mexico
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