Prevalence, genetic diversity and implications for public health of
Enterocytozoon bieneusi in various rodents from Hainan Province, China
Abstract
Rodents, globally overpopulated, are important source for zoonotic
disease transmission to humans, including Enterocytozoon bieneusi (one
of the most prevalent zoonotic pathogen). Here, we studied the
prevalence and performed genetic analysis of E. bieneusi in rodents from
the Hainan province of China by the amplification of the internal
transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA of E. bieneusi using PCR. Six
hundred and three fresh fecal samples were gathered from 369 wild rats,
117 bamboo rats, 93 Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine and 24 red-bellied
squirrels. The average rate of infection of E. bieneusi was 15.8%
(95/603) with 18.7% (69/369) in wild rats, 11.9% (25/210) in farmed
rodents and 4.2% (1/24) for red-bellied squirrels. Sixteen E. bieneusi
genotypes were identified, including nine known genotypes (D, Type IV,
PigEBITS7, Peru8, Peru11, ESH02, S7, EbpA and CHG5), and seven novel
genotypes (HNR-I to HNR-VII). Genotype D (44.2%, 42/95) predominated,
followed by PigEBITS7 (20.0%, 19/95), HNR-VII (15.8%, 15/95), Type IV
(5.3%, 5/95), HNR-III (2.1%, 2/95), HNR-VI (2.1%, 2/95) and each of
the remaining 10 genotypes (1.1%, 1/95). This is the first report on
the identification of E. bieneusi in rodents from Hainan, China. The
zoonotic potential of the identified E. bieneusi genotypes suggested
that the rodents posed a serious threat to the local inhabitants. Thus,
measures need to be taken to control the population of wild rats in the
areas investigated in this study, along with identification of safe
methods of disposal of farmed rodent feces. Additionally, the local
people should be made aware of the risk of disease transmission from
rodents to humans.