Molecular Detection of Microsporidia in Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i>) in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
<i>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</i> and <i>Encephalitozoon</i> spp. are microsporidia with zoonotic potential that have been identified in humans, as well as in a large group of wild and domestic animals. Several wildlife species have been studied as reservoirs of zoonotic microsp...
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| author | Edgar Baz-González Natalia Martin-Carrillo Katherine García-Livia Néstor Abreu-Acosta Pilar Foronda |
| author_facet | Edgar Baz-González Natalia Martin-Carrillo Katherine García-Livia Néstor Abreu-Acosta Pilar Foronda |
| author_sort | Edgar Baz-González |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</i> and <i>Encephalitozoon</i> spp. are microsporidia with zoonotic potential that have been identified in humans, as well as in a large group of wild and domestic animals. Several wildlife species have been studied as reservoirs of zoonotic microsporidia in mainland Spain, including the European rabbit (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i>). Due to a lack of data on microsporidia infection in wildlife on the Canary Islands, the aim of this work was to analyze the prevalence and identify the species of microsporidia in rabbits in Tenerife. Between 2015 and 2017, a total of 50 fecal samples were collected from rabbits in eight municipalities of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Seven of the fifty samples (14%) were amplified using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the partial sequence of the 16S rRNA gene, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and the partial sequence of the 5.8S rRNA gene. Sanger sequencing reveals the presence of <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> genotype I in two samples (4%), and undescribed microsporidia species in five samples (10%). This study constitutes the first molecular detection and genotyping of <i>E. cuniculi</i> in rabbits in Spain. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:18:31Z |
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| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:18:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-b3ed160debbf436fbc2a90c8594fcb442023-11-24T13:23:38ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372022-12-011112179610.3390/biology11121796Molecular Detection of Microsporidia in Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i>) in Tenerife, Canary Islands, SpainEdgar Baz-González0Natalia Martin-Carrillo1Katherine García-Livia2Néstor Abreu-Acosta3Pilar Foronda4Department Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, SpainDepartment Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, SpainDepartment Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, SpainInstituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, SpainDepartment Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain<i>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</i> and <i>Encephalitozoon</i> spp. are microsporidia with zoonotic potential that have been identified in humans, as well as in a large group of wild and domestic animals. Several wildlife species have been studied as reservoirs of zoonotic microsporidia in mainland Spain, including the European rabbit (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i>). Due to a lack of data on microsporidia infection in wildlife on the Canary Islands, the aim of this work was to analyze the prevalence and identify the species of microsporidia in rabbits in Tenerife. Between 2015 and 2017, a total of 50 fecal samples were collected from rabbits in eight municipalities of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Seven of the fifty samples (14%) were amplified using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the partial sequence of the 16S rRNA gene, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and the partial sequence of the 5.8S rRNA gene. Sanger sequencing reveals the presence of <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> genotype I in two samples (4%), and undescribed microsporidia species in five samples (10%). This study constitutes the first molecular detection and genotyping of <i>E. cuniculi</i> in rabbits in Spain.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/12/1796microsporidia<i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i>PCRrabbit<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i>Canary Islands |
| spellingShingle | Edgar Baz-González Natalia Martin-Carrillo Katherine García-Livia Néstor Abreu-Acosta Pilar Foronda Molecular Detection of Microsporidia in Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i>) in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain Biology microsporidia <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> PCR rabbit <i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i> Canary Islands |
| title | Molecular Detection of Microsporidia in Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i>) in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain |
| title_full | Molecular Detection of Microsporidia in Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i>) in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Detection of Microsporidia in Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i>) in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Detection of Microsporidia in Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i>) in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain |
| title_short | Molecular Detection of Microsporidia in Rabbits (<i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i>) in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain |
| title_sort | molecular detection of microsporidia in rabbits i oryctolagus cuniculus i in tenerife canary islands spain |
| topic | microsporidia <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> PCR rabbit <i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i> Canary Islands |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/12/1796 |
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