<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p><italic>Encephalitzoon</italic> spp. are microsporidia, and intracellular opportunistic pathogens. The hosts of these pathogens include vertebrates, invertebrates, and certain protozoa. In people microsporidia may be opportunistic pathogens for immunocompromised patients (with AIDS or after organ transplantation). Infection with these microorganisms was also described in persons with diarrhea and corneal diseases.</p>
<p>The species causing rare infections in humans, <italic>Encephalitozooncuniculi</italic>, had previously been described from animal hosts. However, several new microsporidial species, including <italic>E. intestinalis</italic> and <italic>E. hellem</italic>, have been discovered in humans, raising the question of their natural origin. Vertebrate animals are now identified as hosts for all three microsporidial species infecting humans, implying a zoonotic nature of these microorganisms. Molecular studies have identified phenotypic and/or genetic variability within these species, indicating that they are not uniform, and have allowed the question of their zoonotic potential to be addressed. The focus of this review is to present the zoonotic potential of <italic>E. intestinalis, E. cuniculi,</italic> and <italic>E. hellem</italic>.</p>
</abstract>

Encephalitzoon spp. are microsporidia, and intracellular opportunistic pathogens. The hosts of these pathogens include vertebrates, invertebrates, and certain protozoa. In people microsporidia may be opportunistic pathogens for immunocompromised patients (with AIDS or after organ transplantation). Infection with these microorganisms was also described in persons with diarrhea and corneal diseases.
The species causing rare infections in humans, Encephalitozooncuniculi, had previously been described from animal hosts. However, several new microsporidial species, including E. intestinalis and E. hellem, have been discovered in humans, raising the question of their natural origin. Vertebrate animals are now identified as hosts for all three microsporidial species infecting humans, implying a zoonotic nature of these microorganisms. Molecular studies have identified phenotypic and/or genetic variability within these species, indicating that they are not uniform, and have allowed the question of their zoonotic potential to be addressed. The focus of this review is to present the zoonotic potential of E. intestinalis, E. cuniculi, and E. hellem.

<italic>Encephalitozoon</italic> spp. as a potential human pathogen

Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Infectious Diseases

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin

Postępy Higieny i Medycyny Doświadczalnej

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":{"italic":"Encephalitozoon","content":"spp. as a potential human pathogen"}}

Encephalitzoon spp. are microsporidia, and intracellular opportunistic pathogens. The hosts of these pathogens include vertebrates, invertebrates, and certain...

Encephalitozoon spp. as a potential human pathogen

Article Category: Review

Published Online: May 29, 2022

Page range: 54 - 61

Received: Dec 08, 2020

Accepted: Aug 11, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ahem-2022-0005

Keywords
spp, zoonosis, immunodeficiency

© 2022 Anna Wilczyńska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Encephalitozoon spp. as a potential human pathogen

Article Category: Review

Published Online: May 29, 2022

Page range: 54 - 61

Received: Dec 08, 2020

Accepted: Aug 11, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ahem-2022-0005

Keywordsspp, zoonosis, immunodeficiency

© 2022 Anna Wilczyńska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
spp, zoonosis, immunodeficiency