Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotypes in farmed goats and sheep in Ningxia, China

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is reported to be a common microsporidian of humans and animals in various countries. However, scarce information on E. bieneusi has been recorded in farmed goats and sheep in China. As such, we undertook molecular epidemiological investigation of E. bieneusi in farmed goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) and sheep (Ovis aries) in Ningxia, China. A total of 660 genomic DNAs were extracted from individual faecal samples from famed goats (n = 300) and sheep (n = 360), and then tested using a nested PCR-based sequencing approach employing internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA as the genetic marker. Enterocytozoon bieneusi was detected in 237 of all 660 (36%) faecal samples from goats (n = 89) and sheep (n = 148). Correlation analyses revealed that E. bieneusi positive rates were significantly associated with agegroups, seasons and locations (P < 0.05). The analysis of ITS sequence data revealed the presentation of eight known genotypes (BEB6, CD6, CHG1, CHG3, CHG5, CHS8, CM7 and SX1). Phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequence data sets showed that they clustered within Group 2, showing zoonotic potential. These findings suggested that goats and sheep in Ningxia harbor zoonotic genotypes of E. bieneusi and may have a significant risk for zoonotic transmission. Further insight into the epidemiology of E. bieneusi in farmed animals, water and the environment from other areas in China will be important to have an informed position on the public health significance of microsporidiosis caused by this microbe.