ABSTRACT OF THE WEEK

The Journal of veterinary medical science/ the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science
Volume 86 | Issue 9 (September 2024)

Prevalence of Encephalitozoon hellem among companion and exhibition birds in Japan.

J Vet Med Sci. September 2024;86(9):956 - 960.

Mario Yorisaki¹, Natsume Ozawa², Koichi Wakakuri³, Hayate Nishiura⁴, Megumi Kudo⁵, Michihiro Ueda⁶, Naoko Ishihara⁷, Shoko Kanno⁸, Hitoshi Hatai⁹, Kenji Ochiai¹⁰

¹ Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Iwate, Japan.; ² Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Iwate, Japan.; ³ Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Iwate, Japan.; ⁴ Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Iwate, Japan.; ⁵ Sendai Kotori no Clinic, Miyagi, Japan.; ⁶ Takatsuki Bird Clinic, Osaka, Japan.; ⁷ Hotaru Bird Clinic, Okayama, Japan.; ⁸ Blue Bird Veterinary Clinic, Ehime, Japan.; ⁹ Farm Animal Clinical Skills and Disease Control Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate, Japan.; ¹⁰ Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Iwate, Japan.

Abstract

Microsporidia can cause infection in various animals and humans. To determine the recent prevalence of Encephalitozoon in companion birds in Japan, 364 bird feces and 16 conjunctival exudates, as well as 28 exhibition bird feces, were examined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thirty-five (9.6%) feces and 2 (12.5%) conjunctival exudates from companion birds were PCR positive, and sequence analysis revealed that all detected organisms were Encephalitozoon hellem genotype 1A. The prevalence by region varied from 4.5% in the Shikoku region to 14.3% in the Chugoku region. By age, the prevalence in birds younger than 6 months of age was 13.3%. We also discuss the threat of human infection as a zoonotic disease.

Keywords

Encephalitozoon; Japan; companion bird; microsporidia;

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