AUTHOR=Zhao Aiyun , Li Dongfang , Wei Zilin , Zhang Ying , Peng Yushi , Zhu Yixuan , Qi Meng , Zhang Longxian 

TITLE=Molecular Detection and Genotyping of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Racehorses in China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01920

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2019.01920

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</italic> is a widely distributed human and animal pathogen. However, few data are available on the distribution of <italic>E. bieneusi</italic> genotypes in racehorses. In this study, 621 fecal specimens were collected from racehorses at 17 equestrian clubs in 15 Chinese cities. <italic>E. bieneusi</italic> was detected via nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene. The overall infection rate of <italic>E. bieneusi</italic> was 4.8% (30/621). Statistically significant differences were found in the prevalence of this parasite among the equestrian clubs (χ<sup>2</sup> = 78.464, <italic>df</italic> = 16, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01) and age groups (χ<sup>2</sup> = 23.686, <italic>df</italic> = 1, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01), but no sex bias was found among the racehorses for the <italic>E. bieneusi</italic> infections (χ<sup>2</sup> = 1.407, <italic>df</italic> = 2, <italic>p</italic> &gt; 0.05). Ten <italic>E. bieneusi</italic> genotypes were identified, including seven known genotypes (EbpC, EbpA, Peru6, horse1, horse2, CAF1, and TypeIV) and three novel genotypes (HBH-1, SXH-1, and BJH-1). Phylogenetic analysis showed that EbpC, EbpA, Peru6, horse2, CAF1, TypeIV, BJH-1, and SXH-1 belonged to Group 1 of <italic>E. bieneusi</italic>, HBH-1 belonged to Group 2, and horse2 belonged to Group 6. Our findings advance the current knowledge of <italic>E. bieneusi</italic> prevalence and genotypes in racehorses in China.</p>