Occurrence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Korean native cattle examined by light microscopic and molecular methods

Enterocytozoon bieneusi, a microsporidian species, has emerged as an opportunistic pathogen in AIDS patients. This organism has also been identified in a wide range of animals, and the zoonotic potential of human infections is of particular interest. This study revealed that this organism was found with relatively high prevalence in feces of asymptomatic cattle in Korea. Fecal specimens were obtained from a total of 1,720 cattlse in a slaughterhouse located in Chungnam province, Daejeon city and Chonbuk province. After removal of fecal debris by sieving and density gradient centrifugation, samples were examined by microscopic examination and then nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Microscopic examination with the modified trichrome staining for the fecal specimens revealed 194 (11.28%) positive calves for microsporidia spore. PCR using the specific primer for E. bieneusi revealed 79 (4.59%) positive calves. The infection ratio of microsporidia was higher in March than other season.