High Prevalence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi Genotype BEB6 in Wild Boars in Lorestan Province, Iran: Potential Source of Zoonotic Transmission

Ehsan  Javanmard; Hanieh Mohammad  Rahimi; Ali  Taghipour; Sara  Nemati; Mehdi  Mohebali; Mostafa  Rezaeian; Ali  Badrifar; Elham  Kazemirad; Hamed  Mirjalali

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18113

Ehsan Javanmard Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Hanieh Mohammad Rahimi Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Be-heshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ali Taghipour Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
Sara Nemati Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Be-heshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mehdi Mohebali Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mostafa Rezaeian Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ali Badrifar Division of Avian Diseases, Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar Branch, Khuzestan, Iran
Elham Kazemirad Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Hamed Mirjalali Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Be-heshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18113

Keywords: Enterocytozoon bieneusi; Wild boars; Iran; Molecular analysis

Abstract

Background: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and the circulating genotypes in wild boar in the western regions of Iran.

Methods: Fifty-two fecal samples were collected from wild boars in Lorestan province, Iran. After DNA extraction, the presence of E. bieneusi was evaluated by real-time PCR. A nested PCR targeting the internal transcribed region (ITS) was employed to characterize genotypes. The PCR products were sequenced, and the genetic diversity and relationships among the genotypes were identified using MEGA X and DnaSp (V5) software.

Results: Sixteen (30%) samples were positive for E. bieneusi using real-time PCR, and 11 (21%) were positive for nested PCR, which was sequenced. All 11 positive samples were identified as the BEB6 genotype (Group 2). The haplotype diversity was noted to be 0.182, and the nucleotide diversity, calculated using DnaSp, was 0. 00085.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the high prevalence of the genotype BEB6 in wild boars. The presence of this genotype suggests the circulation of E. bieneusi between domesticated animals and wild boars in Iran.