Cent Eur J Public Health 2019, 27(4):330-334 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a5407

Screening of opportunistic Encephalitozoon intestinalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in immunocompromised patients in Slovakia

Monika Halánová1, Alexandra Valenčáková2, Pavol Jarčuška3, Miloš Halán4, Oľga Danišová2, Ingrid Babinská1, Kinga Dedinská5, Lýdia Čisláková1
1 Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Slovak Republic
2 Department of Biology and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Košice, Slovak Republic
3 Department of Infectology and Travel Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Slovak Republic
4 Department of Epizootology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Košice, Slovak Republic
5 Department of Haematology and Oncohaematology, Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Slovak Republic

Objective: In recent years new infectious diseases, i.e. emerging or re-emerging diseases, have been coming to the forefront. Currently, microsporidia, considered to be a major cause of emerging and opportunistic infections particularly in immunocompromised individuals, are also included in this group. Therefore, the aim of our study was to map the prevalence of Encephalitozoon intestinalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection in a group of patients and to compare it with the occurrence of specific antigens in immunocompetent people.

Methods: Detection of spores of both pathogens in faecal samples was performed by an immunofluorescence test using species-specific monoclonal antibodies.

Results: Positivity to E. intestinalis in 91 examined immunosuppressed patients reached 33% (30/91), while only 4.3% (3/70) of the control group samples were found to be positive (relative risk 7.7, p < 0.001). In case of E. bieneusi 14.3% (13/91) of immunocompromised patients were positive, as were 5.7% (4/70) of people from the control group (relative risk 2.5, p = 0.095).

Conclusion: In case of development of any opportunistic infection, the infection is detected and removed in most cases at an early stage. The incidence of clinically manifested microsporidiosis in patients with immunodeficiency is rare as they are under constant medical supervision. However, we must not forget about opportunistic infections, and in case of any non-specific symptoms it is necessary to exclude or confirm the diagnosis for immediate treatment.

Keywords: Encephalitozoon intestinalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, immunocompromised patients, microsporidia, monoclonal antibodies

Received: April 20, 2018; Revised: August 27, 2019; Accepted: August 27, 2019; Published: December 31, 2019  Show citation

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Halánová M, Valenčáková A, Jarčuška P, Halán M, Danišová O, Babinská I, et al.. Screening of opportunistic Encephalitozoon intestinalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in immunocompromised patients in Slovakia. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2019;27(4):330-334. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a5407. PubMed PMID: 31951694.
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