Identification of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Stool and Urine Specimens in Diarrheal Patients using PCR technique

Abstract

Background: Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a major intestinal protozoan that is zoonotic and has the ability to infect both humans and several animal species. Currently, the prevalence and genotyping of E. bieneusi in humans in Mosul city are still unknown.

Methods: 118 stool and 177 urine samples collected from patients (males and females) in the various hospitals located around Mosul city. In this study, we used microscopic examination and PCR techniques to find E. bieneusi by using various types of primers to detect the target gene.

Results: The current study findings, 62.7% (74/118) of the E. bieneusi that were discovered in the stool specimens 65.7% (46/70) were found in males and 58.3% (28/48) in females) fit the microsporidia's shape according to microscopic analysis. The urine specimens used in this experiment did not contain any microsporidia. Additionally, the PCR technique confirmed that all of the microsporidia discovered in the current study were E. bieneusi, and that 54% (40/74) of them had the SSU rRNA gene with a molecular weight of 260 bp. Furthermore, E. bieneusi was found in 42.9% (12/28) of the female stool specimens and 60.9% (28/46) of the male stool specimens with a molecular weight of 400 bp. Furthermore, the prevalence rate of E. bieneusi was discovered in both younger and older age groups.

Conclusion: This investigation concluded that E. bieneusi existed in human diarrheal infections across all age groups. Males are more likely than females to have E. bieneusi. When looking for E. bieneusi, the PCR technique is more successful than other approaches.