{"title":"Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of microsporidia in stool specimens isolated from multiple sclerosis patients in the west of Iran","authors":"Hadi Abbasnia , Taher Mohammadian , Mohammadbagher Khademerfan , Fares Bahrami , Mansoureh Paknejadi","doi":"10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105720","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Intestinal microsporidiosis is an emerging opportunistic infection that primarily affects individuals with compromised immune systems. This study investigated intestinal microsporidia infections in individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) and elucidated the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships of microsporidia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 116 stool samples were collected from individuals diagnosed with MS, including 54 men and 63 women, during 2022–2023 in Kurdistan Province, western Iran. The mean age of the participants was 38.28 ± 7.8 years. RNA extraction was performed, followed by amplification of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) to identify and characterize microsporidia and their associated genetic markers. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA X software to explore the evolutionary relationships among the isolates.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>PCR revealed <em>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</em> in 5 of 116 samples (4.3 %), whereas no positive cases of <em>Encephalitozoon</em> species were detected. Additionally, no statistically significant associations were observed between the presence of microsporidia and variables such as age, sex, or geographic region.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study highlights the clinical significance of <em>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</em> in immunocompromised populations, particularly in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The findings underscore the potential role of zoonotic transmission and highlight the urgent need for enhanced diagnostic capabilities and preventive strategies to combat intestinal microsporidiosis in vulnerable groups, particularly in regions such as western Iran.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54986,"journal":{"name":"Infection Genetics and Evolution","volume":"128 ","pages":"Article 105720"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Infection Genetics and Evolution","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1567134825000097","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Intestinal microsporidiosis is an emerging opportunistic infection that primarily affects individuals with compromised immune systems. This study investigated intestinal microsporidia infections in individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) and elucidated the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships of microsporidia.
Methods
A total of 116 stool samples were collected from individuals diagnosed with MS, including 54 men and 63 women, during 2022–2023 in Kurdistan Province, western Iran. The mean age of the participants was 38.28 ± 7.8 years. RNA extraction was performed, followed by amplification of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) to identify and characterize microsporidia and their associated genetic markers. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA X software to explore the evolutionary relationships among the isolates.
Results
PCR revealed Enterocytozoon bieneusi in 5 of 116 samples (4.3 %), whereas no positive cases of Encephalitozoon species were detected. Additionally, no statistically significant associations were observed between the presence of microsporidia and variables such as age, sex, or geographic region.
Conclusion
This study highlights the clinical significance of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in immunocompromised populations, particularly in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The findings underscore the potential role of zoonotic transmission and highlight the urgent need for enhanced diagnostic capabilities and preventive strategies to combat intestinal microsporidiosis in vulnerable groups, particularly in regions such as western Iran.
期刊介绍：
(aka Journal of Molecular Epidemiology and Evolutionary Genetics of Infectious Diseases -- MEEGID)
Infectious diseases constitute one of the main challenges to medical science in the coming century. The impressive development of molecular megatechnologies and of bioinformatics have greatly increased our knowledge of the evolution, transmission and pathogenicity of infectious diseases. Research has shown that host susceptibility to many infectious diseases has a genetic basis. Furthermore, much is now known on the molecular epidemiology, evolution and virulence of pathogenic agents, as well as their resistance to drugs, vaccines, and antibiotics. Equally, research on the genetics of disease vectors has greatly improved our understanding of their systematics, has increased our capacity to identify target populations for control or intervention, and has provided detailed information on the mechanisms of insecticide resistance.
However, the genetics and evolutionary biology of hosts, pathogens and vectors have tended to develop as three separate fields of research. This artificial compartmentalisation is of concern due to our growing appreciation of the strong co-evolutionary interactions among hosts, pathogens and vectors.
Infection, Genetics and Evolution and its companion congress [MEEGID](http://www.meegidconference.com/) (for Molecular Epidemiology and Evolutionary Genetics of Infectious Diseases) are the main forum acting for the cross-fertilization between evolutionary science and biomedical research on infectious diseases.
Infection, Genetics and Evolution is the only journal that welcomes articles dealing with the genetics and evolutionary biology of hosts, pathogens and vectors, and coevolution processes among them in relation to infection and disease manifestation. All infectious models enter the scope of the journal, including pathogens of humans, animals and plants, either parasites, fungi, bacteria, viruses or prions. The journal welcomes articles dealing with genetics, population genetics, genomics, postgenomics, gene expression, evolutionary biology, population dynamics, mathematical modeling and bioinformatics. We also provide many author benefits, such as free PDFs, a liberal copyright policy, special discounts on Elsevier publications and much more. Please click here for more information on our author services .
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
分享
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
扫码关注我们
