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Detection of Encephalitozoon hellem in Feces of Experimentally Infected Chickens
Author(s) -
FAYER RONALD,
SANTIN MONICA,
PALMER ROBERT,
LI XUNDE
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of eukaryotic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 1066-5234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2003.tb00634.x
Subject(s) - citation , library science , biology , computer science
Encephalitozoon hellem, initially isolated from an AIDS patient, was found infectious for athymic mice [5] and has been reported in natural infections of psittacine birds, an ostrich and hummingbirds [4,6]. The specific routes of transmission have not been well documented. However, like other fecal borne pathogens, the infectious spore stage is probably transmitted by direct contact or by ingestion of contaminated food and water. Because the range of avian hosts has been found to be so great the likelihood of there being additional avian species susceptible to infection with E. hellem seems a reasonable expectation. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine if chickens and turkeys, easily accessible laboratory species, species of economic importance, and species in close contact with humans, were also susceptible to infection with E. hellem.