TY - JOUR
T1 - Diagnosis of Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection by Western blot and the use of cross-reactive antigens for the possible detection of microsporidiosis in humans
AU - Weiss, L. M.
AU - Cali, A.
AU - Levee, E.
AU - Laplace, D.
AU - Tanowitz, H.
AU - Simon, D.
AU - Wittner, M.
PY - 1992
Y1 - 1992
N2 - Microsporidia are very primitive, eukaryotic, obligate, intracellular, protozoan parasites. Encephalitozoon cuniculi, a microsporidian originally described from a rabbit infection, has been described in humans as well as in many species of laboratory animals. We report the detection of E. cuniculi by Western blotting in a rabbit with torticollis that was obtained from an Encephalitozoon-free colony. Cross-reactivity of this serum was observed with antigens prepared from several genera of microsporidia. Identical Western blotting patterns were obtained with sera obtained from a rabbit immunized with E. cuniculi that was purified from tissue culture cells. In addition, we were able to demonstrate cross-reactivity between E. cuniculi rabbit antisera and Enterocytozoon bieneusi antigens by indirect immunofluorescent assay techniques in human intestinal biopsy samples. These cross-reactions between microsporidia may be useful in developing diagnostic tests for non- cultivatable microsporidia such as Enterocytozoon bieneusi.
AB - Microsporidia are very primitive, eukaryotic, obligate, intracellular, protozoan parasites. Encephalitozoon cuniculi, a microsporidian originally described from a rabbit infection, has been described in humans as well as in many species of laboratory animals. We report the detection of E. cuniculi by Western blotting in a rabbit with torticollis that was obtained from an Encephalitozoon-free colony. Cross-reactivity of this serum was observed with antigens prepared from several genera of microsporidia. Identical Western blotting patterns were obtained with sera obtained from a rabbit immunized with E. cuniculi that was purified from tissue culture cells. In addition, we were able to demonstrate cross-reactivity between E. cuniculi rabbit antisera and Enterocytozoon bieneusi antigens by indirect immunofluorescent assay techniques in human intestinal biopsy samples. These cross-reactions between microsporidia may be useful in developing diagnostic tests for non- cultivatable microsporidia such as Enterocytozoon bieneusi.
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U2 - 10.4269/ajtmh.1992.47.456
DO - 10.4269/ajtmh.1992.47.456
M3 - Article
C2 - 1443343
AN - SCOPUS:0026463753
SN - 0002-9637
VL - 47
SP - 456
EP - 462
JO - American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
JF - American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
IS - 4
ER -