Featured Article for January 14, 2020
Microsporidia
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular, spore-forming parasitic fungi. They are capable of infecting many species of animals. In humans, they can infect many organs, including the eye. They are widely distributed around the world and are considered an emerging cause of infectious disease, especially in immunocompromised patient populations.
Microsporidia is a phylum of microorganisms consisting of roughly 1200 species capable of infecting many different animals, particularly fish and insects. 15 species have been associated with infections in humans. These include Anncaliia (formerly Barachiola) algerae, A. connori, A. vesicularum, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, E. hellem, E. intestinalis, Enterocytozoon biuneusi, Mircosporidium ceylonensis, M. africanum, Nosema ocularum, Pleistophora spp., Trachipleistophora hominis, T anthropophthera, Vittaforma corneae, and Tubulinosema acridophagus. E. cuniculi, E. intestinalis, and E. bieneusi have been found in some domestic and wild animals while E. hellem has been detected in birds. E. bieneusi and V. corneae species have been associated with human infection.
