TABLE 2.
Genera and species of microsporidia known to infect immunodeficient humans
| Species | Clinical manifestation(s) in immunocompromised host | In vitro culture achieved | Other animals infected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brachiola (Nosema) algerae | Skin infection | + | Mosquitoes |
| Encephalitozoon cuniculi | Keratoconjunctivitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, nephritis, peritonitis, hepatitis, intestinal infection, encephalitis | + | Rabbits, rodents, dogs, foxes, pigs, cats, leopards, monkeys |
| Encephalitozoon hellem | Keratoconjunctivitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, nephritis, cystitis, prostatitis, urethritis | + | Parrots, budgerigars, lovebirds |
| Encephalitozoon intestinalis | Keratoconjunctivitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, nephritis, chronic diarrhea, cholangitis | + | Goats, cows, dogs, donkeys, pigs |
| Enterocytozoon bieneusi | Chronic diarrhea, cholangitis, sinusitis | − | Pigs, monkeys, rabbits |
| Nosema connori | Disseminated infection | − | Not described |
| Nosema-like | Myositis | − | Not described |
| Pleistophora spp.a | Myositis | − | |
| Trachipleistophora hominis | Myositis, keratoconjunctivitis, sinusitis | + | Not described |
| Trachipleistophora anthropophthera | Disseminated infection, including encephalitis | − | Not described |
| Vittaforma corneae | Disseminated infection | + | Not described |
a
Several different species of Pleistophora have been described from insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, etc. However, microsporidial species that are uninucleated throughout their life cycle and produce large numbers of spores contained within polysporophorous vesicles have also been included in the genus Pleistophora even though clear-cut taxonomic affinities of these microsporidia have not been established.