TABLE 1.
List of microsporidia that cause extraintestinal human infectiona
| Organ system involved (disorder caused) | Species of Microsporidia (site of infection) |
|---|---|
| Cardiovascular system (endocarditis, myocarditis) | Encephalitozoon cuniculi |
| Anncaliia connori | |
| Trachipleistophora anthropopthera | |
| Central nervous system | Encephalitozoon cuniculi (brain abscess) |
| Trachipleistophora anthropopthera | |
| Disseminated | Encephalitozoon spp.: E. intestinalis, E. hellem, E. cuniculi |
| Tubulinosema acridophagus | |
| Anncaliia connori | |
| Trachipleistophora anthropopthera | |
| Eye (keratitis, keratoconjunctivitis, blindness) | Encephalitozoon hellem |
| Encephalitozoon intestinalis (conjunctiva) | |
| Vittaforma corneae; formerly Nosema corneum | |
| Trachipleistophora hominis | |
| Nosema ocularum | |
| Microsporidium spp.: M. africanum, M. ceylonensis | |
| Anncaliia algerae | |
| Endocrine system | Trachipleistophora anthropopthera |
| Thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal cortex | Anncaliia connori |
| Genital tract: endometrium, fallopian tubes, urethritis | Encephalitozoon spp. |
| Liver, pancreas, peritoneum | Encephalitozoon spp. |
| Enterocytozoon bieneusi (biliary tract) | |
| Trachipleistophora anthropopthera | |
| Hematologic system: spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes | Trachipleistophora anthropopthera |
| Musculoskeletal system (myositis) | Anncaliia algerae |
| Braciola vesicularum | |
| Microsporidium spp. | |
| Novel species closely related to Endoreticularis spp. | |
| Pleistophora spp. | |
| Trachipleistophora hominis | |
| Tubulinosema | |
| Upper respiratory tract: nasal cavity, sinuses, pharynx, larynx, vocal cords | Anncaliia algerae |
| Encephalitozoon spp. | |
| Enterocytozoon bieneusi | |
| Trachipleistophora hominis | |
| Lower respiratory tract: trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, lungs | Encephalitozoon spp. |
| Enterocytozoon bieneusi | |
| Renal system | Anncaliia connori |
| Encephalitozoon spp. (especially in kidney allografts) | |
| Trachipleistophora anthropopthera | |
| Skin | Anncaliia algerae |
| Encephalitozoon intestinalis |