PATHOGENS

• Microsporidia are fungi and endoparasites related to Cryptomycota.[5] They are obligate intracellular organisms that spread via spores. Microsporidia behave as protozoa; they possess a defining characteristic called a "polar tube" that coils around the sporoplasm inside of the spore and during germination, the polar tube everts to bring the sporoplasm into contact with the host cell.[12]
• Most commonly identified with human disease:
  • Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis (syn. Septata intestinalis) are etiology of majority of infections.
  • Encephalitozoon hellem, E. cuniculi
  • Vittaforma corneae
  • Nosema ocularum
  • Trachipleistophora hominis, T. anthropothera
  • Anncaliia algerae,[9] A. connori, A. vesicularum
  • Pleistophora spp
  • Microsporidium spp
• Sources of infection and modes of transmission, likely zoonotic with pigs, cattle, donkeys, birds, and mosquitoes as reservoirs, and/or waterborne.[8]
• Spores are quite resistant to environmental conditions and can persist in environment for years, particularly if protected from desiccation.