Clinical Information

Microsporidia are highly specialized fungi that cause a wide variety of clinical syndromes in humans. The most common microsporidia are Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis, which infect the gastrointestinal tract and cause a diarrheal illness, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Encephalitozoon hellem, which can infect the conjunctiva, respiratory tract, and genitourinary system. Human infections have been reported most frequently in patients with AIDS but can also occur in other patients who are immunocompromised, including solid organ allograft recipients and, sporadically, immunocompetent hosts. Less commonly, other microsporidia, such as Vittaforma corneae and Brachiola species, can cause disseminated or organ-specific disease. This assay detects only the most common microsporidia, E bieneusi and Encephalitozoon species, and not microsporidiosis due to other species.

For other diagnostic tests that may be of value in evaluating patients with diarrhea, see Parasitic Investigation of Stool Specimens Algorithm and Laboratory Testing for Infectious Causes of Diarrhea.