Microsporidia are obligate intracellular pathogens that infect various hosts including invertebrates and vertebrates. Despite the importance, knowledge on the prevalence and molecular characteristics of microsporidia in chickens is limited, and no data are available for Turkey. A total of 300 fecal samples from chickens in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey were analyzed by using a nested polymerase chain reaction assay targeting the rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region for the common microsporidia species. Corresponding PCR amplicons from the positive samples were sequenced for genotyping. Enterocytozoon bieneusi was identified in 22 (7.3 %) samples, whereas Encephalitozoon spp. was not detected. The prevalence of E. bieneusi was 63.6 % in Kayseri and 36.4 % in Nevsehir provinces, and 8.8 % in soft fecal samples and 9.7 % in diarrhoeic samples. No infections were found in Kirsehir Province. Significant differences were found for the distribution of E. bieneusi among provinces and fecal conditions. Infections were found only in free-range chickens. As a result of ITS region sequencing, two genotypes were characterized. The novel genotype ERUNT1 (n = 21), belonging to zoonotic group 1, was the most common genotype throughout the study area. The other known genotype, ERUSS1 (n = 1), had a restricted distribution and was previously detected in cattle and sheep in the same region. Our study provides the first data on microsporidia species from chickens in Turkey. None of these genotypes have been reported in humans; thus, the risk potential for public health is limited but needs further investigation.

微孢子虫是专性的细胞内病原体，感染各种宿主，包括无脊椎动物和脊椎动物。尽管很重要，但是关于鸡微孢子虫病的流行和分子特征的知识仍然有限，并且没有土耳其的数据。使用针对普通微孢子虫种的rRNA内部转录间隔区（ITS）区域的巢式聚合酶链反应分析法，对土耳其中部安纳托利亚地区的鸡的总共300份粪便样品进行了分析。对来自阳性样品的相应PCR扩增子进行测序以进行基因分型。在22个（7.3％）样品中鉴定到了小肠肠梭菌，而脑头虫属则为。未检测到。bieneusi的流行开塞利省为63.6％，内夫谢希尔省为36.4％，软便样品为8.8％，腹泻样品为9.7％。在基瑟希尔省未发现感染。发现比氏大肠杆菌的分布存在显着差异在各省和粪便条件之间。仅在散养鸡中发现感染。ITS区域测序的结果是，鉴定了两种基因型。属于人畜共患病组1的新基因型ERUNT1（n = 21）是整个研究区域中最常见的基因型。其他已知基因型ERUSS1（n = 1）的分布有限，先前已在同一地区的牛和羊中检测到。我们的研究提供了土耳其鸡微孢子虫种类的第一个数据。这些基因型在人类中均未见报道。因此，公共卫生的潜在风险有限，但需要进一步调查。