scholarly journals The Role of Birds of the Family Corvidae in Transmitting Sarcocystis Protozoan Parasites

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3258
Author(s):  
Evelina Juozaitytė-Ngugu ◽  
Saulius Švažas ◽  
Donatas Šneideris ◽  
Eglė Rudaitytė-Lukošienė ◽  
Dalius Butkauskas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Microscope ◽  
Sarcocystis Species ◽  
Protozoan Parasites ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Specific Pcr ◽  
Sarcocystis Spp ◽  
The Family ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Pcr Targeting

Members of the family Corvidae are ecologically flexible omnivorous birds, particularly adaptive to urban habitats, and living in proximity to humans; these birds may serve as definitive hosts (DH) for Sarcocystis spp., but research about this is lacking. In the present study, intestinal samples from 91 corvids collected in Lithuania were molecularly tested by species-specific PCR targeting the ITS1 and cox1 genes and subsequently sequenced for the presence of Sarcocystis spp. Under a light microscope, oocysts of Sarcocystis spp. were observed in 43 samples (47.3%), while molecular methods, detected Sarcocystis spp. in 77 birds (84.6%). Eleven Sarcocystis spp. (S. columbae, S. cornixi, potentially pathogenic S. halieti, S. kutkienae, S. lari, S. turdusi, S. wobeseri, S. arctica, S. lutrae, S. ovalis, and S. oviformis) were identified in the intestinal samples from six corvid species from Lithuania. Infections with multiple Sarcocystis spp. were detected in 79.2% of the infected corvid birds. Three of the identified Sarcocystis spp. use corvids as intermediate hosts (IH); therefore, corvids may serve as IH and DH of the same Sarcocystis species. Based on molecular results and on corvid diet, omnivorous corvids may play an important role in transmitting Sarcocystis spp.

scholarly journals The Role of Mustelids in the Transmission of Sarcocystis spp. Using Cattle as Intermediate Hosts

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 822
Author(s):  
Petras Prakas ◽  
Linas Balčiauskas ◽  
Evelina Juozaitytė-Ngugu ◽  
Dalius Butkauskas
Keyword(s):  
American Mink ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Meles Meles ◽  
Cox1 Gene ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Specific Pcr ◽  
Sarcocystis Spp ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Pcr Targeting

There is a lack of research on the role of mustelids in the transmission of various Sarcocystis spp. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that widespread mustelids in Lithuania could be involved in the transmission of Sarcocystis spp. using cattle as intermediate hosts. In 2016–2020, intestinal samples of 84 mustelids were examined. Sarcocystis spp. were identified by species-specific PCR targeting the cox1 gene and subsequent sequencing. Under a light microscope, oocysts/sporocysts of Sarcocystis spp. were observed in 40 samples (47.6%), while using molecular methods, they were detected in 75 animals (89.3%). Four Sarcocystis spp. were identified in the intestinal samples of American mink (Neovisonvison), Beech marten (Martes foina), European pine marten (Martes martes), European badger (Meles meles) and European polecat (Mustela putorius). The prevalence of predominant Sarcocystis spp., S. bovifelis (89.3%) and S. cruzi (73.8%) was significantly higher than that of S. hirsuta (3.6%) and S. hominis (1.2%). In an individual sample, most frequently two Sarcocystis spp. were identified (69.0%), then a single species (15.5%) and three species (4.8%). The present study provides strong evidence that mustelids serve as definitive hosts for Sarcocystis spp. using cattle as intermediate hosts.

scholarly journals Molecular detection of cattle Sarcocystis spp. in North-West Italy highlights their association with bovine eosinophilic myositis

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Selene Rubiola ◽  
Tiziana Civera ◽  
Felice Panebianco ◽  
Davide Vercellino ◽  
Francesco Chiesa
Keyword(s):  
18S Rdna ◽  
Inflammatory Myopathy ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Diaphragm Muscle ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Slaughter Cattle ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Pcr Targeting

Abstract Background Cattle are intermediate hosts of six Sarcocystis species, among which Sarcocystis hominis and Sarcocystis heydorni can infect humans through the consumption of raw or undercooked meat. In addition to the zoonotic potential, there is increasing interest in these protozoa because of the evidence supporting the role of Sarcocystis spp. in the occurrence of bovine eosinophilic myositis (BEM), a specific inflammatory myopathy which leads to carcass condemnation and considerable economic losses. Actually, all the prevalence studies carried out on cattle in Italy have been based on either morphological or 18S rDNA-based molecular techniques, most likely leading to misidentification of closely related species. Therefore, there is a strong need for new data on the prevalence of the different Sarcocystis spp. in cattle in Italy and their association with bovine eosinophilic myositis. Methods To reach our aim, individual striated muscle samples from BEM condemned carcasses (N = 54) and diaphragm muscle samples from randomly sampled carcasses (N = 59) were obtained from Northwest Italy slaughterhouses. Genomic DNA was extracted and analyzed by multiplex-PCR targeting 18S rDNA and cox1 genes. PCR products amplified using the genus-specific primer set in absence of the specific fragment for S. hirsuta, S. cruzi, S. hominis or S. bovifelis were sequenced to achieve species identification. Results Sarcocystis DNA was detected in 67.8% of the samples from slaughter cattle and in 90.7% of the samples from BEM condemned carcasses. S. cruzi was identified as the most prevalent species in slaughter cattle (61%), followed by S. bovifelis (10.2%), S. hominis (8.5%) and S. hirsuta (1.7%). Notably, among the different Sarcocystis spp. detected, the presence of S. bovifelis and S. hominis was significantly higher in samples isolated from BEM condemned carcasses (46.3% and 40.7% respectively), while there was no statistically significant difference between the presence of S. cruzi or S. hirsuta in BEM condemned carcasses (42.6% and 1.8%, respectively) and randomly sampled carcasses. Furthermore, DNA sequence analysis revealed the presence of a putative new species in two carcasses. Conclusions Our study contributes to updating the data on the prevalence of the different Sarcocystis spp. in cattle in Italy, highlighting the presence of three Sarcocystis spp., S. cruzi, S. hominis and S. bovifelis, in BEM lesions and allowing us to speculate on the possible role of S. hominis and S. bovifelis as the major sarcosporidian species involved in bovine eosinophilic myositis. Graphic Abstract

scholarly journals Molecular identification of four Sarcocystis species in cattle from Lithuania, including S. hominis, and development of a rapid molecular detection method

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Petras Prakas ◽  
Živilė Strazdaitė-Žielienė ◽  
Vytautas Januškevičius ◽  
Francesco Chiesa ◽  
Agnė Baranauskaitė ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Analysis ◽  
Light Microscope ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Diaphragm Muscle ◽  
Common Finding ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Sarcocystis Species ◽  
Specific Pcr

Abstract Background Six Sarcocystis species are known to use cattle (Bos taurus) as the intermediate host, two of which, S. hominis and S. heydorni, are zoonotic. There is a need for a method that will enable rapid identification of the Sarcocystis species in cattle. Methods The diaphragm muscles of 102 cattle from Lithuania were examined for the presence of Sarcocystis spp., using two different methods for species identification. Individual sarcocysts were isolated from squash preparations of the diaphragm muscle under the light microscope, followed by genetic characterisation of excised cysts using sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA (18S rRNA) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) genes. The same cattle muscle samples were digested and species-specific PCR analyses targeting cox1 were developed to identify the Sarcocystis isolates to the species level. Results Under the light microscope, sarcocysts were detected in 87.3% of animals, and Sarcocystis infection was verified in all digested samples. Three species, namely S. cruzi (n = 20), S. bovifelis (n = 23) and S. hirsuta (n = 6), were identified by DNA sequence analysis of isolated sarcocysts. Based on sequence analysis of cox1, the level of genetic variability depended on Sarcocystis species and geographical location. Four Sarcocystis species, S. cruzi (96.1%), S. bovifelis (71.6%), S. hirsuta (30.4%) and S. hominis (13.7%), were confirmed in the digested samples. In individual samples, the most common finding was two species of Sarcocystis (44.1%), followed by three species (26.5%), a single species (24.5%) and four species (4.9%). Conclusions Although examination of tissue preparations under the light microscrope did not detect any sarcocysts belonging to S. hominis, this species was identified in the digested samples subjected to a cox1-specific PCR analysis. These results demonstrate the need for effective molecular diagnosis techniques to detect Sarcocystis spp., which may be present at a lower prevalence and not detectable among the limited number of sarcocysts identified individually under the light microscope.

Very Low Fruit : Flower Ratios in Grevillea (Proteaceae) are Independent of Breeding System

1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luise Hermanutz ◽  
David Innes ◽  
Andrew Denham ◽  
Robert Whelan
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Breeding Systems ◽  
Mature Fruit ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Woody Perennials ◽  
The Family ◽  
Self Compatibility ◽  
Species Specific

Members of the family Proteaceae have extremely low mature fruit : flower (FR : FL) ratios (range 0.001–0.163) compared with other temperate, hermaphroditic, woody perennials. Sutherland’s (1986) survey of FR : FL ratios indicated that compatibility was an important factor explaining levels of fruit set. The role of compatibility in regulating FR : FL ratios was tested in five closely related species of Grevillea (Proteaceae). Species-specific compatibility was compared using the self-compatibility index (SI = ratio of selfed fruit set to crossed fruit set) calculated at fruit initiation to minimise the confounding effect of other post-fertilisation fruit losses, such as inbreeding depression and pre-dispersal predation. Fruit : flower ratios at initiation ranged from 0.041–0.249, and at maturity 0.015–0.096. Grevillea species showed highly variable breeding systems: G. linearifolia was self-incompatible (SI = 0.003), G. sphacelata, G. mucronulata, and G. oleoides were partially self-compatible (SI = 0.07–0.28) and G. longifolia was self-compatible (SI = 0.61). Intrapopulation variability in the level of self-incompatibility was high in all species but G. linearifolia. The correlation between SI and FR: FL ratios was non-significant, indicating that compatibility has a minimal effect on fruit set in the Grevillea species studied, and that these data, together with other data on proteaceous species do not support trends observed in Sutherland’s survey. Low FR : FL ratios resulted from of a combination of pollen limitation, and high levels of flower and fruit predation.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis Species DNA in the Heart and Breast Muscles of Rock Pigeons (Columbia livia)

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Mudasser Nazir ◽  
Muhammad Mazhar Ayaz ◽  
Atif Nisar Ahmed ◽  
Azhar Maqbool ◽  
Kamran Ashraf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Environmental Contamination ◽  
Breast Tissue ◽  
Neospora Caninum ◽  
Breast Muscle ◽  
Sarcocystis Species ◽  
Protozoan Parasites ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Columbia Livia ◽  
Animal Sciences

Little is known about the prevalence of protozoan parasites in the muscles of rock pigeons (Columbia livia). The muscles from 54 (heart from 45 and breast from 54) rock pigeons were examined for DNA of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis species using PCR. Twenty-four were female and 30 were males. The birds were part of flocks of pigeons housed at the tombs of saints in Lahore, Pakistan. Birds that died or were euthanized due to poor health were submitted for necropsy at the Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, where DNA isolations and PCR were conducted. Nineteen (35.1%) of the birds were positive for T. gondii DNA. Seven males and 12 females were positive. Breast tissue was always infected in T. gondii positive birds, while the heart was infected in 13 (28.8%) of breast positive birds. Five (9.2%) of the pigeons, 2 males and 3 females, were positive for N. caninum. The distribution of N. caninum DNA was more variable in the muscles of pigeons than T. gondii and was found only in the heart of 1 (female), heart and breast muscle of 2 (male), and only the breast muscle of 2 birds (female). One of the 54 rock pigeons (female) was positive for both T. gondii (heart and breast) and N. caninum (heart only). Two of the positive Neospora caninum amplicons were sequenced and had 97% nucleotide identity with N. caninum isolates. Sarcocystis DNA was not found in any bird. The prevalence of T. gondii in rock pigeons and their predation by cats suggest that they may play an unrecognized role in maintaining environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts by cats. Our study indicates that rock pigeons are intermediate hosts of N. caninum and this information will aid in understanding the epidemiology of N. caninum.

scholarly journals Sarcocystis neurona and related Sarcocystis spp. shed by opossums (Didelphis spp.) in South America

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luís Fernando Pita Gondim ◽  
Rodrigo Martins Soares ◽  
Gastón Moré ◽  
Rogério Fernando de Jesus ◽  
Horwald Alexander Bedoya Llano
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
South American ◽  
Sarcocystis Species ◽  
Protozoan Parasites ◽  
Sarcocystis Neurona ◽  
Genetic Characteristics ◽  
The North ◽  
Sarcocystis Spp ◽  
American Opossum

Abstract Protozoan parasites of the genus Sarcocystis are obligatory heteroxenous cyst-forming coccidia that infect a wide variety of animals and encompass approximately 200 described species. At least four Sarcocystis spp. (S. falcatula, S. neurona, S. lindsayi and S. speeri) use opossums (Didelphis spp.) as definitive hosts, and two of them, S. neurona and S. falcatula, are known to cause disease in horses and birds, respectively. Opossums are restricted to the Americas, but their distribution in the Americas is heterogeneous. Five Didelphis spp. are distributed in South America (D. aurita, D. albiventris, D. marsupialis, D. imperfecta and D. pernigra) whereas just one opossum species (D. virginiana) is found in North America. Studies conducted in the last decades show that Sarcocystis spp., derived from South American Didelphis spp., have biological and genetic differences in relation to Sarcocystis spp. shed by the North American opossum D. virginiana. The aim of this review was to address the peculiar scenario of Sarcocystis species shed by South American opossums, with a special focus on diagnosis, epidemiology, and animal infections, as well as the genetic characteristics of these parasites.

scholarly journals Duplication and functional divergence of a calcium sensor in the Brassicaceae

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (9) ◽  
pp. 2782-2795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shea M Monihan ◽  
Courtney A Magness ◽  
Choong-Hwan Ryu ◽  
Michelle M McMahon ◽  
Mark A Beilstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salt Tolerance ◽  
Functional Divergence ◽  
Calcium Sensor ◽  
The Family ◽  
Salt Affected Soils ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
And Function ◽  
Sisymbrium Irio ◽  
Functional Analyses

Abstract The presence of varied numbers of CALCINEURIN B-LIKE10 (CBL10) calcium sensor genes in species across the Brassicaceae and the demonstrated role of CBL10 in salt tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana and Eutrema salsugineum provided a unique opportunity to determine if CBL10 function is modified in different species and linked to salt tolerance. Salinity effects on species growth and cross-species complementation were used to determine the extent of conservation and divergence of CBL10 function in four species representing major lineages within the core Brassicaceae (A. thaliana, E. salsugineum, Schrenkiella parvula, and Sisymbrium irio) as well as the first diverging lineage (Aethionema arabicum). Evolutionary and functional analyses indicate that CBL10 duplicated within expanded lineage II of the Brassicaceae and that, while portions of CBL10 function are conserved across the family, there are species-specific variations in CBL10 function. Paralogous CBL10 genes within a species diverged in expression and function probably contributing to the maintenance of the duplicated gene pairs. Orthologous CBL10 genes diverged in function in a species-specific manner, suggesting that functions arose post-speciation. Multiple CBL10 genes and their functional divergence may have expanded calcium-mediated signaling responses and contributed to the ability of certain members of the Brassicaceae to maintain growth in salt-affected soils.

Phenotypic characteristics and population genetics ofEnterococcus faecaliscultured from patients in Tehran during 2000–2001

2003 ◽  
Vol 49 (10) ◽  
pp. 645-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mehdi Feizabadi ◽  
Atusa Aliahmadi ◽  
Fatemeh Mobasheri ◽  
Ahmad Asgharzadeh ◽  
Soroor Asadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Genetics ◽  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Enzyme Electrophoresis ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Phenotypic Characteristics ◽  
Considerable Heterogeneity ◽  
Specific Pcr ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
High Level ◽  
Pcr Targeting

Conventional bacteriology techniques were used to identify enterococci isolates cultured from patients at different hospitals in Tehran during 2000–2001. The identification was confirmed using species-specific PCR targeting the D-alanyl-D-alanine ligase gene. A total of 59 isolates of Enterococcus faecalis were identified. The rates of resistance to different antibiotics were in the following order: penicillin 84%, ciprofloxacin 42%, high-level gentamicin 30%, nitrofurantoin 14%, imipenem 4%, and chloramphenicol 2%. Resistance to ampicillin was found to be rare among the Iranian isolates of E. faecalis. Multi-locus enzyme electrophoresis was then used to analyze the strains. Forty-five electrophoretic types were obtained when 10 enzyme loci were screened. Although the collection of bacterial isolates was limited in time and location, considerable heterogeneity was found. Analysis of strains for linkage disequilibrium demonstrated that the studied population is not clonal, since the index of association was not significantly different from zero (Ia= 0.0296). Enterococcus faecalis isolates recovered from patients in Tehran were genetically diverse and seemed to possess a high potential for genetic recombinations, though none were resistant to vancomycin.Key words: Enterococcus faecalis, population genetics, MEE analysis, nosocomial infections.

scholarly journals Identification of Sarcocystis spp. in One-humped Camels (Camelus dromedarius) from Riyadh and Dammam, Saudi Arabia, via Histological and Phylogenetic Approaches

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dina M. Metwally ◽  
Tahani T. Al-Otaibi ◽  
Isra M. Al-Turaiki ◽  
Manal F. El-Khadragy ◽  
Reem A. Alajmi
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Bubalus Bubalis ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
Protozoan Parasites ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Sarcocystis Spp ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Camel Meat

Sarcocystis (S.) spp. are intracellular protozoan parasites that infect birds and animals, resulting in substantial commercial losses. Sarcocystis spp. have an indirect life cycle; canines and felines are known to act as final hosts, and numerous domestic and wild animals act as intermediate hosts. The presence of sarcocysts in camel meat may diminish its commercial quality. There is limited knowledge regarding the taxonomy and diagnosis of Sarcocystis spp. that infect camels in Saudi Arabia. In this study, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed S. cameli and S. camelicanis (camelicanis) in Camelus (C.) dromedarius. This is the first report of S. camelicanis in Saudi Arabia and is considered a significant finding. Based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COX1) sequences, two samples of Sarcocystis spp. isolated from C. dromedarius in Riyadh and Dammam were grouped with S. levinei hosted by Bubalus bubalis in India, S. rangi hosted by Rangifer tarandus in Norway, S. miescheriana hosted by Sus scrofa in Italy and S. fayeri hosted by Equus caballus in Canada. The sequences obtained in this study have been deposited in GenBank.

scholarly journals Prevalence of mixed Trypanosoma congolense infections in livestock and tsetse in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2010 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Gillingwater ◽  
M.V. Mamabolo ◽  
P.O.A. Majiwa
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Trypanosoma Congolense ◽  
Tsetse Flies ◽  
Mixed Infections ◽  
Disease Manifestation ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Specific Pcr ◽  
Commercial Farm ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Pcr Targeting

Trypanosoma congolense causes the most economically important animal trypanosomosis in Africa. In South Africa, a rinderpest pandemic of the 1890s removed many host animals, resulting in the near-eradication of most tsetse species. Further suppression was achieved through spraying with dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT); however, residual populations of Glossina austeni and G. brevipalpis remained in isolated pockets. A total of 506 of these tsetse flies were captured in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, the St Lucia Wetland Park and Boomerang commercial farm. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to determine the infection rate and frequency of mixed infections of these flies. Additionally, 473 blood samples were collected from cattle at communal diptanks and a commercial farm in the area and each one examined by the haematocrit centrifugation technique (HCT). Furthermore, buffy coats from these blood samples were spotted onto FTA Elute cards and the DNA extracted from each one tested using 3 separate PCRs. The HCT revealed the presence of trypanosomes in only 6.6 % of the blood samples; by contrast, species-specific PCR detected trypanosome DNA in 50 % of the samples. The species-specific PCR detected trypanosome DNA in 17 % of the tsetse flies, compared with the nested PCR targeting rDNA which detected trypanosome DNA in only 14 % of the samples. Over time, the transmission of Savannah-type T. congolense and Kilifi-type T. congolense as mixed infections could have an impact on disease manifestation in different hosts in the area.

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