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Nawshirwan S, Heucken N, Piekarek N, van Beers T, Fulgham-Scott N, Grandoch A, Neiss WF, Vogt J, Barham M. Morphological, ultrastructural, genetic characteristics and remarkably low prevalence of macroscopic Sarcocystis species isolated from sheep and goats in Kurdistan region, Iraq. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1225796. [PMID: 37841456 PMCID: PMC10569315 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1225796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sarcocystis is a genus of cyst-forming parasites that infest both humans and livestock. Some parasites cause clinical and subclinical diseases in their hosts, resulting in economic losses. Methods Esophagus, diaphragm, and skeletal muscle from slaughtered sheep and goats were examined macroscopically, microscopically, and ultrastructurally and subjected to DNA analysis. Results We isolated macrocysts of S. gigantea and of S. caprafelis moulei from naturally infected sheep (Ovis aries) and goats (Capra hircus). The macrocyst wall thickness was 18.9 µm in sheep and 15.3 µm in goats, and consisted of an inner Periodic acid Schiff- (PAS) negative primary wall and an outer glycoconjugates containing i.e. PAS-positive secondary wall. The walls inner surface was compartmentalized and filled with bradyzoites. In S. gigantea the bradyzoites were approximently 12.3 x 2.6 µm in size, while in S. caprafelis moulei they were 13.9 x 4.4 µm. Ultrastructurally, both species have nearly identical morphology: cauliflower-like protrusions with numerous microtubules and often dendritic-like filaments, branching from the primary wall. The 18S rRNA gene in S. gigantea was 85.9% identical to that in S. medusiformis and 80.4% to the S. caprafelis moulei gene. The 28S rRNA gene in S. gigantea was 94.6% identical to that in S. medusiformis and 97.3% to the S. caprafelis moulei. Conclusion This study is the first to (i) detail the ultrastructure of the macrocyst wall of S. caprafelis moulei, (ii) identify S. medusiformis in Iraqi sheep, and (iii) compare the prevalence of macroscopic Sarcocystis at different time periods within the same region. A positive finding was the reduction of macroscopic sarcocystosis occurrences (0.01% in sheep and 0.02% in goats) compared to our previous data from 1992 (4.1%: sheep, 33.6%: goats).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicole Heucken
- Department II of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Nadin Piekarek
- Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tim van Beers
- Department I of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Nicole Fulgham-Scott
- Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Andrea Grandoch
- Department for Oral and Craniomaxillofacial and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Wolfram F. Neiss
- Department I of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Johannes Vogt
- Department II of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence for Aging Research (CECAD) and Center of Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Mohammed Barham
- Department II of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Dessì G, Tamponi C, Pasini C, Porcu F, Meloni L, Cavallo L, Sini MF, Knoll S, Scala A, Varcasia A. A survey on Apicomplexa protozoa in sheep slaughtered for human consumption. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:1437-1445. [PMID: 35192068 PMCID: PMC8993733 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07469-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Infections with the Apicomplexa Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis spp. are common causes of reproductive disorders in sheep. However, few epidemiological studies regarding co-infections with these three protozoa are reported in sheep in Italy. For this reason, this study aims to evaluate possible co-infections with T. gondii, N. caninum, and Sarcocystis spp. in sheep slaughtered for human consumption. From April to July 2019, individual blood, brain, heart, and diaphragm samples were collected from 138 sheep after slaughtering. The presence of IgG anti-Toxoplasma in serum samples was evaluated through ELISA. DNA of the three protozoa was investigated using specific PCRs. Co-infection with T. gondii, N. caninum and Sarcocystis spp. was found in 66.7% of the examined sheep. Antibodies against T. gondii were found in the 36.2% of serum samples. The presence of T. gondii DNA was detected in the 67.4%, 77.5%, and 21.7% of the brain, heart, and diaphragm samples, respectively. Neospora caninum DNA was found in 72.5% of the examined brain samples. Sarcocystis spp. DNA was detected in 92% and 52.2% of the heart and diaphragm samples, respectively. Sequence analysis of the Sarcocystis spp. revealed the sole presence of Sarcocystis tenella. The present study demonstrates that sheep have a high risk of infection with the three Apicomplexa investigated, suggesting the need to adopt adequate measures to prevent the spread of these parasitic infections considering their clinical and economic impact on ovine production. Furthermore, the possible role sheep play in the zoonotic transmission of toxoplasmosis to humans was highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Dessì
- Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Claudia Tamponi
- Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Cinzia Pasini
- Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Francesca Porcu
- Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Luisa Meloni
- Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Lia Cavallo
- Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Maria Francesca Sini
- Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Stephane Knoll
- Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonio Scala
- Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonio Varcasia
- Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
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El-Morsey A, Abdo W, Zaid AAA, Sorour SSG. Morphologic and molecular identification of three macroscopic Sarcocystis species infecting domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and cattle (Bos taurus) in Egypt. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:637-654. [PMID: 33459850 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-07002-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
In a survey study on the macroscopic species of Sarcocystis infecting domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and cattle (Bos taurus) in Egypt, the macrosarcocysts of Sarcocystis gigantea and Sarcocystis medusiformis were detected in the carcasses of 33 domestic sheep out of a total of 250 (13.20%), whereas Sarcocystis hirsuta macrosarcocysts were found in 17 out of 150 cattle (11.33%) slaughtered at the municipal abattoirs of two different provinces in Egypt. The sarcocysts of each species were thoroughly described morphologically through gross inspection, histopathologic and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) examination. By TEM, S. gigantea primary cyst wall was 6-7.5 μm thick and had irregular highly branched cauliflower-like villar protrusions (VP).The VP contained microtubules (mt) and multiple electron dense granules (edg) that were dispersed inside the cores of the branched VP. Besides, the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (PVM) had minute blister-like invaginations all over the entire surface of the sarcocyst. S. medusiformis cyst had a thin sarcocyst wall (~2 μm thick) as compared to that of S. gigantea. The cyst wall had trapezoidal or nearly pyramidal VP that were surrounded by thick PVM in addition to a ground substance GS that contained electron-dense fine particles. S. hirsuta sarcocyst wall was 7-9 μm thick and possessed rhomboid-shaped VP that contained microtubules (mt) and electron-dense granules (edg) of variable sizes. The edg were arranged in rows and running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the protrusions. The VP had characteristic narrow neck-like constrictions at their bases, dilated middle portions, and tapered distal ends. The detected macrosarcocysts were eventually confirmed by molecular characterization on the levels of 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and Cox1 sequences. Phylogenetic analyses based on the sequences of the 18S rRNA and Cox1 genetic markers gave rise to robust associations of the currently identified isolates of S. gigantea, S. medusiformis, and S. hirsuta within a major clade of Sarcocystis species with felines as presumed or known definitive hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed El-Morsey
- Parasitology and Animal Diseases Department, Veterinary Research Division, National Research Centre, 33 El Buhouth St. (former El-Tahrir St.), Dokki, P.O. 12622, Giza, Egypt.
| | - Walied Abdo
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, KafrElsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, 33516, Egypt
| | - Attia A Abou Zaid
- Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, Kafr El-sheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt
| | - Shimaa Sobhy Gharib Sorour
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafr El-Sheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, 33516, Egypt
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Gjerde B, de la Fuente C, Alunda JM, Luzón M. Molecular characterisation of five Sarcocystis species in domestic sheep (Ovis aries) from Spain. Parasitol Res 2019; 119:215-231. [PMID: 31734863 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06504-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The major aim of the present study was to determine by molecular methods whether the wide and narrow types of macroscopic sarcocysts in Spanish sheep belonged to different species, that is, Sarcocystis gigantea and Sarcocystis medusiformis, respectively. Additionally, we wanted to identify and characterize molecularly the species forming microscopic sarcocysts and determine the phylogenetic placement of all species found. Portions of the oesophagus, diaphragm and hind legs containing macroscopic sarcocysts were collected from slaughtered culled ewes at an abattoir in the Province of Madrid, Central Spain, but both macroscopic and microscopic sarcocysts were isolated for molecular examination. Genomic DNA from 63 sarcocysts (21 macroscopic, 42 microscopic) were examined at the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (cox1), while selected isolates of each species found were further examined at the 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The 63 sarcocysts comprised five cox1 sequence types, each corresponding to a particular sarcocyst type, and thus represented five Sarcocystis spp. The slender fusiform and thick macrocysts belonged to S. medusiformis and S. gigantea, respectively. The microscopic sarcocysts belonged to Sarcocystis arieticanis, Sarcocystis tenella and a Sarcocystis mihoensis-like species with slanting thorn-like cyst wall protrusions, which was characterised molecularly for the first time. Based on its phylogenetic position, the S. mihoensis-like species probably uses corvids as definitive hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bjørn Gjerde
- Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 369 Sentrum, 0102, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Concepción de la Fuente
- Department of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida de Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - José María Alunda
- Department of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida de Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mónica Luzón
- Department of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida de Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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