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Kang Y, Lu XS, He YH, Wang C, Wu ZX, Wang L, Wu XJ, Hu JJ, Zhu XQ. First Molecular Identification and Prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. in Sheep Intended for Human Consumption in Shanxi Province, China. Vet Sci 2024; 11:504. [PMID: 39453096 PMCID: PMC11512325 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11100504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2024] [Revised: 10/01/2024] [Accepted: 10/11/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Sarcocystis species are intracellular coccidian protozoans that can infect a range of animals and humans and cause public health problems and economically significant losses. Sarcocystosis in sheep (Ovis aries) can cause abortion, neurological symptoms, and even death and results in significant economic losses to the livestock industry. To date, however, it is yet unknown whether sheep in Shanxi Province, north China, are infected with Sarcocystis spp. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. in sheep in Shanxi Province. Thus, 582 muscle samples of sheep were purchased from farmers' markets from ten representative counties in Shanxi Province, north China, and examined for the presence and prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. by PCR amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene. Of the examined 582 mutton samples, 197 samples (33.85%) were Sarcocystis-positive and were sequenced. Of the obtained 197 cox1 sequences, 196 sequences showed nucleotide similarity of 98.56-99.81% with those of S. tenella, and the remaining one cox1 sequence showed nucleotide similarity of 99.71% with that of S. arieticanis. Two representative cox1 sequences of S. tenella (accession nos. PQ189447 and PQ189448) have 99.52% and 99.61% identity with S. tenalla (KC209725) and S. tenalla (MK419984), respectively. The sequence of S. arieticanis (accession no. PQ165949) obtained in this study has 99.71% identity with S. arieticanis (MK419975). This present study documents the occurrence and prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. in sheep in Shanxi Province for the first time, which enriches the data on the distribution of Sarcocystis spp. in sheep in China and has implications for the control of sheep sarcocystosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Kang
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.K.); (X.-S.L.); (Y.-H.H.); (C.W.); (Z.-X.W.); (L.W.); (X.-J.W.)
| | - Xin-Sheng Lu
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.K.); (X.-S.L.); (Y.-H.H.); (C.W.); (Z.-X.W.); (L.W.); (X.-J.W.)
| | - Yuan-Hui He
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.K.); (X.-S.L.); (Y.-H.H.); (C.W.); (Z.-X.W.); (L.W.); (X.-J.W.)
| | - Chen Wang
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.K.); (X.-S.L.); (Y.-H.H.); (C.W.); (Z.-X.W.); (L.W.); (X.-J.W.)
| | - Ze-Xuan Wu
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.K.); (X.-S.L.); (Y.-H.H.); (C.W.); (Z.-X.W.); (L.W.); (X.-J.W.)
| | - Lu Wang
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.K.); (X.-S.L.); (Y.-H.H.); (C.W.); (Z.-X.W.); (L.W.); (X.-J.W.)
| | - Xiao-Jing Wu
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.K.); (X.-S.L.); (Y.-H.H.); (C.W.); (Z.-X.W.); (L.W.); (X.-J.W.)
| | - Jun-Jie Hu
- School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.K.); (X.-S.L.); (Y.-H.H.); (C.W.); (Z.-X.W.); (L.W.); (X.-J.W.)
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Chen Y, Peng J, Zhu Z, Zhang W, Wang L, Xu J, Liu Q, Liu J. Development of a highly specific LAMP assay for detection of Sarcocystis tenella and Sarcocystis gigantea in sheep. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:324. [PMID: 39276229 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08349-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/16/2024]
Abstract
Sarcocystis infection in sheep has caused significant economic losses in the livestock industry, and the genetic similarity among Sarcocystis species highlights the need for precise diagnostic methods in sheep. This study developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method targeting COX-1 and 28S rRNA genes to detect Sarcocystis tenella and Sarcocystis gigantea, respectively. The LAMP method exhibited high specificity, selectively amplifying target DNA sequences without cross-reactivity with closely related protozoa, such as Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum. Detection limits were determined as 3 × 105 copies/L for S. tenella and 6 × 104 copies/L for S. gigantea, enabling sensitive identification of low-level infections. Comparative analysis with conventional PCR on sheep cardiac tissues demonstrated a higher LAMP detection rate (80.0% vs 66.7%). In conclusion, the LAMP method offers superior sensitivity to conventional PCR, allows visual confirmation of results, and provides a rapid diagnostic tool for identifying S. tenella and S. gigantea infection in sheep. However, due to the limitation of sample availability, we were unable to assess all Sarcocystis species that use sheep as intermediate hosts, which warrants further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Chen
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Peng
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Zifu Zhu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Beijing General Station of Animal Husbandry, Beijing, 100110, People's Republic of China
| | - Lifang Wang
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhai Xu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Qun Liu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Liu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
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Baranauskaitė A, Prakas P, Butkauskas D, Servienė E, Strazdaitė-Žielienė Ž. Diversity of Sarcocystis parasites in southeastern Baltic Sea catchment ecosystems. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:214. [PMID: 38767751 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08234-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Currently, research on apicomplexan Sarcocystis parasites is mainly carried out by analyzing animal carcasses. However, environmental studies would not only allow faster detection of possible sources of infection but also avoid the use of animals for investigations. Therefore, in the current study, we aimed to identify tested Sarcocystis species in sediment collected from water bodies located in the southeastern Baltic countries. A total of 99 sediment samples were collected during the summer from different types of water bodies in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Species-specific nested PCR targeting cox1 gene was used for the detection of selected Sarcocystis species (S. cruzi, S. bovifelis, S. hirsuta, S. arieticanis, S. tenella, S. capracanis, S. miescheriana, and S. bertrami) infecting livestock. The results showed a statistically lower (p < 0.05) occurrence of Sarcocystis parasites in Estonia (50%) compared to three countries, where the detection rate of Sarcocystis spp. DNA was remarkably higher, ranging from 88 to 100%. Among Sarcocystis species tested, S. cruzi (83.8%) and S. arieticanis (55.6%) using cattle and sheep as their intermediate hosts were most commonly identified. The detection rates of some of the analyzed Sarcocystis species were significantly different in southeastern Baltic countries. It is discussed that the detection rates of certain Sarcocystis species depend not only on the number of animals per 1 km2 but also on various ecological factors and farming practices that differ in the amount of contact domestic animals have with predators and the potential for animals to become infected through natural water or food sources.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Petras Prakas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos St. 2, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Elena Servienė
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos St. 2, Vilnius, Lithuania
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Šneideris D, Moskaliova D, Butkauskas D, Prakas P. The Distribution of Sarcocsytis Species Described by Ungulates-Canids Life Cycle in Intestines of Small Predators of the Family Mustelidae. Acta Parasitol 2024; 69:747-758. [PMID: 38413556 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-024-00814-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Using molecular techniques, we have previously shown that carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae might be common definitive hosts for various protozoan Sarcocystis species. In the present study we aimed to unravel whether Sarcocystis species using ungulates as intermediate hosts and canids or felids as definitive hosts can be found in intestine of mustelids. METHODS Small intestine samples of 93 individual mustelids of five different species from Lithuania were examined. Sarcocystis species were identified based on species-specific PCR and subsequent cox1 sequencing. RESULTS Six Sarcocystis species (S. arieticanis, S. bertrami, S. capracanis, S. capreolicanis, S. linearis and S. morae) defined by ungulate-canid life cycle were detected for the first time in small intestines of mustelids. By contrast, the prevalence of Sarcocystis characterised by ungulate-felid life cycle was low (3.2%). Overall, 76% of the examined animals were positive for at least one of the studied Sarcocystis species. Four species, S. arieticanis, S. bertrami, S. capracanis and S. morae were most commonly found, with the detection rate of about 40%. CONCLUSIONS The current finding, in addition to our previous studies, suggests that mustelids play an important role in the spread of various Sarcocystis species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Petras Prakas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
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Marandykina-Prakienė A, Butkauskas D, Gudiškis N, Juozaitytė-Ngugu E, Bagdonaitė DL, Kirjušina M, Calero-Bernal R, Prakas P. Sarcocystis Species Richness in Sheep and Goats from Lithuania. Vet Sci 2023; 10:520. [PMID: 37624307 PMCID: PMC10458481 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10080520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Contradictory data is available on the intermediate host specificity of Sarcocystis spp. in farm animals. Therefore, the current work aimed at molecularly testing samples of sheep and goats reared in Lithuania to identify Sarcocystis species described in other intermediate hosts but suspected to be non-canonical parasites to these small ruminants. For this purpose, muscle samples from 47 domestic sheep and nine goats were examined. Sarcocystis species were identified using direct and nested PCR targeting cox1 and sequencing of positive amplified products. Along with the detection of the canonical Sarcocystis spp. in their respective intermediate hosts, the DNA of S. capracanis and S. morae was detected in sheep, although these species were previously thought to be specific to goats and deer, respectively. In addition, DNA from S. arieticanis and S. tenella was found in goats, even though these two species were believed to be sheep-specific. Notably, under light microscopy, only sarcocysts of S. capracanis specific to goats were observed. Thus, future research on the life cycle and host-specificity of Sarcocystis spp. examined is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Marandykina-Prakienė
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania; (A.M.-P.); (D.B.); (N.G.); (E.J.-N.); (D.L.B.)
| | - Dalius Butkauskas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania; (A.M.-P.); (D.B.); (N.G.); (E.J.-N.); (D.L.B.)
| | - Naglis Gudiškis
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania; (A.M.-P.); (D.B.); (N.G.); (E.J.-N.); (D.L.B.)
| | - Evelina Juozaitytė-Ngugu
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania; (A.M.-P.); (D.B.); (N.G.); (E.J.-N.); (D.L.B.)
| | - Dovilė Laisvūnė Bagdonaitė
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania; (A.M.-P.); (D.B.); (N.G.); (E.J.-N.); (D.L.B.)
| | - Muza Kirjušina
- Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, Daugavpils University, Parādes Street 1A, 5401 Daugavpils, Latvia;
| | - Rafael Calero-Bernal
- SALUVET Group, Animal Health Department, Complutense University, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Petras Prakas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania; (A.M.-P.); (D.B.); (N.G.); (E.J.-N.); (D.L.B.)
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Feng Y, Guo R, Sang X, Zhang X, Li M, Li X, Yang N, Jiang T. A Systematic Meta-Analysis of Global Sarcocystis Infection in Sheep and Goats. Pathogens 2023; 12:902. [PMID: 37513749 PMCID: PMC10386720 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Sarcocystosis is an intracellular parasitic disease caused by Sarcocystis spp. that has a worldwide prevalence. Symptoms of the disease include diarrhea and muscle pain. The disease poses a threat to the health of animals. The aim of this review is to investigate the global prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in sheep and goats during 2013-2022. We searched five databases: Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. A total of 36 articles containing 44 datasets met the criteria and were included in the study. The total infection rates of Sarcocystis in sheep and goats were 66.3% (95% CI, 51.79-79.38%) and 52.1% (95% CI, 29.45-74.23%), respectively. It was found that Sarcocystis species tend to have a host species preference. Coinfection of S. tenella and S. arieticanis often occurred in sheep, and goats were frequently infected with S. capracanis. Age and sex were identified as risk factors for Sarcocystis infection in sheep and goats. The infection rates of female and male animals were significantly different, with females having a higher infection rate. Age-adjusted analysis showed that infection rates in animals older than one year were higher than in animals younger than one year. This study unveiled the global distribution of Sarcocystis and sheds light on its transmission in sheep and goats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Feng
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Road 120, Shenyang 110866, China
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Ruiying Guo
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Road 120, Shenyang 110866, China
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Xiaoyu Sang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Road 120, Shenyang 110866, China
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Xiaohan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Road 120, Shenyang 110866, China
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Meiqi Li
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Road 120, Shenyang 110866, China
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Road 120, Shenyang 110866, China
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Na Yang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Dongling Road 120, Shenyang 110866, China
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Tiantian Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
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El-Sayad M, El-Taweel H, Ahmed A, Abd El-Latif N. Sarcocystosis among buffaloes from slaughterhouses in Nile Delta, Egypt: morphologic assessment and molecular confirmation. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH 2023; 24:313-319. [PMID: 38799287 PMCID: PMC11127730 DOI: 10.22099/ijvr.2023.48129.7006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Background Sarcocystis species are coccidian protozoan zoonotic parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa. There is a large diversity of Sarcocystis species. Some of them are pathogenic and dangerous to humans, domestic, and wild animals. Cattle are common intermediate hosts. The infection of meat with different species of Sarcocystis can be serious for public health. Aims The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of sarcocystosis in slaughtered buffaloes in Tanta city abattoirs, Nile Delta, Egypt. Methods Morphological and histological examinations and a molecular study were undertaken. A total of 517 locally bred buffaloes were slaughtered in Tanta city, Egypt. Each buffalo carcass was visually inspected for the presence of Sarcocystis macrocysts. Fifty tissue samples containing suspected cysts were examined by using different techniques including histology, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and PCR. Results By visual inspection, the overall prevalence of suspected sarcocystosis was 26.5%. The highest infection rate was detected visually from the esophagus followed by skeletal muscles and diaphragm whereas the least was recorded in the tongue. Histological and TEM examination showed that the cysts were packed with bradyzoites separated by multiple septa. 100% of the sarcocysts diagnosed visually in the esophagus and muscles were confirmed by PCR, compared to only 25% of those detected in the tongue. Conclusion These results highlight the high prevalence of sarcocystosis among buffaloes in Egypt, possibly due to widespread environmental contamination by Sarcocystis oocysts. The use of molecular methods should be encouraged to confirm the identity of the suspected cysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. El-Sayad
- Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - H. El-Taweel
- Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - A. Ahmed
- Department of Biomedical Informatics & Medical Statistics, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - N. Abd El-Latif
- Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
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Zhu Z, Ying Z, Feng Z, Liu Q, Liu J. The Occurrence and Meta-Analysis of Investigations on Sarcocystis Infection among Ruminants (Ruminantia) in Mainland China. Animals (Basel) 2022; 13:ani13010149. [PMID: 36611757 PMCID: PMC9817671 DOI: 10.3390/ani13010149] [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: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Sarcocystis is a zoonotic pathogen that threatens public health and the quality of food safety. To determine the Sarcocystis spp. prevalence in ruminants (Ruminantia) in China, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Data were collected from English databases (PubMed and Web of Science) and Chinese databases (Chinese Web of knowledge (CNKI), Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP) and Wan Fang databases). A total of 20,301 ruminants from 54 publications were evaluated. The pooled prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. among ruminants in mainland China was 65% (95% CI: 57-72%). Our results indicate that sarcocystosis is prevalent in ruminants, which show significant geographical differences. Therefore, it there is a need for continuous monitoring of infections of Sarcocystis spp. in ruminants to reduce the threat to human health and economic losses to the animal industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zifu Zhu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhu Ying
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zixuan Feng
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qun Liu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jing Liu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence:
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Baranauskaitė A, Strazdaitė-Žielienė Ž, Servienė E, Butkauskas D, Prakas P. Molecular Identification of Protozoan Sarcocystis in Different Types of Water Bodies in Lithuania. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 13:life13010051. [PMID: 36676000 PMCID: PMC9864107 DOI: 10.3390/life13010051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Representatives of the genus Sarcocystis are unicellular parasites having a two-host life cycle and infecting mammals, birds, and reptiles. Until now, Sarcocystis spp. have been mainly investigated in definitive and intermediate hosts. Only a few studies have been conducted on the detection of Sarcocystis parasites in water samples. The aim of this research was to examine whether the prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. parasitizing farm animals varies in different types of water bodies. Water samples (n = 150) were collected from the entire territory of Lithuania, dividing water bodies into five groups (lakes, rivers, ponds/canals, swamps, and the inshore zone of the territorial Baltic Sea area). One-liter samples were filtered and subsequently analyzed using nested PCR. At least one of the analyzed Sarcocystis spp. (S. arieticanis, S. bertrami, S. bovifelis, S. capracanis, S. cruzi, S. hirsuta, S. miescheriana, and S. tenella) was determined in all examined samples from water bodies. No significant difference in Sarcocystis spp. prevalence between different types of water sources was detected. Our research proved that selecting appropriate primers is important for the accurate identification of parasites in samples collected from water bodies.
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Zhu Z, Chen Y, Yang X, Wang L, Liu Q, Liu J. Molecular detection and identification of three intracellular parasites of retail mutton products in Beijing, China. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:1018788. [PMID: 36246329 PMCID: PMC9561930 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1018788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcocystis spp., Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii are globally ubiquitous pathogens, and domestic sheep are considered to be one of the intermediate hosts. 83 myocardial samples of sheep were collected from 12 retail stores in Beijing, China. Sarcocystis spp., N. caninum and T. gondii were identified by PCR amplification of the 18S rRNA gene, Nc-5 gene and 529bp DNA fragment with a prevalence of 86.7% (95% CI: 77.5–93.2) and 43.4% (95% CI: 32.5–54.7) for Sarcocystis spp. and N. caninum infections, respectively, and no T. gondii was detected. The co-infection prevalence of Sarcocystis and N. caninum was 38.6% (95% CI: 28.1–49.9). Two Sarcocystis species were subtyped by analyzing 18SrRNA sequences and were identified as Sarcocystis tenella and Sarcocystis arieticanis. The prevalence of S. tenella and S. arieticanis infections was 84.3% (95% CI: 74.7–91.4) and 56.6% (95% CI: 45.3–67.5), respectively. This study shows that sheep have a high risk of infection with Sarcocystis and N. caninum, suggests that effective prevention measures are needed to avoid the spread of these parasites in sheep. Toxoplasmosis in sheep poses a threat to human and animal health and requires monitoring and preventing continuously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zifu Zhu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yajie Chen
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Yang
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Lifang Wang
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qun Liu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Liu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Jing Liu
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11
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Marandykina-Prakienė A, Butkauskas D, Gudiškis N, Juozaitytė-Ngugu E, Januškevičius V, Rudaitytė-Lukošienė E, Prakas P. Molecular Identification of Sarcocystis Species in Sheep from Lithuania. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:2048. [PMID: 36009638 PMCID: PMC9404443 DOI: 10.3390/ani12162048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Data on the distribution of different Sarcocystis species in various muscles of sheep are scarce. In the present study, 190 diaphragm, oesophagus, and heart muscle samples of 69 sheep raised in Lithuania were examined for the presence of Sarcocystis spp. Under a light microscope, two morphological types of microcysts corresponding to S. arieticanis and S. tenella were detected. Eight and 12 sarcocysts of S. arieticanis and S. tenella, respectively, were isolated and characterised by the sequencing of a portion of cox1. The sequence comparisons revealed the highest similarity between European and Asian isolates of S. arieticanis and S. tenella obtained from domestic sheep and other wild Caprinae hosts. Based on peptic digestion, nested PCR targeting cox1, and sequencing, a 100% infection prevalence of S. arieticanis and S. tenella was observed in the 69 studied animals. The occurrence of S. tenella was significantly higher in the diaphragm than in the oesophagus (χ2 = 13.14, p < 0.001), whereas differences in the prevalence of S. arieticanis in the studied muscle types were insignificant (χ2 = 1.28, p > 0.05). Further molecularly based epidemiological studies are needed to compare the prevalence of Sarcocystis species in various muscles of sheep raised in different geographic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Petras Prakas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
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12
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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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13
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Jiang N, Xin S, Zhu N, Yang L, Huang W, Hu J, Zhu X, Yang Y. First Report of Sarcocystis Masoni in a Captive Alpaca ( Vicugna Pacos) From China. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:759252. [PMID: 34722713 PMCID: PMC8551384 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.759252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Sarcocystosis is a parasitic disease caused by intracellular protozoan parasite of the genus Sarcocystis. Tissue samples of alpacas (n = 4) from Henan province (China) were screened for Sarcocystis spp. infection by histological examination, pepsin digestion, and molecular assays. Results:Sarcocystis spp. was detected in heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney of an alpaca by molecular assays. Many sarcocysts with inflammation responses were observed in this alpaca myocardium, and they showed a high similarity to Sarcocystis masoni by sequence analysis. Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate Sarcocystis spp. infection in alpaca from China. The higher parasite load in the alpaca myocardium indicated that it had contact with an environment contaminated with sporocysts, and that the alpaca was susceptible to Sarcocystis spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Jiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shilin Xin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Niuping Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Liulu Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Junjie Hu
- School of Biological Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Xiuhong Zhu
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yurong Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
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14
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Delgado-de Las Cuevas GE, Prakas P, Rudaitytė-Lukošienė E, García-Gil ML, Martínez-González M, Butkauskas D, Mowery JD, Dubey JP, Habela MA, Calero-Bernal R. First description of Sarcocystis species infecting Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia). Parasitol Res 2021; 120:2881-2886. [PMID: 34251515 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07239-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) is a North African native wild Caprinae, introduced in the 1970s in new territories such as Spain, the USA, and Mexico. Here, we describe Sarcocystis species in Barbary sheep. Sarcocysts were found in 19 out of 56 adult A. lervia in Southern Spain and characterized morphologically and molecularly. By light microscopy, sarcocysts had thin (< 1 μm) or thick (> 2 μm) walls. By transmission electron microscopy, sarcocysts with thick walls had Type 14 villar protrusions corresponding to S. tenella/S. capracanis of domestic sheep (Ovis aries) or goats (Capra hircus). Sarcocysts with thin walls had Type 7b villar protrusions that corresponded to S. arieticanis/S. hircicanis of domestic sheep or goats. Molecular analyses allowed the identification of only thick-walled Sarcocystis species. Six sarcocysts were assigned to S. tenella (99.2-100% and 95.6-100% sequence similarity within 18S rRNA and COI, respectively) and 19 sarcocysts were assigned to S. capracanis (98.5-99.8% and 97.9-99.0% sequence similarity within 18S rRNA and COI, respectively). Further studies are needed for taxonomic identification of sarcocysts in Barbary sheep because Sarcocystis species in sheep and goats are not cross transmissible despite morphological similarities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Petras Prakas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - María L García-Gil
- Spanish National Microscopy Centre, Av. Complutense s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Martínez-González
- Animal Health Department, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad s/n, 10071, Cáceres, Spain
| | | | - Joseph D Mowery
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA
| | - Jitender P Dubey
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Electron and Confocal Microscopy Unit, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Building 12, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA
| | - Miguel A Habela
- Animal Health Department, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad s/n, 10071, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Rafael Calero-Bernal
- SALUVET Group, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda. Complutense s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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15
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Prakas P, Rehbein S, Rudaitytė-Lukošienė E, Butkauskas D. Molecular identification of Sarcocystis species in diaphragm muscle tissue of European mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon) from Austria. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:2695-2702. [PMID: 34164716 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07212-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Previous morphological studies suggested that mouflon may have sarcocysts similar to those of sheep. However, to date, no molecular-based studies of the species of Sarcocystis infecting mouflon have been done. The present study identified Sarcocystis species in diaphragm muscle samples from 20 European mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon). Molecular identification using the cox1 sequence analysis was performed on sarcocysts excised from muscle tissue and on DNA from digested muscle samples. Both frequency and intensity of infection in mouflon were high with 19 of 20 animals testing Sarcocystis positive and > 50 cysts per gram of tissue recovered from 10 of the 19 Sarcocystis positive animals. Molecular analysis revealed dominant Sarcocystis tenella (18/19 animals) and Sarcocystis arieticanis (1/19 animals), whose known intermediate hosts are sheep. In addition, Sarcocystis capracanis, which is known to form sarcocysts in goats, was detected in two animals. The results of this study demonstrated the digestion method to be superior over the direct isolation of sarcocysts for the molecular identification of Sarcocystis species in a certain host. Future research of Sarcocystis diversity in wild ovine and caprine species is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petras Prakas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Steffen Rehbein
- Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, Kathrinenhof Research Center, Rohrdorf, Germany
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16
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Sarcocystosis in Ruminants of Iran, as Neglected Food-Borne Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Acta Parasitol 2020; 65:555-568. [PMID: 32297107 DOI: 10.2478/s11686-020-00210-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Sarcocystis is a zoonotic parasitic pathogen which endangers the safety of meat and meat products. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prevalence rate and status of Sarcocystis spp. in ruminants as important food sources in Iran. METHODS Data were collected from papers indexed in five English language electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar) and four Persian electronic databases (IranMedex, SID, IranDoc, and Magiran) from January to April 2019. Papers were selected based on inclusion criteria. Data analysis was performed in StatsDirect statistical software, version 2.7.2. RESULTS The searching process resulted in the identification of 73 studies. Data analyses revealed that the total prevalence (95% confidence intervals) of Sarcocystis spp. in Iranian ruminants was 74.40% (64.01-83.56). In addition, a significant association was also observed between sarcocystosis infection in Iranian ruminants and year, host, location, and diagnostic technique (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS According to our data, the prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in ruminants is relatively high. High pathogenicity of some Sarcocystis spp. and the negative impact that the spread of some parasites among ruminants can have on human and animal health necessitate the direction of more attention toward monitoring, controlling, and preventing sarcocystosis.
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17
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Connick K, Lalor R, Murphy A, O'Neill SM, El Shanawany EE. Sarcocystis fusiformis whole cyst antigen activates pro-inflammatory dendritic cells. J Parasit Dis 2020; 44:186-193. [PMID: 32174724 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-019-01181-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcocystis fusiformis is a coccidian tissue parasite that causes infection in buffalo in countries such an Egypt, China, Iraq and Iran, resulting in significant economic losses to the agricultural industry annually. There is a lack of studies examining host-parasite interactions at the level of the immune response and the present study investigates the interaction between S. fusiformis whole cyst antigens (SFWCA) and dendritic cells (DCs), cells critical to the activation of adaptive immunity. In this study bone marrow derived DCs (BMDCs) were phenotyped following treatment with SFWCA by measuring cell viability, cytokine secretion, and cell surface marker expression. While SFWCA exhibited cytotoxic effects on BMDCs at higher concentrations, lower concentrations of SFWCA activated pro-inflammatory DCs that significantly secreted interleukin (IL)-12p40, tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-6 and IL-10. These cells also displayed enhanced expression of TLR4, CD80, CD86 and MHC II on their surface, which is indicative of full DCs maturation. Moreover, SFWCA significantly attenuated the capacity of BMDCs to suppress Th2 associated cytokines, notably IL-5 and IL-13, while simultaneously exhibiting no effects on the secretion of interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-2, IL-17, and IL-10. In conclusion, this is the first study to provide fundamental insight into the activation of DCs by SFWCA, providing us with some awareness into the interaction of the Sarcosystis parasite with its host. The pro-inflammatory inducing ability of this antigen is in keeping with studies performed in other protozoan parasites and therefore understanding these interactions is important in the development of future therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Connick
- 1School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - R Lalor
- 1School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - A Murphy
- 1School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - S M O'Neill
- 1School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Eman E El Shanawany
- 2Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, National Research Centre, El Bhooth St, Dokki, Post Pox 12622, Giza, Egypt
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18
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Hoeve-Bakker BJA, van der Giessen JWB, Franssen FFJ. Molecular identification targeting cox1 and 18S genes confirms the high prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. in cattle in the Netherlands. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:859-866. [PMID: 31400377 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2019.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The reported prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in cattle in Europe ranges between 66 and 94%. Although in the Netherlands a prevalence of 100% was reported in 1993, this study aimed to develop a method for sensitive and specific molecular detection and species identification of Sarcocystis spp., in order to provide more recent data on the prevalence and identification of these protozoa in cattle meat intended for human consumption in the Netherlands. For this purpose, 104 cattle samples were obtained from Dutch slaughterhouses. Genomic DNA was extracted, and analysed by 18S and cox1 PCR. Magnetic capture was used to extract and amplify 18S-specific DNA. Sarcocystis DNA was detected in 82.7% of the samples. PCR amplicons of both targets were sequenced, and sequence identities of ≥97% were observed for Sarcocystis cruzi (65.4%), Sarcocystis hominis (12.5%), Sarcocystis bovifelis (8.7%), Sarcocystis hirsuta and Sarcocystis heydorni (both 1.0%). Mixed infections were observed in 17.3% of the samples. The magnetic capture was not significantly more sensitive compared with standard DNA extraction, but magnetic capture did add to the overall sensitivity. Using cox1 sequencing, all species are clearly distinguished, whereas for 18S the variation between species is limited, which particularly hampers reliable identification of thick walled Sarcocystis spp. Furthermore, the detection of 12.5% S. hominis and 1% S. heydorni points towards an established transmission route between cattle and humans in the Netherlands. The availability of four additional well-identified and well-referenced S. hominis cox1 sequences in public databases enables development of species-specific diagnostic PCRs targeting cox1, which in combination with magnetic capture could provide the means to determine the prevalence of human sarcocystosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- B J A Hoeve-Bakker
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, Diagnostics and Laboratory Surveillance, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) Bilthoven, The Netherlands; Centre for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - J W B van der Giessen
- Centre for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - F F J Franssen
- Centre for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
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