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Šukytė T, Juozaitytė-Ngugu E, Švažas S, Butkauskas D, Prakas P. The Genetic Identification of Numerous Apicomplexan Sarcocystis Species in Intestines of Common Buzzard ( Buteo buteo). Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2391. [PMID: 39199925 PMCID: PMC11350845 DOI: 10.3390/ani14162391] [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: 07/22/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) was previously shown to transmit two Sarcocystis species (S. glareoli and S. microti) forming cysts in the brains of rodents. Due to a lack of research, the richness of Sarcocystis species spread by these birds of prey is expected to be much higher. A total of 30 samples of the small intestine of the Common Buzzard were collected in Lithuania and subjected to Sarcocystis species identification based on nested PCR of 28S rRNA and ITS1, following the sequencing of amplified DNA fragments. Six known Sarcocystis spp., S. cornixi, S. glareoli, S. halieti, S. kutkienae, S. turdusi, and S. wobeseri, along with three genetically distinct species (Sarcocystis sp. Rod3, Sarcocystis sp. Rod4, and Sarcocystis sp. Rod5), were identified. Phylogenetically, these three potentially new species clustered with Sarcocystis spp. characterised by a rodents-birds life cycle. Sarcocystis spp. employing rodents and birds as their intermediate hosts were detected in 66.7% and 50.0% of samples, respectively. These findings are consistent with the diet preferences of Common Buzzards. Notably, co-infections with two or more species were observed in a half of the samples. Altogether, the obtained results indicate that the Common Buzzard could serve as definitive host of various Sarcocystis species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Petras Prakas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania; (T.Š.); (E.J.-N.); (S.Š.); (D.B.)
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Máca O, Gudiškis N, Butkauskas D, González-Solís D, Prakas P. Red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes) and raccoon dogs ( Nyctereutes procyonoides) as potential spreaders of Sarcocystis species. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1392618. [PMID: 38903682 PMCID: PMC11188440 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1392618] [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: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Sarcocystis includes a global group of apicomplexan parasites with two-host life cycle frequently circulating in wildlife and domestic hosts, including humans. Two of the most important wild terrestrial carnivores acting as definitive hosts are the red fox and raccoon dog, due to their wide distribution in Europe and usage of wild and farmed animals as prey. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Sarcocystis in hunted red foxes and raccoon dogs from nine regions of the Czech Republic and to identify isolated sporocysts by molecular techniques. Methods Approximately 5 g of the contents of large intestine from 200 animals (197 red foxes and three raccoon dogs) were examined by flotation centrifugation coprological method. Only samples of 50 red foxes and one raccoon dog positive to Sarcocystis spp. were used for the nested PCR (nPCR) method to amplify a fragment or partial sequence on the cox1 gene. Ten species-specific primer pairs for detection of Sarcocystis spp. using farm animals as intermediate hosts were utilized. Results In total, 38.1% of the red foxes and 66.7% of the raccoon dogs were positive to Sarcocystis by light microscopy. The molecular characterization resulted in the identification of five species in the red fox: S. arieticanis, S. capracanis, S. cruzi, S. miescheriana, and S. tenella, while the PCR was negative for the sole raccoon dog. The highest intraspecific variation was found for S. miescheriana, while S. tenella was the most prevalent. Co-infections occurred in the large intestine of the red fox. No zoonotic species were found in our samples. Conclusion This is the first study where the potential role of the red fox and raccoon dogs as spreaders of Sarcocystis to farm animals in the Czech Republic is shown. The use of species-specific primers provides a fast and easy method for screening multiple samples for a particular Sarcocystis species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondřej Máca
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, State Veterinary Institute Prague, Prague, Czechia
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | | | | | - David González-Solís
- Department of Systematics and Aquatic Ecology, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal, Mexico
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Prakas P, Jasiulionis M, Šukytė T, Juozaitytė-Ngugu E, Stirkė V, Balčiauskas L, Butkauskas D. First Observations of Buzzards ( Buteo) as Definitive Hosts of Sarcocystis Parasites Forming Cysts in the Brain Tissues of Rodents in Lithuania. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:264. [PMID: 38666876 PMCID: PMC11047845 DOI: 10.3390/biology13040264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Representatives of the genus Sarcocystis are worldwide distributed apicomplexan parasites characterised by two-host prey-predator relationships. Sarcocystis spp. produce sarcocysts in the muscles and brains of intermediate hosts and develop sporocysts in the intestines of definitive hosts. Two species, Sarcocystis glareoli and Sarcocystis microti, previously assigned to the genus Frenkelia, form cysts in the brains of rodents and are transmitted through the common buzzard (Buteo buteo). In our study, brain samples of 694 small mammals caught in different regions of Lithuania were examined for Sarcocystis spp. Additionally, 10 B. buteo and two rough-legged buzzards (Buteo lagopus) were tested for sporocysts of the analysed parasites. Sarcocystis species were identified based on 28S rRNA sequence comparison. Of the eleven species of small mammals tested, Sarcocystis parasites were observed only in the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus). Cysts of S. glareoli were detected in 34 out of 374 C. glareolus (9.1%, 95% CI = 6.4-12.5%). Molecular investigation showed the presence of only S. glareoli in the intestines of 50% of B. buteo. Furthermore, two species, Sarcocystis sp. Rod3 and Sarcocystis sp. Rod4, were confirmed in B. lagopus. Our results demonstrate the need for further studies on Sarcocystis cycling between rodents and birds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Linas Balčiauskas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania; (P.P.); (M.J.); (T.Š.); (E.J.-N.); (V.S.); (D.B.)
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Máca O, Kouba M, Langrová I, Panská L, Korpimäki E, González-Solís D. The Tengmalm's owl Aegolius funereus (Aves, Strigidae) as the definitive host of Sarcocystis funereus sp. nov. (Apicomplexa). Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1356549. [PMID: 38384962 PMCID: PMC10880445 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1356549] [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: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Owls have been reported as definitive hosts, whereas wild small mammals (naturally and experimentally) as intermediate hosts of several species of Sarcocystis. Recently, dead fledglings were found infected by an unnamed species of Sarcocystis since its intermediate host was unknown. After collecting additional samples of owls and wild small mammals, the present study focused on elucidating the identity, potential intermediate host, and complete life cycle of the found Sarcocystis through experimentally infected rodents. The developmental stages' morphological and molecular characterizations (28S rRNA gene, ITS1 region) are presented herein. Methods In total, 21 Tengmalm's owl carcasses (15 nestlings, 5 fledglings, and 1 adult male) were collected in Kauhava (west-central Finland) and parasitologically examined by wet mounts. Intestinal mucosa scrapings were used to isolate oocysts/sporocysts and employed for experimental infections in dexamethasone-immunosuppressed BALB/cOlaHsd mice. Additionally, sarcocysts were searched in the skeletal muscle of 95 samples from seven wild small mammal species. All these developmental stages were molecularly characterized by the 28S rRNA gene and ITS1 region. Experimental infections were carried out by using immunosuppressed female 8-week-old BALB/cOlaHsd mice, divided into three groups: (1) water with 15 μg/mL of dexamethasone, (2) water with 30 μg/mL of dexamethasone, (3) no dexamethasone treatment. Each group consisted of four individuals. In each group, two mice were infected with 1,000 sporocysts each, and the remaining two with 10,000 sporocysts each. All mice were euthanized on specific days post-infection. Results The intestinal mucosa of 11 nestlings and 5 fledglings of the Tengmalm's owl were positive for Sarcocystis funereus sp. nov. The adult male owl and all owls' breast and heart muscles were negative for Sarcocystis. Two dexamethasone-immunosuppressed BALB/cOlaHsd mice (group 2) were positive to S. funereus sp. nov. in diaphragm and leg muscles after 22- and 24-day post-infection. Some sarcocysts were found in the wild small mammals. Molecular identification at 28S rRNA revealed sequences from naturally infected Tengmalm's owls, as well as sarcocysts of dexamethasone-immunosuppressed BALB/cOlaHsd mice were 99.87-100% similar to Sarcocystis sp. isolate Af1 previously found in the Tengmalm's owl. At the ITS1 region, the S. funereus sp. nov. isolates Af2 haplotype B and Af3 haplotype A were 98.77-100% identical to Sarcocystis sp. isolate Af1. The sequences from sarcocysts of naturally infected wild small mammals were 75.23-90.30% similar at ITS1 region to those of S. funereus sp. nov. Conclusion The morphological and molecular characterizations and phylogenetic placement of S. funereus sp. nov. are presented here for the first time and support the erection of the new species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondřej Máca
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, State Veterinary Institute Prague, Prague, Czechia
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Marek Kouba
- Department of Ethology and Companion Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Iva Langrová
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Lucie Panská
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Erkki Korpimäki
- Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - David González-Solís
- Department of Systematics and Aquatic Ecology, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
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Prakas P, Stirkė V, Šneideris D, Rakauskaitė P, Butkauskas D, Balčiauskas L. Protozoan Parasites of Sarcocystis spp. in Rodents from Commercial Orchards. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2087. [PMID: 37443884 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132087] [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: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Small mammals are an important group of wildlife that can transmit pathogens to humans and animals. There is a lack of comprehensive studies on the protozoan parasites of the genus Sarcocystis in agricultural areas. The aim of the current research was to evaluate the prevalence of Sarcocystis spp., and to identify the parasite species found in the skeletal muscles of rodents and insectivores from commercial orchards. A total of 679 muscle samples from small mammals, mainly rodents (n = 674), belonging to eight species were examined. Muscle samples were pooled into groups, then digested, and the presence of the Sarcocystis species was confirmed by molecular methods. The examined parasites were determined in five rodent species, Apodemus agrarius, A. flavicollis, Clethrionomys glareolus, Microtus arvalis, and M. oeconomus. The prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. was low: 2.23% in voles and 0.79% in mice. Based on a sequence comparison of cox1 and 28S rDNA, four species were identified: S. myodes, Sarcocystis cf. strixi, Sarcocystis sp. Rod1, and Sarcocystis sp. Rod2. This is the first report of S. myodes in A. agrarius, A. flavicollis, and M. arvalis. The identified species were most closely related to Sarcocystis spp., and were transmitted by predatory mammals and birds. Future studies are needed to describe the species morphologically, as well as to define the host spectrum and to evaluate their possible pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petras Prakas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
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Máca O, González-Solís D. White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) as the definitive host of Sarcocystis lutrae in the Czech Republic. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:981829. [PMID: 36061107 PMCID: PMC9435999 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.981829] [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: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The white-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla, has been involved in the life cycle of several Sarcocystis species as the intermediate and definitive host. To date, it has been supposed that the eagle might play the role as the definitive host for S. Lutrae, and, herein, we tried to elucidate it based on morphometric and molecular analyses. One out of two eagles harbored oocysts (17.0−17.4 × 11.3–11.9 μm) and sporocysts (11.3–12.3 × 8.3–9.3 μm) in the intestinal mucosa, whose sequences at 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS1, and cox1 showed similar identity (97.64–100%) to published sequences of S. lutrae from other hosts. The presence of sporulated oocysts in the lamina propria of villi confirms that S. lutrae truly infects the white-tailed eagle. The white-tailed eagle is confirmed as the definitive host of S. lutrae in the Czech Republic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondřej Máca
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, State Veterinary Institute Prague, Prague, Czechia
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - David González-Solís
- Department of Systematics and Aquatic Ecology, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
- *Correspondence: David González-Solís
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