Experimental induction of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis in horses using Sarcocystis sp. sporocysts from the opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

Fenger, Clara; Granstrom, David E.; Gajadhar, Alvin A.; Williams, Neil M.; McCrillis, S.; Stamper, S.; Langemeier, John L.; Dubey, J. P.

doi:10.1016/s0304-4017(96)01112-0

Cited by 133 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Recent studies have shown that the domestic cat (Felis domesticus) (6), the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) (3), the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) (2), and the raccoon (Procyon lotor) (7) can serve as intermediate hosts of S. neurona. In North America, the parasite utilizes the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) as its definitive host (17). The sporocyst stage of the parasite develops in the small intestine of the opossum and is passed in feces (4).…”

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confidence: 99%

Genetic Variation among Isolates of Sarcocystis neurona , the Agent of Protozoal Myeloencephalitis, as Revealed by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Markers

Elsheikha¹,

Schott²,

Mansfield

2006

Infect Immun

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Sarcocystis neurona causes serious neurological disease in horses and other vertebrates in the Americas. Based on epidemiological data, this parasite has recently emerged. Here, the genetic diversity of Sarcocystis neurona was evaluated using the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) method. Fifteen S. neurona taxa from different regions collected over the last 10 years were used; six isolates were from clinically diseased horses, eight isolates were from wild-caught opossums (Didelphis virginiana), and one isolate was from a cowbird (Molothrus ater). Additionally, four outgroup taxa were also fingerprinted. Nine primer pairs were used to generate AFLP patterns, with a total number of amplified fragments ranging from 30 to 60, depending on the isolate and primers tested. Based on the presence/absence of amplified AFLP fragments and pairwise similarity values, all the S. neurona isolates tested were clustered in one monophyletic group. No significant correlation could be found between genomic similarity and host origin of the S. neurona isolates. AFLP revealed significant intraspecific genetic variations, and S. neurona appeared as a highly variable species. Furthermore, linkage disequilibrium analysis suggested that S. neurona populations within Michigan have an intermediate type of population structure that includes characteristics of both clonal and panamictic population structures. AFLP is a reliable molecular technique that has provided one of the most informative approaches to ascertain phylogenetic relationships in S. neurona and its closest relatives, allowing them to be clustered by relative similarity using band matching and unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean analysis, which may be applicable to other related protozoal species.

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confidence: 99%

Genetic Variation among Isolates of Sarcocystis neurona , the Agent of Protozoal Myeloencephalitis, as Revealed by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Markers

Elsheikha¹,

Schott²,

Mansfield

2006

Infect Immun

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“…The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) has been identified as a definitive host of S. neurona (Fenger et al, 1997;Dubey and Lindsay, 1998;Tanhauser et al, 1999 Mitchell et al (2002) did not find antibodies to S. neurona in 7 opossums from Connecticut; however, they did not examine the intestines of their skunks for sporocysts, so it is unknown whether these potential hosts were infected at the time of sampling. The presence of antibodies to S. neurona would allow investigators to determine whether an opossum was infected with S. neurona gut stages without scraping the intestine and looking for sporocyst/oocyst stages.…”

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confidence: 99%

Lack of Sarcocystis neurona Antibody Response in Virginia Opossums (Didelphis virginiana) Fed Sarcocystis neurona–Infected Muscle Tissue

Cheadle¹,

Lindsay²,

Greiner³

2006

Journal of Parasitology

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“…Since J.R. Rooney initially reported the disease in 1970 in the United States [15], many cases of EPM among native horses have been reported mainly in North, Central, and South America [1-3, 6, 8, 13]. Although the life cycle of S. neurona has not been fully elucidated, opossums are considered to be the definitive host [7], and ninebanded armadillos, raccoons, and skunks are suspected to be natural intermediate hosts. Horses are infected by orally ingested sporocysts of S. neurona excreted in feces of opossums, and the protozoa parasitizes the central nervous system and forms lesions [5].…”

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confidence: 99%

First Case Report of Sarcocystis neurona-induced Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis in Japan

Katayama

Wada

Kanemaru

et al. 2003

The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science

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ABSTRACT. Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis developed in a three-year-old male Thoroughbred racehorse imported from the United States. The animal showed astasia five days after the onset of ataxia. Histopathologically, focal nonpurulent myelitis accompanied by hemorrhage and perivascular infiltration was observed in the fourth and fifth cervical spinal cord. Immunohistochemically, shizonts were occasionally observed and were positive for anti-Sarcocystis neurona (S. neurona) antiserum. S. neurona-specific antibodies were detected in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid by Western blot. This is the first equine protozoal myeloencephalitis case in Japan.

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Experimental induction of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis in horses using Sarcocystis sp. sporocysts from the opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

Cited by 133 publications

References 20 publications

Genetic Variation among Isolates of Sarcocystis neurona , the Agent of Protozoal Myeloencephalitis, as Revealed by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Markers

Genetic Variation among Isolates of Sarcocystis neurona , the Agent of Protozoal Myeloencephalitis, as Revealed by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Markers

Lack of Sarcocystis neurona Antibody Response in Virginia Opossums (Didelphis virginiana) Fed Sarcocystis neurona–Infected Muscle Tissue

First Case Report of Sarcocystis neurona-induced Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis in Japan

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