Molecular detection of Apicomplexa protozoa in tissues from Alouatta guariba clamitans

Abstract

The brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans) is a primate species widely distributed in South America. Infections by protozoa are common in primates. However, studies on protozoa in primates in Brazil are scarce, so the goal of this study was to investigate DNA from the apicomplexan protozoa Neospora caninum, Sarcocystis spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in tissues of A. guariba clamitans. DNA extraction was performed on tissue samples from the heart, brain, liver, spleen, lung and intestine of six A. guariba clamitans from Santa Maria, Central Region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Conventional PCR was performed using 18S rRNA gene general primers for Apicomplexa and also specific primers to amplify Neosporaspp. and Toxoplasma gondii DNA. All animals were positive in the 18S PCR and the genetic sequencing confirmed the presence of Sarcocystis spp. DNA in the tissues of four animals belonging to at least two species (S. neurona and S. gigantea) and T. gondii DNA in the other two animals. One positive sample for T. gondii was genotypically characterized as atypical by the restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. N. caninum DNA was not detected in the tested samples. The presence of Apicomplexa protozoan DNA in the tissues of the six animals tested in this study highlights the importance of howler monkeys as maintainers of these pathogens in nature.

Occurrence of Apicomplexa protozoa in wild birds in the Northeast region of Brazil

“…Another study has shown 4.7% (91/1921) of bats with tissues positive for the 18S rDNA gene were detected, and eight genera of protozoa of the Sarcocystidae family (Besnoitia, Cystoisospora, Hammondia, Hyaloklossia, Neospora, Nephroisospora, Sarcocystis, and Toxoplasma) were identified in 50 samples of 16 bat species (belonging to the families Phyllostomidae, Molossidae, and Vespertilionidae) in the state of São Paulo (Cabral et al, 2021). In addition, Ludwig et al (2021) detected the 18S rDNA gene in brain and heart tissue from six brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans) and identified the genus Sarcocystis (4/6) and Toxoplasma (2/6). 2018) isolated and genotypically characterized T. gondii from wild free-ranging or captive birds in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, and described a non-virulent isolate of T. gondii in a free-living green-backed heron (Butorides striata).…”

Parasites and Other Infectious Agents in Non-human Primates of Argentina

“…Monkeys of the genus Aotus are socially monogamous and are the only genus of Neotropical primates that are nocturnal, or cathemeral [58]. Owl monkeys' distribution ranges from Bolivia and Paraguay to Northern Argentina [59].…”

Meat-Borne-Parasite: A Nanopore-Based Meta-Barcoding Workflow for Parasitic Microbiodiversity Assessment in the Wild Fauna of French Guiana

“…Mammals are a potential reservoir for many zoonotic pathogens, including Apicomplexa taxa such as Sarcocystis spp., Cryptosporidium spp., or Toxoplasma gondii [1,2]. This phylum, also called Sporozoa, is a diverse group of protozoan parasites, that are unicellular eukaryotes and obligate intracellular without flagella, and were detected in different mammalian organs [3][4][5]. Using their apical complex and their secretory organelle structure, they invade the host cell [6], potentially causing chronic asymptomatic diseases or severe acute diseases in endemic areas (Beck et al, 2009).…”

“…in the tongue muscles of armadillos [9], in wild birds [10] or Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis spp. detected in the Alouatta guariba clamitans [5]. Except for T. gondii [3,11], there are no data on the description of such parasites circulating in French Guiana, strongly hampering the assessment of the risk of human transmission.…”

“…Currently, there is no standard tool for the detection of protozoa in wild animals. Indeed, in the few studies about protozoa in meat, the authors perform conventional PCR using 18S rRNA gene general primers, or also target Apicomplexa with specific primers to amplify one parasitic species of the phylum [5,16,17]. Others also used Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT), with high risk of cross reactions [18].…”