Morphological and genetic characterisation of Sarcocystis halieti from the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Prakas, Petras; Butkauskas, Dalius; Švažas, Saulius; Stanevičius, Vitas

doi:10.1007/s00436-018-6083-4

Cited by 27 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Thus far, S. halieti have not been observed in the muscles of birds of prey. Previously, S. halieti was detected in the great cormorant [20] and the herring gull [21]. The results of the present study extend the knowledge of S. halieti speci city for the IH and indicate that this species could form sarcocysts in the birds belonging to at least three different orders, Accipitriformes (present study), Charadriiformes [21] and Suliformes [20].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Previously, S. halieti was detected in the great cormorant [20] and the herring gull [21]. The results of the present study extend the knowledge of S. halieti speci city for the IH and indicate that this species could form sarcocysts in the birds belonging to at least three different orders, Accipitriformes (present study), Charadriiformes [21] and Suliformes [20]. More avian Sarcocystis species, S. calchasi, S. columbae, S. falcatula, S. wobeseri can form sarcocysts in IH belonging to different orders [1,10,21,22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sarcocysts of S. halieti detected in muscles of birds of prey seemingly differed morphologically from those previously described in other IH. For comparative purposes, sarcocysts of S. halieti from the great cormorant were very long, up to 6.5 × 0.1 mm [20], whereas sarcocysts from the herring gull were from 3960 µm to 7930 µm in length and from 43 µm to 128 µm in width [21]. Sarcocysts identi ed from the black kites and the western marsh harrier were shorter and wider (1050-2160 × 130-158 µm).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular Identification of Sarcocystis Halieti in Birds of Prey From Spain

Prakas

Bea²,

Juozaiė-Ngugu

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: Members of the genus Sarcocystis are protozoan parasites characterized by a prey-predator two-host life cycle. Sarcocysts are formed in muscles or CNS of the intermediate host (IH), while sporocysts develop in the small intestine of the definitive host (DH). Various birds of prey were confirmed to be DH for Sarcocystis spp. By contrast, only two species, S. wobeseri and S. falcatula were identified in the muscles of birds of prey. The latter species is pathogenic and can cause encephalitis in various birds. The aim of the present study was to identify Sarcocystis species in the muscles of birds of prey from Spain. Methods: In the period between 2019 and 2020, muscle tissues of 59 birds collected from Spain were examined for the presence of Sarcocystis spp. Sarcocysts in fresh squashed samples were morphologically characterised under a light microscope (LM). Sarcocystis species were identified by means of 28S rRNA and ITS1 sequence analysis. Results: With the help of methylene blue-staining microscopic sarcocysts were detected in 3/59 (5.1%) birds of prey from Spain. Under LM, one type of sarcocysts was observed. Sarcocysts were thread-like (1050–2160 × 130–158 μm), had a thin (0.7–1.4 μm) and smooth cyst wall. Septa divided the cysts into compartments filled with banana-shaped (5.9 × 1.7 μm) bradyzoites. On the basis of DNA sequence results, S. halieti was identified in the western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) and the black kite (Milvus migrans) for the first time. Sarcocysts of S. halieti detected in the black kite and the western marsh harrier were shorter and wider as compared to those observed in the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and the herring gull (Larus argentatus). Hence, S. halieti might infect birds belonging to three different orders, Suliformes, Charadriiformes and Accipitriformes. Conclusions: This is the first report of S. halieti in birds of prey as IH. Due to the inconsistency of research on Sarcocystis spp. from birds of prey, further complex morphological, histopathological, and molecular studies are required.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular Identification of Sarcocystis Halieti in Birds of Prey From Spain

Prakas

Bea²,

Juozaiė-Ngugu

et al. 2021

Preprint

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“…The results of the present study indicate that not only S. falcatula, S. calchasi and S. wobeseri [10][11][12][13] but also S. columbae and S. halieti could form sarcocysts in birds belonging to different orders. Sarcocysts of S. columbae have previously been detected in the woodpigeon C. palumbus (Columbiformes) and S. halieti has been detected in P. carbo (Suliformes) [11,24]. Haliaeetus albicilla and the Eurasian sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus) have been confirmed as definitive hosts for S. halieti [6,25].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular identification of four Sarcocystis species in the herring gull, Larus argentatus, from Lithuania

2020

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Background: Birds of the family Laridae have not been intensively examined for infections with Sarcocystis spp. To date, sarcocysts of two species, S. lari and S. wobeseri, have been identified in the muscles of gulls. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the species richness of Sarcocystis in the herring gull, Larus argentatus, from Lithuania. Methods: In the period between 2013 and 2019, leg muscles of 35 herring gulls were examined for sarcocysts of Sarcocystis spp. Sarcocystis spp. were characterised morphologically based on a light microscopy study. Four sarcocysts isolated from the muscles of each infected bird were subjected to further molecular examination. Sarcocystis species were identified by means of ITS1 sequence analysis. Results: Sarcocysts were detected in 9/35 herring gulls (25.7%). Using light microscopy, one morphological type of sarcocysts was observed. Sarcocysts were microscopic, thread-like, had a smooth and thin (about 1 µm) cyst wall and were filled with banana-shaped bradyzoites. On the basis of ITS1 sequences, four Sarcocystis species, S. columbae, S. halieti, S. lari and S. wobeseri, were identified. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that a single infected herring gull could host two Sarcocystis species indistinguishable under light microscopy. Conclusions: Larus argentatus is the first bird species found to act as intermediate host of four Sarcocystis spp. According to current knowledge, five species, S. falcatula, S. calchasi, S. wobeseri, S. columbae and S. halieti can use birds belonging to different orders as intermediate hosts.

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“…halieti [ 11 ]; earlier studies had detected S . halieti in the great cormorant [ 20 ] and the herring gull [ 21 ]. Our results extend the body of knowledge on S .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular identification of Sarcocystis halieti in the muscles of two species of birds of prey from Spain

et al. 2021

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Background Members of the genus Sarcocystis are protozoan parasites characterized by a prey–predator two-host life-cycle. Sarcocysts are formed in the muscles or central nervous system of the intermediate host (IH), while sporocysts develop in the small intestine of the definitive host (DH). Various birds of prey have been confirmed to be DH for Sarcocystis spp. Three Sarcocystis species, S. wobeseri, S. halieti and S. falcatula, have been identified in the muscles of birds of prey, of which the latter are known to be pathogenic and can cause encephalitis in various birds. The aim of this study was to identify Sarcocystis spp. in the muscles of birds of prey from Spain. Methods Between 2019 and 2020, muscle tissue samples taken from 59 birds of prey admitted to the Wildlife Recovery Centre in Ilundain (Navarra, Spain) were examined for the presence of Sarcocystis spp. Sarcocysts in fresh squashed samples were morphologically characterized under the light microscope (LM). Sarcocystis spp. were identified by means of 28S ribosomal RNA and internal transcribed spacer 1 sequence analysis. Results Microscopic examination of squashed tissue samples stained with methylene blue revealed the presence of sarcocysts in three of the 59 (5.1%) birds examined. Only one sarcocyst type was observed under the LM. Sarcocysts were thread-like (1050–2160 × 130–158 μm) and had a thin (0.7–1.4 μm) and smooth cyst wall. Septa divided the cysts into compartments filled with banana-shaped (5.9 × 1.7 μm) bradyzoites. On the basis of DNA sequence results, S. halieti was identified in the western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) and the black kite (Milvus migrans) for the first time. Sarcocysts of S. halieti were shorter and wider compared to those observed in the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and the herring gull (Larus argentatus). According to current knowledge, S. halieti may infect birds belonging to four different orders: Suliformes, Charadriiformes, Strigiformes and Accipitriformes. Conclusions This is the first report of S. halieti in the western marsh harrier and the black kite as IH. So far, little research has been conducted on birds of prey as IH for Sarcocystis spp. These results indicate that further studies combining morphological, histopathological, and molecular methods are required. Graphical abstract

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Morphological and genetic characterisation of Sarcocystis halieti from the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Cited by 27 publications

References 20 publications

Molecular Identification of Sarcocystis Halieti in Birds of Prey From Spain

Molecular Identification of Sarcocystis Halieti in Birds of Prey From Spain

Molecular identification of four Sarcocystis species in the herring gull, Larus argentatus, from Lithuania

Molecular identification of Sarcocystis halieti in the muscles of two species of birds of prey from Spain

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