Morphological and molecular characterization of Sarcocystis taeniata and Sarcocystis pilosa n. sp. from the sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Lithuania

Prakas, Petras; Butkauskas, Dalius; Rudaitytė, Eglė; Kutkienė, Liuda; Sruoga, Aniolas; Pūraitė, Irma

doi:10.1007/s00436-016-5057-7

Cited by 42 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“… MT737846 D11 clone2, 660 S. linearis/S. taeniata 99.4–100 KY973372 , KU753890 ( Prakas et al, 2016 ; Gjerde et al, 2017b ) Sarcocystis sp. MT737847, MT737849, MT737850 D11 clone4, D11 clone5 D11 clone3 654 S. hjorti 99.4 KF831294 Gjerde (2014a) S. hjorti MT737848 Deer 12 D12 clone1-D12 clone5 664 S. venatoria/S.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sarcocystis infection in red deer (Cervus elaphus) with eosinophilic myositis/fasciitis in Switzerland and involvement of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and hunting dogs in the transmission

Basso

Rojas

Buob

et al. 2020

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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Red deer ( Cervus elaphus ) carcasses showing grey-greenish discolouration have been increasingly observed in the canton of Grisons, Switzerland. We investigated whether Sarcocystis infections were associated with this pathology, and whether wild and domestic canids were involved in their transmission. Meat from affected red deer ( n = 26), faeces and intestines from red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) ( n = 126), and faeces from hunting dogs ( n = 12) from the region, were analysed. Eosinophilic myositis and/or fasciitis were diagnosed in 69% of the deer, and sarcocysts were observed in 89% of the animals. Molecular typing targeting a ~700bp variable region of the 18S rRNA gene revealed Sarcocystis hjorti in 73%, S. venatoria/S. iberica in 54%, S. linearis/S. taeniata in 12%, S. pilosa in 8% and S. ovalis in 4% of the deer samples. No inflammatory changes were observed in red deer carcasses with normal appearance ( n = 8); however, sarcocysts were observed in one sample, and S. hjorti , S. venatoria/S. iberica or S. silva DNA was detected in five samples. Sarcocystis oocysts/sporocysts were observed in 11/106 faecal and 6/20 intestinal fox samples, and in 2/12 canine samples. Sarcocystis tenella ( n = 8), S. hjorti ( n = 2), S. gracilis ( n = 2), and S. miescheriana ( n = 1) were identified in foxes, and S. gracilis ( n = 2), S. capreolicanis ( n = 1) and S. linearis/S. taeniata ( n = 1) in dogs. This study provides first molecular evidence of S. pilosa and S. silva infection in red deer and S. linearis/S. taeniata in dogs and represents the first record of S. ovalis transmitted by corvids in Central Europe. Although Sarcocystis species infecting red deer are not regarded as zoonotic, the affected carcasses can be declared as unfit for human consumption due to the extensive pathological changes.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sarcocystis infection in red deer (Cervus elaphus) with eosinophilic myositis/fasciitis in Switzerland and involvement of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and hunting dogs in the transmission

Basso

Rojas

Buob

et al. 2020

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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“…Four excised sarcocysts from Spanish foxes, and 1 from a Lithuanian fox were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde and subjected to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as reported previously [ 15 , 16 ]. Briefly, samples were post-fixed in 1% buffered osmium tetroxide, and sections were cut on a Leica UC6 ultramicrotome and stained with 4% uranyl acetate and 3% lead citrate.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification and genetic characterization of Sarcocystis arctica and Sarcocystis lutrae in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Baltic States and Spain

et al. 2018

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BackgroundTypically, carnivores serve as definitive hosts for Sarcocystis spp. parasites; currently, their role as intermediate hosts is being elucidated. The present study aimed to identify and molecularly characterize Sarcocystis cysts detected in striated muscle of red foxes from different populations in Latvia, Lithuania and Spain.MethodsMuscle samples from 411 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and 269 racoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) from Latvia, 41 red foxes from Lithuania and 22 red foxes from Spain were examined for the presence of Sarcocystis sarcocysts by light microscopy (LM). Sarcocystis spp. were identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and molecular biology techniques.ResultsSarcocystis cysts were detected in 11/411 (2.7%) Latvian, 3/41 (7.3%) Lithuanian, and 6/22 (27.3%) Spanish red foxes, however, cysts were not observed in the muscles of racoon dogs. Based on LM, TEM, 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, ITS1, cox1 and rpoB sequences, Sarcocystis arctica and Sarcocystis lutrae cysts were identified in red fox muscles from Latvia and Lithuania, whereas only S. arctica was detected in Spain. The 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA and ITS1 sequences from the 21 isolates of S. arctica from Latvia, Lithuania and Spain were identical. By contrast, two and four haplotypes were determined based on mtDNA cox1 and apicoplast rpoB sequences, respectively. Polymorphisms were not detected between the two isolates of S. lutrae from Latvia and Lithuania. Based on phylogenetic results, S. arctica and S. lutrae were most closely related to Sarcocystis spp. using predatory mammals as intermediate hosts and to Sarcocystis species with a bird-bird life-cycle.ConclusionsBased on current knowledge, the red fox and Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) could act as intermediate host for the same two Sarcocystis species. Molecular results suggest the existence of two genetic lineages of S. arctica, and such divergence relies on its geographical distribution but not on their intermediate host species.

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“…Sarcocystis grueneri was described from reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) (Gjerde, 1986), fallow deer (Dama dama) (Wesemeier & Sedlaczek, 1995a), and red deer (Prakas & Butkauskas, 2012;Wesemeier & Sedlaczek, 1995b). Sarcocystis taeniata was identified in sika deer (Cervus nippon) (Prakas et al, 2016), red deer (Reissig et al, 2016), and moose (Gjerde, 2014a). Sarcocystis truncata was previously only described from red deer (Gjerde, 2014b).…”

Section: Ungulate Sarcocystis Spp Faunamentioning

confidence: 99%

Recolonizing gray wolves increase parasite infection risk in their prey

Lesniak

Heckmann

Franz

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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The recent recolonization of Central Europe by the European gray wolf (Canis lupus) provides an opportunity to study the dynamics of parasite transmission for cases when a definitive host returns after a phase of local extinction. We investigated whether a newly established wolf population increased the prevalence of those parasites in ungulate intermediate hosts representing wolf prey, whether some parasite species are particularly well adapted to wolves, and the potential basis for such adaptations. We recorded Sarcocystis species richness in wolves and Sarcocystis prevalence in ungulates harvested in study sites with and without permanent wolf presence in Germany using microscopy and DNA metabarcoding. Sarcocystis prevalence in red deer (Cervus elaphus) was significantly higher in wolf areas (79.7%) than in control areas (26.3%) but not in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (97.2% vs. 90.4%) or wild boar (Sus scrofa) (82.8% vs. 64.9%). Of 11 Sarcocystis species, Sarcocystis taeniata and Sarcocystis grueneri occurred more often in wolves than expected from the Sarcocystis infection patterns of ungulate prey. Both Sarcocystis species showed a higher increase in prevalence in ungulates in wolf areas than other Sarcocystis species, suggesting that they are particularly well adapted to wolves, and are examples of “wolf specialists”. Sarcocystis species richness in wolves was significantly higher in pups than in adults. “Wolf specialists” persisted during wolf maturation. The results of this study demonstrate that (1) predator–prey interactions influence parasite prevalence, if both predator and prey are part of the parasite life cycle, (2) mesopredators do not necessarily replace the apex predator in parasite transmission dynamics for particular parasites of which the apex predator is the definitive host, even if meso‐ and apex predators were from the same taxonomic family (here: Canidae, e.g., red foxes Vulpes vulpes), and (3) age‐dependent immune maturation contributes to the control of protozoan infection in wolves.

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Morphological and molecular characterization of Sarcocystis taeniata and Sarcocystis pilosa n. sp. from the sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Lithuania

Cited by 42 publications

References 44 publications

Sarcocystis infection in red deer (Cervus elaphus) with eosinophilic myositis/fasciitis in Switzerland and involvement of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and hunting dogs in the transmission

Sarcocystis infection in red deer (Cervus elaphus) with eosinophilic myositis/fasciitis in Switzerland and involvement of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and hunting dogs in the transmission

Identification and genetic characterization of Sarcocystis arctica and Sarcocystis lutrae in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Baltic States and Spain

Recolonizing gray wolves increase parasite infection risk in their prey

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