First molecular characterization of Sarcocystis neurona causing meningoencephalitis in a domestic cat in Brazil

Hammerschmitt, Márcia Elisa; Henker, Luan Cleber; Lichtler, Juliana; Costa, Fernanda Vieira Amorim da; Soares, Rodrigo Martins; Llano, Horwald Alexander Bedoya; Pavarini, Saulo Petinatti

doi:10.1007/s00436-019-06570-w

Cited by 10 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The molecular identification of the parasite in these studies revealed ITS1 alleles with less than 98% similarity to the homologous sequences of S. neurona and S. speeri that had been described up to that time. Moreover, phylogenetic reconstructions have shown that the parasites were related to S. neurona (Hammerschmitt et al, 2020;Henker et al, 2020). The isolate from the cat (Hammerschmitt et al, 2020) and isolates of S. falcatula and S. neurona were also compared at genes encoding surface antigens and the results corroborated the information obtained using ITS1.…”

Section: Genetic Characterization Of Sarcocystis Spp Excreted By Didelphid Opossums In Brazilmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…Moreover, phylogenetic reconstructions have shown that the parasites were related to S. neurona (Hammerschmitt et al, 2020;Henker et al, 2020). The isolate from the cat (Hammerschmitt et al, 2020) and isolates of S. falcatula and S. neurona were also compared at genes encoding surface antigens and the results corroborated the information obtained using ITS1. Interestingly, this feline sample was revealed to be identical, at ITS1 and surface antigen genes, to sporocysts of Sarcocystis spp.…”

Section: Genetic Characterization Of Sarcocystis Spp Excreted By Didelphid Opossums In Brazilmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…There are only two reports on molecular descriptions of S. neurona in intermediate hosts in Brazil. These include a naturally infected cat with meningoencephalitis (Hammerschmitt et al, 2020) and naturally infected horses with EPM (Henker et al, 2020). Both studies were conducted in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.…”

Section: Genetic Characterization Of Sarcocystis Spp Excreted By Didelphid Opossums In Brazilmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sarcocystis neurona and related Sarcocystis spp. shed by opossums (Didelphis spp.) in South America

Gondim

Soares

Moré

et al. 2021

Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet.

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Protozoan parasites of the genus Sarcocystis are obligatory heteroxenous cyst-forming coccidia that infect a wide variety of animals and encompass approximately 200 described species. At least four Sarcocystis spp. (S. falcatula, S. neurona, S. lindsayi and S. speeri) use opossums (Didelphis spp.) as definitive hosts, and two of them, S. neurona and S. falcatula, are known to cause disease in horses and birds, respectively. Opossums are restricted to the Americas, but their distribution in the Americas is heterogeneous. Five Didelphis spp. are distributed in South America (D. aurita, D. albiventris, D. marsupialis, D. imperfecta and D. pernigra) whereas just one opossum species (D. virginiana) is found in North America. Studies conducted in the last decades show that Sarcocystis spp., derived from South American Didelphis spp., have biological and genetic differences in relation to Sarcocystis spp. shed by the North American opossum D. virginiana. The aim of this review was to address the peculiar scenario of Sarcocystis species shed by South American opossums, with a special focus on diagnosis, epidemiology, and animal infections, as well as the genetic characteristics of these parasites.

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Section: Genetic Characterization Of Sarcocystis Spp Excreted By Didelphid Opossums In Brazilmentioning

confidence: 62%

Section: Genetic Characterization Of Sarcocystis Spp Excreted By Didelphid Opossums In Brazilmentioning

confidence: 62%

Section: Genetic Characterization Of Sarcocystis Spp Excreted By Didelphid Opossums In Brazilmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sarcocystis neurona and related Sarcocystis spp. shed by opossums (Didelphis spp.) in South America

Gondim

Soares

Moré

et al. 2021

Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet.

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“…In a recent publication, a Brazilian cat was reported to have S. neurona infection (45); based on the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) of the rDNA, this Sarcocystis species differed from organisms classified as S. neurona or S. falcatula. These authors used additional molecular markers, including SAG loci, 18S, and COX1; the combined molecular data, mostly based on ITS1 and SAG loci, allowed the classification of this cat isolate as S. neurona, although it is clearly distinct from the North American isolates of S. neurona (45).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reactivity of Horse Sera to Antigens Derived From Sarcocystis falcatula–Like and Sarcocystis neurona

et al. 2020

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Sarcocystis neurona and Sarcocystis falcatula are protozoan parasites endemic to the Americas. The former is the major cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, and the latter is associated with pulmonary sarcocystosis in birds. The opossum Didelphis virginiana is the definitive host of these parasites in North America. Four Didelphis species are found in Brazil, and in most reports in this country, Sarcocystis species shed by opossums have been classified as S. falcatula-like. It is unknown whether reports on S. neurona-seropositive horses in Brazil are also derived from exposure of horses to S. falcatula-like. The aim of this study was to test the sera reactivity of 409 horses in Brazil using antigens derived from a Brazilian strain of S. falcatula-like (Sarco-BA1) and from a North American strain of S. neurona (SN138). Samples were examined by immunofluorescent antibody tests (IFATs) at start dilutions of 1:20, and a selected number of samples was tested by Western blot (WB). Sera from 43/409 (10.5%) horses were reactive to S. falcatula-like and 70 of 409 (17.1%) were reactive to S. neurona antigen; sera from 25 animals (6.1%) were positive for both parasites by IFAT. A poor agreement was observed between the two employed IFATs (κ = 0.364), indicating that horses were exposed to more than one Sarcocystis species. Horse sera evaluated by WB consisted of four sera reactive to S. falcatula-like by IFAT, six sera positive to S. neurona by IFAT, two sera that tested negative to both parasites by IFAT, and a negative control horse serum from New Zealand. Proteins in the range of 16 and 30 kDa were recognized by part of IFAT-positive sera using both antigen preparations. We concluded that Brazilian horses are exposed to distinct Sarcocystis species that generate different serological responses in exposed animals. Antigens in the range of 16 and 30 kDa are probably homologous in the two parasites. Exposure of the tested horses to other Sarcocystis species, such as Sarcocystis lindsayi, Sarcocystis speeri, and Sarcocystis fayeri, or Sarcocystis bertrami cannot be excluded in the current study.

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“…2015; Hammerschmitt et al . 2020). Additionally, the domestic dog has been regarded as definitive host of S. asinus , S. bertrami , S. equicanis and S. fayeri (Rommel and Geisel 1975; Dubey 1976; Dubey et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular phylogeny of Sarcocystis fayeri (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) from the domestic horse Equus caballus based on 18S rRNA gene sequences and its prevalence

Abdel‐Gaber

Quraishy

Dkhil

et al. 2020

Lett Appl Microbiol

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Sarcocystosis is a parasitic disease caused by an intracellular protozoan parasite Sarcocystis belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa. These parasites have a requisite two‐host life cycle. Recently, there are many Sarcocystis species that identified morphologically. In the present study, diaphragmatic muscle samples from the domestic horse (Equus caballus) were examined for Sarcocystis infection. The natural infection with sarcocysts was recorded to be 62·5% for only microcysts in the infected muscles. Molecular analysis using the 18S rRNA gene was conducted to swiftly and accurately identify the recovered species. Studies on the expression of the 18S rRNA gene have confirmed that the present parasite isolates belong to the Sarcocystis genus. The sequence data showed significant identities (>80%) with archived gene sequences from species within the Sarcocystidae family, and a dendrogram showing the phylogenetic relationship was constructed. The most closely related species were the previously described Sarcocystis fayeri and Sarcocystis bertrami. The current data showed that the present species was identified as S. fayeri and deposited in GenBank (accession number MF614956.1). This study highlights the importance of the genetic data in the exact taxonomy within sarcocystid species.

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First molecular characterization of Sarcocystis neurona causing meningoencephalitis in a domestic cat in Brazil

Cited by 10 publications

References 30 publications

Sarcocystis neurona and related Sarcocystis spp. shed by opossums (Didelphis spp.) in South America

Sarcocystis neurona and related Sarcocystis spp. shed by opossums (Didelphis spp.) in South America

Reactivity of Horse Sera to Antigens Derived From Sarcocystis falcatula–Like and Sarcocystis neurona

Molecular phylogeny of Sarcocystis fayeri (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) from the domestic horse Equus caballus based on 18S rRNA gene sequences and its prevalence

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