Genetic assemblage of Sarcocystis spp. in Malaysian snakes

Lau, Yee Ling; Chang, Phooi Yee; Ng, Yit Han; Mahmud, Rohela; Ahmad, A.; Fong, Mun Yik

doi:10.1186/1756-3305-6-257

Cited by 35 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…S. nesbitti sequences (accession numbers HF544323 and 544324) were confirmed in 2 patients (temporalis and gastronemius muscles). The 18S rDNA gene shared 100% identity with S. nesbitti found in the muscle of Macaca fascicularis from Yunnan Province, China [9], [10], [11]. The presence of S. nesbitti (accession number JX661499.1) was subsequently confirmed by nested polymerase chain reaction and sequencing from the gastrocnemius muscle of the fourth patient (7).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Sarcocystis nesbitti Causes Acute, Relapsing Febrile Myositis with a High Attack Rate: Description of a Large Outbreak of Muscular Sarcocystosis in Pangkor Island, Malaysia, 2012

et al. 2014

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BackgroundFrom the 17th to 19th January 2012, a group of 92 college students and teachers attended a retreat in a hotel located on Pangkor Island, off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Following the onset of symptoms in many participants who presented to our institute, an investigation was undertaken which ultimately identified Sarcocystis nesbitti as the cause of this outbreak.Methodology/Principal FindingsAll retreat participants were identified, and clinical and epidemiological information was obtained via clinical review and self-reported answers to a structured questionnaire. Laboratory, imaging and muscle biopsy results were evaluated and possible sources of exposure, in particular water supply, were investigated. At an average of 9–11 days upon return from the retreat, 89 (97%) of the participants became ill. A vast majority of 94% had fever with 57% of these persons experiencing relapsing fever. Myalgia was present in 91% of patients. Facial swelling from myositis of jaw muscles occurred in 9 (10%) patients. The median duration of symptoms was 17 days (IQR 7 to 30 days; range 3 to 112). Out of 4 muscle biopsies, sarcocysts were identified in 3. S. nesbitti was identified by PCR in 3 of the 4 biopsies including one biopsy without observed sarcocyst. Non-Malaysians had a median duration of symptoms longer than that of Malaysians (27.5 days vs. 14 days, p = 0.001) and were more likely to experience moderate or severe myalgia compared to mild myalgia (83.3% vs. 40.0%, p = 0.002).Conclusions/SignificanceThe similarity of the symptoms and clustered time of onset suggests that all affected persons had muscular sarcocystosis. This is the largest human outbreak of sarcocystosis ever reported, with the specific Sarcocystis species identified. The largely non-specific clinical features of this illness suggest that S. nesbitti may be an under diagnosed infection in the tropics.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Phylogenetic analysis suggests that snakes could be a definitive host [10], [19]. More recently, S. nesbitti sequences have been detected in the feces of snakes from disparate parts of Malaysia, confirming that snakes may be the definite hosts [7], [11]. As such, S. nesbitti is likely to be endemic in the country.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Sarcocystis nesbitti Causes Acute, Relapsing Febrile Myositis with a High Attack Rate: Description of a Large Outbreak of Muscular Sarcocystosis in Pangkor Island, Malaysia, 2012

et al. 2014

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“…Sarcocystis nesbitti has been considered to be a potential cause of human infections because it infects Southeast Asian species of nonhuman primates, including the long-tailed macaque, and because it resembles morphologically sarcocysts seen in humans [26–28]. Although the natural life cycle of this organism has not yet been definitively determined, evidence is mounting that S. nesbitti has a snake species as its natural definitive host [29–31]. An understanding of the natural life cycle of this zoonotic parasite would aid the development of preventive measures and messaging.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute Muscular Sarcocystosis: An International Investigation Among Ill Travelers Returning From Tioman Island, Malaysia, 2011-2012

Esposito

Stich

Epelboin

et al. 2014

Clinical Infectious Diseases

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Background Through 2 international traveler-focused surveillance networks (GeoSentinel and TropNet), we identified and investigated a large outbreak of acute muscular sarcocystosis (AMS), a rarely reported zoonosis caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Sarcocystis, associated with travel to Tioman Island, Malaysia, during 2011–2012. Methods Clinicians reporting patients with suspected AMS to GeoSentinel submitted demographic, clinical, itinerary, and exposure data. We defined a probable case as travel to Tioman Island after 1 March 2011, eosinophilia (>5%), clinical or laboratory-supported myositis, and negative trichinellosis serology. Case confirmation required histologic observation of sarcocysts or isolation of Sarcocystis species DNA from muscle biopsy. Results Sixty-eight patients met the case definition (62 probable and 6 confirmed). All but 2 resided in Europe; all were tourists and traveled mostly during the summer months. The most frequent symptoms reported were myalgia (100%), fatigue (91%), fever (82%), headache (59%), and arthralgia (29%); onset clustered during 2 distinct periods: “early” during the second and “late” during the sixth week after departure from the island. Blood eosinophilia and elevated serum creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) levels were observed beginning during the fifth week after departure. Sarcocystis nesbitti DNA was recovered from 1 muscle biopsy. Conclusions Clinicians evaluating travelers returning ill from Malaysia with myalgia, with or without fever, should consider AMS, noting the apparent biphasic aspect of the disease, the later onset of elevated CPK and eosinophilia, and the possibility for relapses. The exact source of infection among travelers to Tioman Island remains unclear but needs to be determined to prevent future illnesses.

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“…Although designed for specific sample types, many studies have adapted their use across sample types. DNeasy PowerSoil, or aspects thereof, has been used for stomach, gut or faecal analysis of invertebrates (Knapp et al 2010, O'Rorke et al 2015, fish (Koinari et al 2013, Bolnick et al 2014, reptiles (Lau et al 2013, Colston et al 2015, birds (Vo andJedlicka 2014, Lewis et al 2016), mammals (Parfrey et al 2014, Ishaq andWright 2014) and, in particular, the Human Microbiome Project (Aagaard et al 2013). DNeasy Blood and Tissue has been used for studies of environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples (Rees et al 2014, Spens et al 2016, Niemiller et al 2017.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mu-DNA: a modular universal DNA extraction method adaptable for a wide range of sample types

Sellers¹,

Muri²,

Gómez³

et al. 2018

MBMG

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Efficient DNA extraction is fundamental to molecular studies. However, commercial kits are expensive when a large number of samples need to be processed. Here we present a simple, modular and adaptable DNA extraction 'toolkit' for the isolation of high purity DNA from multiple sample types (modular universal DNA extraction method or Mu-DNA). We compare the performance of our method to that of widely used commercial kits across a range of soil, stool, tissue and water samples. Mu-DNA produced DNA extractions of similar or higher yield and purity to that of the commercial kits. As a proof of principle, we carried out replicate fish metabarcoding of aquatic eDNA extractions, which confirmed that the species detection efficiency of our method is similar to that of the most frequently used commercial kit. Our results demonstrate the reliability of Mu-DNA along with its modular adaptability to challenging sample types and sample collection methods. Mu-DNA can substantially reduce the costs and increase the scope of experiments in molecular studies.

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Genetic assemblage of Sarcocystis spp. in Malaysian snakes

Cited by 35 publications

References 30 publications

Sarcocystis nesbitti Causes Acute, Relapsing Febrile Myositis with a High Attack Rate: Description of a Large Outbreak of Muscular Sarcocystosis in Pangkor Island, Malaysia, 2012

Sarcocystis nesbitti Causes Acute, Relapsing Febrile Myositis with a High Attack Rate: Description of a Large Outbreak of Muscular Sarcocystosis in Pangkor Island, Malaysia, 2012

Acute Muscular Sarcocystosis: An International Investigation Among Ill Travelers Returning From Tioman Island, Malaysia, 2011-2012

Mu-DNA: a modular universal DNA extraction method adaptable for a wide range of sample types

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