Prevalence of Sarcocysts in the Muscles of Raptors from a Rehabilitation Center in North Carolina

Dohlen, Alexa Rosypal von; Scott, D. H.; Dubey, J. P.; Lindsay, David S.

doi:10.1645/18-139

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…wobeseri are morphologically indistinguishable [ 21 ]. Lastly, thin-walled (≤ 1 μm) and thick-walled (2–4 μm) sarcocysts were detected in the muscles of raptors from the south-eastern USA [ 8 ]; the thin-walled sarcocysts might represent those of S . halieti , 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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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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“…Recentemente, um estudo realizado nos Estados Unidos revelou presença de cistos no músculo peitoral e cardíaco de aves de rapina, 39 de 204 aves estavam infectadas (19,1%) e as aves com mais de dois anos de idade apresentaram maior risco de infecção (DOHLEN et al, 2019). KVASNOVSKA, 1986;OLIAS et al, 2011;MAYR et al, 2016;VIKØREN;HAMNES, 2018 WOBESER, 1981;WICHT, 1981;KUTKIENE et al, 2012;PRAKAS et al, 2015;MORÉ et al, 2016 No que se refere ao possível hospedeiro definitivo, pouco é conhecido em relação à predação dessas aves por outras.…”

Section: Columbiformesunclassified

>b<Caracterização molecular de >i<Sarcocystis>/i< spp. em aves silvestres de diversas classes taxonômicas: relações entre >i<Sarcocystis>/i< >i<falcatula>/i<, >i<Sarcocystis neurona>/i< e organismos correlacionados prevalentes no Brasil>/b<

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Molecular identification of Sarcocystis wobeseri-like parasites in a new intermediate host species, the white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

Shadbolt

Pocknell²,

Sainsbury

et al. 2021

Parasitol Res

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A reintroduced white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in moderate body condition was found dead and submitted for post-mortem examination. There were no signs of disease on gross pathological examination.Histopathological examination however revealed the presence of encysted protozoan parasites in pectoral and cardiac muscle sections. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of extracted genomic DNA and sequencing of four regions: the 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and RNA polymerase B (rpoB) loci, confirmed the presence of a Sarcocystis species in pectoral and cardiac muscle which appeared phylogenetically similar to Sarcocystis wobeseri. This is the first report of S. wobeseri-like infection in a white-tailed sea eagle revealing a new intermediate host species for this parasite.

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Prevalence of Sarcocysts in the Muscles of Raptors from a Rehabilitation Center in North Carolina

Cited by 6 publications

References 20 publications

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

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

>b<Caracterização molecular de >i<Sarcocystis>/i< spp. em aves silvestres de diversas classes taxonômicas: relações entre >i<Sarcocystis>/i< >i<falcatula>/i<, >i<Sarcocystis neurona>/i< e organismos correlacionados prevalentes no Brasil>/b<

Molecular identification of Sarcocystis wobeseri-like parasites in a new intermediate host species, the white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

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