Role of three bird species in the life cycle of two Sarcocystis spp. (Apicomplexa, Sarcocystidae) in the Czech Republic

Abstract

Birds are one of the groups involved in the development of Sarcocystis Lankester (1882), serving either as intermediate or definitive hosts. The white-tailed sea eagle Haliaeetus albicilla (Linnaeus, 1758), red kite Milvus milvus (Linnaeus, 1758) (both Accipitriformes) and common starlings Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 (Passeriformes) were examined to elucidate their participation in the development of Sarcocystis , as well as to determine the specific identity of the parasites based on morphological and especially molecular analyses. In 2020–2021, one white-tailed eagle, one red kite and five common starlings were parasitologically examined for the presence of Sarcocystis using flotation centrifugation coprological method and by wet mounts of intestinal mucosa scrapings and/or muscle samples. Positive samples were processed by light microscopy, histologically and followed molecularly at four genetic markers ( 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS1 and cox1 ). The white-tailed eagle harboured oocysts/sporocysts of S . arctica Gjerde et Schulze, 2014 in the intestinal mucosa, while the intestinal mucosa of the red kite and breasts and leg muscles of one common starling were positive to S . halieti Gjerde, Vikøren et Hamnes, 2018. Sequences from eagle shared 99.6–100% identity with each other and S . arctica in the red fox ( V . vulpes Linnaeus, 1758) from the Czech Republic. Sequences from the common starling and red kite shared 100% identity with each other and with S . halieti in the great cormorant ( P . carbo [Linnaeus, 1758]) from Lithuania and H . albicilla from Norway. The white-tailed sea eagle might act as definitive host of S . arctica , whereas the common starling and red kite represent intermediate and potential definitive hosts, respectively, for S . halieti .

Protozoan Parasites of Sarcocystis spp. in Rodents from Commercial Orchards

“…Rod2 were identified in the two isolates of M. arvalis and showed the greatest genetic similarity to the several Sarcocystis spp. (such as S. arctica, S. calchasi, S. columbae, S. cornixi, S. corvusi, S. fulicae, S. halieti, S. lari, S. lutrae, and S. turdusi) that use birds and predatory mammals as their intermediate hosts, as well as predatory or omnivorous birds as their definitive hosts [76][77][78][79][80][81][82]. Interestingly, the S. tupaia from small mammals-namely, from tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinensis)-also demonstrated the closest similarity within 18S rDNA to the various Sarcocystis species that are distinguished by a bird-bird life cycle [49].…”

White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) as the definitive host of Sarcocystis lutrae in the Czech Republic

“…Oocysts (n = 5) were 17.0−17.4 × 11.3-11.9 µm in size, while sporocysts (n = 50) were 11.3-12.3 × 8.3-9.3 µm in size, with wall thickness of 0.5 µm. The morphological and morphometrical parameters of these developmental stages are unreliable for distinguishing species [see (3,4,17)]; however, after comparing the present oocyst and sporocysts with those of the other three species reported in H. albicilla (i.e., S. arctica and S. (3,4)]. The three sections of the intestine were positive to oocysts/sporocysts, with the highest intensity at ileum, followed by jejunum and duodenum.…”

“…As already stated, the specificity of Sarcocystis spp. in birds of prey seems to be low and co-infections of congeneric taxa frequently occurred [see (3,4,23)].…”

“…The eagle primary feeds on fish, birds, and mammals (5-8), and, apparently, the latter were responsible for transferring the parasite, since some mustelid, canid, or procyonid mammals have been reported as part of its diet and as intermediate hosts of S. lutrae in several European countries (9,10,(18)(19)(20)(21)(22). However, the eagle and other members of Accipitridae seem just to be one of the various potential definitive hosts of S. lutrae, like S. halieti, which uses Accipiter nisus, H. albicilla, and Milvus milvus as definitive hosts (3,4). More intermediate hosts and different age classes of the eagle should be examined to elucidate the real prevalence, transmission routes, and ability of the parasite to solely infect it, as well as the importance of eagles in spreading the parasite.…”

“…One of the bird species playing both roles is the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), which has been reported as the definitive host for S. arctica, S. halieti, and S. lari and as the intermediate host for an unknown Sarcocystis sp. and S. wobeseri-like sarcocysts (2)(3)(4). This top diurnal raptor is distributed throughout the Palearctic and preys mainly on fish, birds, and mammals (Canidae, Mustelidae, and Procyonidae) (5)(6)(7)(8), which have been involved in the life cycle of S. lutrae as intermediate hosts (9)(10)(11) and whose definitive hosts remain uncertain.…”