Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora caninum in Brazilian opossums (Didelphis spp.): Molecular investigation and in vitro isolation of Sarcocystis spp.

Gondim, Leane Souza Queiroz; Jesus, Rogério Fernando de; Ribeiro-Andrade, Müller; Silva, Jean C. R.; Siqueira, Daniel B.; Marvulo, Maria Fernanda Vianna; Aléssio, Felipe M.; Mauffrey, Jean-François; Julião, F. S.; Savani, Elisa San Martin Mouriz; Soares, Rodrigo Martins; Gondim, Luís Fernando Pita

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.07.002

Cited by 20 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Despite morphological and molecular similarities, S. neurona infects mammals predominantly, while S. falcatula exclusively infects birds. Two evolutionarily distant strains have been well recognized among isolates of S. falcatula in the Americas (Valadas et al 2016, Gondim et al 2017, Cesar et al 2018, and to our knowledge, a similar situation has not yet been detected in S. neurona, which appeared to be formed by only one genetic lineage. However, from the results presented here, it is probable that this diversity also occurs within S. neurona.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…In addition to S. neurona, the networks in Fig. 3 included S. falcatula obtained from budgerigars that were experimentally infected with opossum's sporocysts (Gondim et al 2017, Cesar et al 2018) and S. falcatula directly detected in intermediate hosts (Konradt et al 2017, Acosta et al 2018. At the three SAG loci, S. neurona-07-2015-RS-BR was identical to Sarcocystis sp.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2020

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Sarcocystis neurona is the main agent associated with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Apart from horses, S. neurona has been occasionally described causing neurologic disease in several other terrestrial animals as well as mortality in marine mammals. Herein, we describe the clinical, pathological, and molecular findings of a fatal case of S. neurona-associated meningoencephalitis in a domestic cat. The causing agent was analyzed by multilocus genotyping, confirming the presence of S. neurona DNA in the tissue samples of the affected animal. Significant molecular differences were found in relation to S. neurona isolates detected in other regions of the Americas. In addition, the parasite was identical to Sarcocystis sp. identified in opossum sporocysts in Brazil at molecular level, which suggests that transmission of. S. neurona in Brazil might involve variants of the parasite different from those found elsewhere in the Americas. Studies including more samples of S. neurona would be required to test this hypothesis, as well as to assess the impact of this diversity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2020

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“…Coding genes for SAGs from Brazilian isolates of S. falcatula –like are very similar to those from North American isolates of S. neurona ( 19 ). A high allelic variation is found for SAG2, SAG3, and SAG4 from S. falcatula –like, contrasting to SAGs from S. neurona in North America that possesses low genetic variation ( 20 , 21 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…However, these isolates were genetically distinct from both S. falcatula and S. neurona and, for this reason, classified as S. falcatula –like ( 20 , 21 , 27 – 29 ). The Brazilian isolates that were submitted for sequencing of SAG genes possessed a high allelic variation in their coding genes for SAG2, SAG3, and SAG4, which seems to represent genetic recombination between S. neurona, S. falcatula , or other unidentified Sarcocsytis species ( 19 – 21 , 27 – 29 ). Based on this peculiar scenario in Brazil, we hypothesized that Brazilian horses may be exposed and seroconvert to other species of Sarcocystis shed by opossums, besides S. neurona .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In recent years, more than 50 Sarcocystis species isolates were obtained from Brazilian opossums, and almost 100% of them were infective to birds (budgerigars). However, these isolates were genetically distinct from both S. falcatula and S. neurona and, for this reason, classified as S. falcatula-like (20,21,(27)(28)(29). The Brazilian isolates that were submitted for sequencing of SAG genes possessed a high allelic variation in their coding genes for SAG2, SAG3, and SAG4, which seems to represent genetic recombination between S. neurona, S. falcatula, or other unidentified Sarcocsytis species (19)(20)(21)(27)(28)(29).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Sarcocystis spp. infection in South American deer huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) and pudu (Pudu puda) from Patagonian National Parks, Argentina

2020

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Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora caninum in Brazilian opossums (Didelphis spp.): Molecular investigation and in vitro isolation of Sarcocystis spp.

Cited by 20 publications

References 61 publications

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

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

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

Sarcocystis spp. infection in South American deer huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) and pudu (Pudu puda) from Patagonian National Parks, Argentina

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