Detection of Three <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species (Apicomplexa) in Blood Samples of the Bank Vole and Yellow-Necked Mouse from Lithuania
The genus <i>Sarcocystis</i> is an abundant group of Apicomplexa parasites found in mammals, birds, and reptiles. These parasites are characterised by the formation of sarcocysts in the muscles of intermediate hosts and the development of sporocysts in the intestines of definitive hosts....
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| author | Petras Prakas Naglis Gudiškis Neringa Kitrytė Dovilė Laisvūnė Bagdonaitė Laima Baltrūnaitė |
| author_facet | Petras Prakas Naglis Gudiškis Neringa Kitrytė Dovilė Laisvūnė Bagdonaitė Laima Baltrūnaitė |
| author_sort | Petras Prakas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The genus <i>Sarcocystis</i> is an abundant group of Apicomplexa parasites found in mammals, birds, and reptiles. These parasites are characterised by the formation of sarcocysts in the muscles of intermediate hosts and the development of sporocysts in the intestines of definitive hosts. The identification of <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. is usually carried out in carcasses of animals, while there is a lack of studies on the detection of <i>Sarcocystis</i> species in blood samples. In the current study, blood samples of 214 yellow-necked mice (<i>Apodemus flavicollis</i>) and 143 bank voles (<i>Clethrionomys glareolus</i>) from Lithuania were examined for <i>Sarcocystis</i>. The molecular identification of <i>Sarcocystis</i> was carried out using nested PCR of <i>cox1</i> and <i>28S</i> rRNA and subsequent sequencing. <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. were statistically (<i>p</i> < 0.01) more frequently detected in the bank vole (6.3%) than in yellow-necked mice (0.9%). The analysed parasites were observed in four different habitats, such as mature deciduous forest, bog, natural meadow, and arable land. Three species, <i>Sarcocystis funereus</i>, <i>Sarcocystis myodes</i>, and <i>Sarcocystis</i> cf. <i>glareoli</i> were confirmed in the bank vole, whereas only <i>Sarcocystis myodes</i> were found in yellow-necked mice. The obtained results are important in the development of molecular identification of <i>Sarcocystis</i> parasites in live animals. |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:05:04Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-9efe68612da44dd2b31b841cf9b034ce2024-03-27T13:51:15ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292024-03-0114336510.3390/life14030365Detection of Three <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species (Apicomplexa) in Blood Samples of the Bank Vole and Yellow-Necked Mouse from LithuaniaPetras Prakas0Naglis Gudiškis1Neringa Kitrytė2Dovilė Laisvūnė Bagdonaitė3Laima Baltrūnaitė4Nature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaThe genus <i>Sarcocystis</i> is an abundant group of Apicomplexa parasites found in mammals, birds, and reptiles. These parasites are characterised by the formation of sarcocysts in the muscles of intermediate hosts and the development of sporocysts in the intestines of definitive hosts. The identification of <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. is usually carried out in carcasses of animals, while there is a lack of studies on the detection of <i>Sarcocystis</i> species in blood samples. In the current study, blood samples of 214 yellow-necked mice (<i>Apodemus flavicollis</i>) and 143 bank voles (<i>Clethrionomys glareolus</i>) from Lithuania were examined for <i>Sarcocystis</i>. The molecular identification of <i>Sarcocystis</i> was carried out using nested PCR of <i>cox1</i> and <i>28S</i> rRNA and subsequent sequencing. <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. were statistically (<i>p</i> < 0.01) more frequently detected in the bank vole (6.3%) than in yellow-necked mice (0.9%). The analysed parasites were observed in four different habitats, such as mature deciduous forest, bog, natural meadow, and arable land. Three species, <i>Sarcocystis funereus</i>, <i>Sarcocystis myodes</i>, and <i>Sarcocystis</i> cf. <i>glareoli</i> were confirmed in the bank vole, whereas only <i>Sarcocystis myodes</i> were found in yellow-necked mice. The obtained results are important in the development of molecular identification of <i>Sarcocystis</i> parasites in live animals.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/3/365<i>Sarcocystis</i>rodentsbloodgenetic identificationprevalence<i>cox1</i> |
| spellingShingle | Petras Prakas Naglis Gudiškis Neringa Kitrytė Dovilė Laisvūnė Bagdonaitė Laima Baltrūnaitė Detection of Three <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species (Apicomplexa) in Blood Samples of the Bank Vole and Yellow-Necked Mouse from Lithuania Life <i>Sarcocystis</i> rodents blood genetic identification prevalence <i>cox1</i> |
| title | Detection of Three <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species (Apicomplexa) in Blood Samples of the Bank Vole and Yellow-Necked Mouse from Lithuania |
| title_full | Detection of Three <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species (Apicomplexa) in Blood Samples of the Bank Vole and Yellow-Necked Mouse from Lithuania |
| title_fullStr | Detection of Three <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species (Apicomplexa) in Blood Samples of the Bank Vole and Yellow-Necked Mouse from Lithuania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detection of Three <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species (Apicomplexa) in Blood Samples of the Bank Vole and Yellow-Necked Mouse from Lithuania |
| title_short | Detection of Three <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species (Apicomplexa) in Blood Samples of the Bank Vole and Yellow-Necked Mouse from Lithuania |
| title_sort | detection of three i sarcocystis i species apicomplexa in blood samples of the bank vole and yellow necked mouse from lithuania |
| topic | <i>Sarcocystis</i> rodents blood genetic identification prevalence <i>cox1</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/3/365 |
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