Sarcocystis infection in red deer (Cervus elaphus) with eosinophilic myositis/fasciitis in Switzerland and involvement of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and hunting dogs in the transmission
Red deer (Cervus elaphus) carcasses showing grey-greenish discolouration have been increasingly observed in the canton of Grisons, Switzerland. We investigated whether Sarcocystis infections were associated with this pathology, and whether wild and domestic canids were involved in their transmission...
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Elsevier
2020-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224420300900 |
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| author | Walter Basso Cristian A. Alvarez Rojas Daniel Buob Maja Ruetten Peter Deplazes |
| author_facet | Walter Basso Cristian A. Alvarez Rojas Daniel Buob Maja Ruetten Peter Deplazes |
| author_sort | Walter Basso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Red deer (Cervus elaphus) carcasses showing grey-greenish discolouration have been increasingly observed in the canton of Grisons, Switzerland. We investigated whether Sarcocystis infections were associated with this pathology, and whether wild and domestic canids were involved in their transmission. Meat from affected red deer (n = 26), faeces and intestines from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (n = 126), and faeces from hunting dogs (n = 12) from the region, were analysed. Eosinophilic myositis and/or fasciitis were diagnosed in 69% of the deer, and sarcocysts were observed in 89% of the animals. Molecular typing targeting a ~700bp variable region of the 18S rRNA gene revealed Sarcocystis hjorti in 73%, S. venatoria/S. iberica in 54%, S. linearis/S. taeniata in 12%, S. pilosa in 8% and S. ovalis in 4% of the deer samples. No inflammatory changes were observed in red deer carcasses with normal appearance (n = 8); however, sarcocysts were observed in one sample, and S. hjorti, S. venatoria/S. iberica or S. silva DNA was detected in five samples. Sarcocystis oocysts/sporocysts were observed in 11/106 faecal and 6/20 intestinal fox samples, and in 2/12 canine samples. Sarcocystis tenella (n = 8), S. hjorti (n = 2), S. gracilis (n = 2), and S. miescheriana (n = 1) were identified in foxes, and S. gracilis (n = 2), S. capreolicanis (n = 1) and S. linearis/S. taeniata (n = 1) in dogs. This study provides first molecular evidence of S. pilosa and S. silva infection in red deer and S. linearis/S. taeniata in dogs and represents the first record of S. ovalis transmitted by corvids in Central Europe. Although Sarcocystis species infecting red deer are not regarded as zoonotic, the affected carcasses can be declared as unfit for human consumption due to the extensive pathological changes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T11:02:22Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2213-2244 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T11:02:22Z |
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| series | International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife |
| spelling | doaj.art-bac52d76231643938da6ba59bfc419e02022-12-21T22:33:58ZengElsevierInternational Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife2213-22442020-12-0113130141Sarcocystis infection in red deer (Cervus elaphus) with eosinophilic myositis/fasciitis in Switzerland and involvement of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and hunting dogs in the transmissionWalter Basso0Cristian A. Alvarez Rojas1Daniel Buob2Maja Ruetten3Peter Deplazes4Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH, 3012, Bern, Switzerland; Corresponding author. Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH, 8057, Zurich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH, 8057, Zurich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 286, CH, 8057, SwitzerlandInstitute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH, 8057, Zurich, SwitzerlandRed deer (Cervus elaphus) carcasses showing grey-greenish discolouration have been increasingly observed in the canton of Grisons, Switzerland. We investigated whether Sarcocystis infections were associated with this pathology, and whether wild and domestic canids were involved in their transmission. Meat from affected red deer (n = 26), faeces and intestines from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (n = 126), and faeces from hunting dogs (n = 12) from the region, were analysed. Eosinophilic myositis and/or fasciitis were diagnosed in 69% of the deer, and sarcocysts were observed in 89% of the animals. Molecular typing targeting a ~700bp variable region of the 18S rRNA gene revealed Sarcocystis hjorti in 73%, S. venatoria/S. iberica in 54%, S. linearis/S. taeniata in 12%, S. pilosa in 8% and S. ovalis in 4% of the deer samples. No inflammatory changes were observed in red deer carcasses with normal appearance (n = 8); however, sarcocysts were observed in one sample, and S. hjorti, S. venatoria/S. iberica or S. silva DNA was detected in five samples. Sarcocystis oocysts/sporocysts were observed in 11/106 faecal and 6/20 intestinal fox samples, and in 2/12 canine samples. Sarcocystis tenella (n = 8), S. hjorti (n = 2), S. gracilis (n = 2), and S. miescheriana (n = 1) were identified in foxes, and S. gracilis (n = 2), S. capreolicanis (n = 1) and S. linearis/S. taeniata (n = 1) in dogs. This study provides first molecular evidence of S. pilosa and S. silva infection in red deer and S. linearis/S. taeniata in dogs and represents the first record of S. ovalis transmitted by corvids in Central Europe. Although Sarcocystis species infecting red deer are not regarded as zoonotic, the affected carcasses can be declared as unfit for human consumption due to the extensive pathological changes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224420300900SarcocystisRed deer (Cervus elaphus)Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)Dog (Canis familiaris)Myositis/fasciitisMolecular identification |
| spellingShingle | Walter Basso Cristian A. Alvarez Rojas Daniel Buob Maja Ruetten Peter Deplazes Sarcocystis infection in red deer (Cervus elaphus) with eosinophilic myositis/fasciitis in Switzerland and involvement of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and hunting dogs in the transmission International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife Sarcocystis Red deer (Cervus elaphus) Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Dog (Canis familiaris) Myositis/fasciitis Molecular identification |
| title | Sarcocystis infection in red deer (Cervus elaphus) with eosinophilic myositis/fasciitis in Switzerland and involvement of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and hunting dogs in the transmission |
| title_full | Sarcocystis infection in red deer (Cervus elaphus) with eosinophilic myositis/fasciitis in Switzerland and involvement of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and hunting dogs in the transmission |
| title_fullStr | Sarcocystis infection in red deer (Cervus elaphus) with eosinophilic myositis/fasciitis in Switzerland and involvement of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and hunting dogs in the transmission |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sarcocystis infection in red deer (Cervus elaphus) with eosinophilic myositis/fasciitis in Switzerland and involvement of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and hunting dogs in the transmission |
| title_short | Sarcocystis infection in red deer (Cervus elaphus) with eosinophilic myositis/fasciitis in Switzerland and involvement of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and hunting dogs in the transmission |
| title_sort | sarcocystis infection in red deer cervus elaphus with eosinophilic myositis fasciitis in switzerland and involvement of red foxes vulpes vulpes and hunting dogs in the transmission |
| topic | Sarcocystis Red deer (Cervus elaphus) Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Dog (Canis familiaris) Myositis/fasciitis Molecular identification |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224420300900 |
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