The Richness of <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species in the Common Gull (<i>Larus canus</i>) and Black-Headed Gull (<i>Larus ridibundus</i>) from Lithuania
The common gull (<i>Larus canus</i>) and the black-headed gull (<i>Larus ridibundus</i>) are common waterbird species in Lithuania. Until now, the composition of <i>Sarcocystis</i> species in these birds was unknown. The current study aimed to identify <i>Sa...
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Parasitologia |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6772/3/2/18 |
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| author | Evelina Juozaitytė-Ngugu Petras Prakas |
| author_facet | Evelina Juozaitytė-Ngugu Petras Prakas |
| author_sort | Evelina Juozaitytė-Ngugu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The common gull (<i>Larus canus</i>) and the black-headed gull (<i>Larus ridibundus</i>) are common waterbird species in Lithuania. Until now, the composition of <i>Sarcocystis</i> species in these birds was unknown. The current study aimed to identify <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. by the morphological examination of sarcocysts found in the muscle tissues and by DNA sequence analysis. Between 2011 and 2019, the leg muscles of 42 common gulls and 63 black-headed gulls were tested for <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. Based on the methylene blue staining of squashed muscle samples, sarcocysts were detected in six common gulls (14.3%) and in six black-headed gulls (9.5%). Under a light microscope, one type of microcyst was observed. Sarcocysts were thread-like (2860–8250 × 40–180 μm) and had a smooth and thin (0.8–1.4 μm) cyst wall, while bradyzoites were banana-shaped and 5.0–9.2 × 1.3–2.4 μm in size. The sequencing of complete <i>ITS1</i> showed the presence of <i>S</i>. <i>columbae</i>, <i>S</i>. <i>halieti</i> and <i>S</i>. <i>wobeseri</i> in the common gull and <i>S</i>. <i>columbae</i> and <i>S</i>. <i>halieti</i> in the black-headed gull. The highest intraspecific genetic variability was established for <i>S</i>. <i>halieti</i>, which is characterized by a wide host range. This species is considered to be pathogenic, therefore further histopathological examination of the various organs of gulls is needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:04:36Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:04:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
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| series | Parasitologia |
| spelling | doaj.art-bdd956463fbf4ed6b03ab56a760be7a02023-11-18T11:59:06ZengMDPI AGParasitologia2673-67722023-05-013217218010.3390/parasitologia3020018The Richness of <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species in the Common Gull (<i>Larus canus</i>) and Black-Headed Gull (<i>Larus ridibundus</i>) from LithuaniaEvelina Juozaitytė-Ngugu0Petras Prakas1Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaThe common gull (<i>Larus canus</i>) and the black-headed gull (<i>Larus ridibundus</i>) are common waterbird species in Lithuania. Until now, the composition of <i>Sarcocystis</i> species in these birds was unknown. The current study aimed to identify <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. by the morphological examination of sarcocysts found in the muscle tissues and by DNA sequence analysis. Between 2011 and 2019, the leg muscles of 42 common gulls and 63 black-headed gulls were tested for <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. Based on the methylene blue staining of squashed muscle samples, sarcocysts were detected in six common gulls (14.3%) and in six black-headed gulls (9.5%). Under a light microscope, one type of microcyst was observed. Sarcocysts were thread-like (2860–8250 × 40–180 μm) and had a smooth and thin (0.8–1.4 μm) cyst wall, while bradyzoites were banana-shaped and 5.0–9.2 × 1.3–2.4 μm in size. The sequencing of complete <i>ITS1</i> showed the presence of <i>S</i>. <i>columbae</i>, <i>S</i>. <i>halieti</i> and <i>S</i>. <i>wobeseri</i> in the common gull and <i>S</i>. <i>columbae</i> and <i>S</i>. <i>halieti</i> in the black-headed gull. The highest intraspecific genetic variability was established for <i>S</i>. <i>halieti</i>, which is characterized by a wide host range. This species is considered to be pathogenic, therefore further histopathological examination of the various organs of gulls is needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6772/3/2/18<i>Sarcocystis</i>gullsinfection rates<i>ITS1</i>genetic variation |
| spellingShingle | Evelina Juozaitytė-Ngugu Petras Prakas The Richness of <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species in the Common Gull (<i>Larus canus</i>) and Black-Headed Gull (<i>Larus ridibundus</i>) from Lithuania Parasitologia <i>Sarcocystis</i> gulls infection rates <i>ITS1</i> genetic variation |
| title | The Richness of <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species in the Common Gull (<i>Larus canus</i>) and Black-Headed Gull (<i>Larus ridibundus</i>) from Lithuania |
| title_full | The Richness of <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species in the Common Gull (<i>Larus canus</i>) and Black-Headed Gull (<i>Larus ridibundus</i>) from Lithuania |
| title_fullStr | The Richness of <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species in the Common Gull (<i>Larus canus</i>) and Black-Headed Gull (<i>Larus ridibundus</i>) from Lithuania |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Richness of <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species in the Common Gull (<i>Larus canus</i>) and Black-Headed Gull (<i>Larus ridibundus</i>) from Lithuania |
| title_short | The Richness of <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species in the Common Gull (<i>Larus canus</i>) and Black-Headed Gull (<i>Larus ridibundus</i>) from Lithuania |
| title_sort | richness of i sarcocystis i species in the common gull i larus canus i and black headed gull i larus ridibundus i from lithuania |
| topic | <i>Sarcocystis</i> gulls infection rates <i>ITS1</i> genetic variation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6772/3/2/18 |
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