Characterization of a Sarcocystis neurona isolate from a Missouri horse with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.
Abstract: Little information is available about antigenic variation of Sarcocystis neurona isolated from horses with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, nor is there much information available on the specific antibody pattern to S. neurona antigens of horses from different geographic regions where S. neurona isolates have been obtained. This communication reports on the characterization of a new S. neurona isolate, SN-MU1. The isolate was obtained from a 3-year old Thoroughbred that had asymmetrical neurological signs and localized skeletal muscle atrophy. This S. neurona isolate is similar to other S. neurona isolates by molecular analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) region and a random-amplified polymorphic DNA marker, but is phenotypically distinct from the other S. neurona isolates examined. Evaluation of the antibodies from the affected horse and immunohistochemical results suggested that antigenic variation of S. neurona can result in variable antibody-antigen reactivity observed in the S. neurona immunoblot test.
Publication Date: 2001-02-27 PubMed ID: 11223195DOI: 10.1016/s0304-4017(00)00386-1Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Case Reports
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Antibodies
- Antigen
- Clinical Pathology
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis
- Genetics
- Horses
- Immunoblotting
- Immunohistochemistry
- Infection
- Infectious Disease
- Molecular Analysis
- Neurological Diseases
- Phenotype
- Sarcocystis
- Thoroughbreds
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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This research focuses on a new isolate of the parasite Sarcocystis neurona, obtained from a horse in Missouri suffering from equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. The study explores the possible antigenic variations of this parasite in different geographic regions and its ability to invoke varying antibody responses based on these variations.
Research Objectives
- The researchers aimed to study the characteristics of a new isolate of Sarcocystis neurona, named SN-MU1, taken from a 3-year old Thoroughbred suffering from equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, a disease that affects the nervous system of horses.
- The study was also aimed at understanding how antigenic variation in this protozoan parasite could influence the specific antibody response developed by the host.
Sarcocystis neurona isolate characteristics
- The SN-MU1 isolate was taken from a thoroughbred horse exhibiting asymmetrical neurological signs and localized skeletal muscle atrophy.
- The team used molecular analysis techniques such as internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) region sequencing and a random-amplified polymorphic DNA marker to compare SN-MU1 with other S. neurona isolates.
- Upon comparison, they found that this isolate is genetically similar to other S. neurona isolates. However, it had unique phenotypic properties making it distinct from other isolates of the parasite.
Antibody-antigen reactivity
- The team also investigated the antibodies produced by the horse against this specific strain of parasite.
- Their immunohistochemical results suggest that the antigenic variation in S. neurona can lead to different antibody-antigen reactions, which was apparent from the variable reactivity observed in the S. neurona immunoblot test.
- It suggests that despite having a similar genetic structure, antigenic variations can still result in different immune responses.
Significance of the Research
- This research provides valuable information on the antigenic variation in S. neurona and its potential effects on the immune responses of horses.
- This knowledge can be crucial for developing targeted therapies and vaccines for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis and potentially understanding the mechanism driving such variations in other parasitic organisms.
Cite This Article
APA
Marsh AE, Johnson PJ, Ramos-Vara J, Johnson GC.
(2001).
Characterization of a Sarcocystis neurona isolate from a Missouri horse with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.
Vet Parasitol, 95(2-4), 143-154.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-4017(00)00386-1 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Connaway Hall, 1600 East Rollins Dr., Columbia, MO 65211, USA. marshae@missouri.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antigenic Variation
- Blotting, Western / veterinary
- DNA, Intergenic / chemistry
- Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / veterinary
- Encephalomyelitis / parasitology
- Encephalomyelitis / veterinary
- Genetic Markers
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Male
- Muscular Atrophy / parasitology
- Muscular Atrophy / veterinary
- Phenotype
- Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique / veterinary
- Sarcocystis / classification
- Sarcocystis / genetics
- Sarcocystis / immunology
- Sarcocystis / isolation & purification
- Sarcocystosis / parasitology
- Sarcocystosis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Zitzer NC, Marsh AE, Burkhard MJ, Radin MJ, Wellman ML, Jugan M, Parker V. Parasitemia due to Sarcocystis neurona-like infection in a clinically ill domestic cat. Vet Clin Pathol 2017 Sep;46(3):526-532.
- Dubey JP, Howe DK, Furr M, Saville WJ, Marsh AE, Reed SM, Grigg ME. An update on Sarcocystis neurona infections in animals and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Vet Parasitol 2015 Apr 15;209(1-2):1-42.
- Rejmanek D, Miller MA, Grigg ME, Crosbie PR, Conrad PA. Molecular characterization of Sarcocystis neurona strains from opossums (Didelphis virginiana) and intermediate hosts from Central California. Vet Parasitol 2010 May 28;170(1-2):20-9.
- Ellison S, Witonsky S. Evidence that antibodies against recombinant SnSAG1 of Sarcocystis neurona merozoites are involved in infection and immunity in equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. Can J Vet Res 2009 Jul;73(3):176-83.
- Hoane JS, Morrow JK, Saville WJ, Dubey JP, Granstrom DE, Howe DK. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for detection of equine antibodies specific to Sarcocystis neurona surface antigens. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2005 Sep;12(9):1050-6.
- Elsheikha HM, Mansfield LS. Sarcocystis neurona major surface antigen gene 1 (SAG1) shows evidence of having evolved under positive selection pressure. Parasitol Res 2004 Dec;94(6):452-9.
- Elsheikha HM, Murphy AJ, Fitzgerald SD, Mansfield LS, Massey JP, Saeed MA. Purification of Sarcocystis neurona sporocysts from opossum (Didelphis virginiana) using potassium bromide discontinuous density gradient centrifugation. Parasitol Res 2003 Jun;90(2):104-9.
- Dubey JP. Review of Neospora caninum and neosporosis in animals. Korean J Parasitol 2003 Mar;41(1):1-16.
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