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Home / Equine Research Bank / Lett Appl Microbiol / Molecular phylogeny of Sarcocystis fayeri (Apicomplexa: Sarc...
Letters in applied microbiology2020; 71(4); 377-385; doi: 10.1111/lam.13335

Molecular phylogeny of Sarcocystis fayeri (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) from the domestic horse Equus caballus based on 18S rRNA gene sequences and its prevalence.

Abstract: Sarcocystosis is a parasitic disease caused by an intracellular protozoan parasite Sarcocystis belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa. These parasites have a requisite two-host life cycle. Recently, there are many Sarcocystis species that identified morphologically. In the present study, diaphragmatic muscle samples from the domestic horse (Equus caballus) were examined for Sarcocystis infection. The natural infection with sarcocysts was recorded to be 62·5% for only microcysts in the infected muscles. Molecular analysis using the 18S rRNA gene was conducted to swiftly and accurately identify the recovered species. Studies on the expression of the 18S rRNA gene have confirmed that the present parasite isolates belong to the Sarcocystis genus. The sequence data showed significant identities (>80%) with archived gene sequences from species within the Sarcocystidae family, and a dendrogram showing the phylogenetic relationship was constructed. The most closely related species were the previously described Sarcocystis fayeri and Sarcocystis bertrami. The current data showed that the present species was identified as S. fayeri and deposited in GenBank (accession number MF614956.1). This study highlights the importance of the genetic data in the exact taxonomy within sarcocystid species.
© 2020 The Society for Applied Microbiology.
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Publication Date: 2020-06-22 PubMed ID: 32472702DOI: 10.1111/lam.13335Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper focuses on the genetic examination of the parasite Sarcocystis fayeri, found in domestic horses, using 18S rRNA gene sequences to precisely identify and understand its prevalence.

Introduction to Sarcocystosis

  • Sarcocystosis is a parasitic disease caused by Sarcocystis, an intracellular protozoan parasite from the Apicomplexa phylum.
  • This parasite typically requires a two-host life cycle to survive and breed.
  • Recently, many Sarcocystis species have been identified based on morphological examination.

Study Methodology and Findings

  • For this study, the researchers examined diaphragmatic muscle samples from domestic horses (Equus caballus), and documented a 62.5% infection rate with sarcocysts, with only microcysts found in the infected muscle samples.
  • To speedily and accurately identify the isolated parasites, the researchers performed molecular analysis using the 18S rRNA gene—a common marker in molecular biology, well-suited for constructing phylogenies due to its slow rates of evolution.
  • This gene examination confirmed that the isolated parasites belonged to the Sarcocystis genus.

Molecular Analysis and Phylogeny

  • The researchers found that the sequence data displayed significant identities (more than 80% similarity) with archived gene sequences from species within the Sarcocystidae family.
  • A dendrogram—a tree diagram often used to illustrate the arrangement of the clusters produced by hierarchical clustering—was constructed to show the phylogenetic relationship among the parasites.
  • Through this analysis, Sarcocystis fayeri and Sarcocystis bertrami were found to be closely related species to the examined parasites.
  • Moreover, the study determined that the isolated parasites count as a species of S. fayeri.

Significance of the Research

  • The results of this study have been added to GenBank—an open-access, annotated collection of all publicly available nucleotide sequences and their protein translations (accession number MF614956.1).
  • The study emphasizes the importance of genetic data in precisely identifying and classifying different species within the Sarcocystidae family.
  • Understanding the genetic makeup and familial relationships of such parasites can assist in the development of targeted treatments and strategies to control or prevent infection in domestic animals.

Cite This Article

APA
Abdel-Gaber R, Al Quraishy S, Dkhil MA, Alghamdi J, Al-Shaebi E. (2020). Molecular phylogeny of Sarcocystis fayeri (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) from the domestic horse Equus caballus based on 18S rRNA gene sequences and its prevalence. Lett Appl Microbiol, 71(4), 377-385. https://doi.org/10.1111/lam.13335

Publication

Letters in applied microbiology
ISSN: 1472-765X
NlmUniqueID: 8510094
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 71
Issue: 4
Pages: 377-385

Researcher Affiliations

Abdel-Gaber, R
  • Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Al Quraishy, S
  • Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Dkhil, M A
  • Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
Alghamdi, J
  • Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Al-Shaebi, E
  • Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic / parasitology
  • DNA, Protozoan / genetics
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Muscles / parasitology
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Prevalence
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / genetics
  • Sarcocystis / classification
  • Sarcocystis / genetics
  • Sarcocystis / isolation & purification
  • Sarcocystosis / parasitology
  • Sarcocystosis / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • King Saud University

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