Molecular typing of Sarcocystis neurona: current status and future trends.
Abstract: Sarcocystis neurona is an important protozoal pathogen because it causes the serious neurological disease equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). The capacity of this organism to cause a wide spectrum of neurological signs in horses and the broad geographic distribution of observed cases in the Americas drive the need for sensitive, reliable and rapid typing methods to characterize strains. Various molecular methods have been developed and used to diagnose EPM due to S. neurona, to identify S. neurona isolates and to determine the heterogeneity and evolutionary relatedness within this species and related Sarcocystis spp. These methods included sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), immuno-fluorescent assay (IFA), slide agglutination test (SAT), SnSAG-specific ELISA, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting, and sequence analysis of surface protein genes, ribosomal genes, microsatellite alleles and other molecular markers. Here, the utility of these molecular methods is reviewed and evaluated with respect to the need for molecular approaches that utilize well-characterized polymorphic, simple, independent, and stable genetic markers. These tools have the potential to add to knowledge of the genetic population structure of S. neurona and to provide new insights into the pathogenesis of EPM and S. neurona epidemiology. In particular, these methods provide new tools to address the hypothesis that particular genetic variants are associated with adverse clinical outcomes (severe pathotypes). The ultimate goal is to utilize them in future studies to improve treatment and prevention strategies.
Publication Date: 2007-08-16 PubMed ID: 17706872DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.06.039Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research discusses various molecular methods used to study Sarcocystis neurona, a pathogenic organism causing a serious neurological disease in horses, and evaluates the need for improved molecular tools to understand its genetic structure, pathogenesis, epidemiology, and its relationship with adverse clinical outcomes.
Understanding S. neurona and Its Impact
- The study focuses on the Sarcocystis neurona pathogen, its wide-ranging impact on the neurological health of horses, and its widespread geographical distribution.
- This pathogen leads to Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM), a serious health issue for horses in the Americas.
Current Diagnostic and Typing Methods
- The research details various molecular methods currently being used to diagnose EPM, identify S. neurona isolates, and establish heterogeneity and evolutionary relationships within this species and related species.
- These methods include SDS-PAGE, IFA, SAT, SnSAG-specific ELISA, RAPD, PCR-based RFLP, AFLP fingerprinting, and sequence analysis of protein genes, ribosomal genes, microsatellite alleles, and other molecular markers.
Need for Advanced Molecular Tools
- The paper emphasizes the need for tools that use well-characterized polymorphic, simple, independent, and stable genetic markers for better and more effective research on the pathogen.
- Improved molecular methods would contribute significantly to understanding the genetic structure of S. neurona.
Applying Advanced Methods for Future Research
- The utilization of these advanced molecular tools would provide valuable insights regarding the pathogenesis of EPM and the epidemiology of S. neurona, particularly regarding the variable clinical outcomes.
- In the future, these methods can be used to investigate the hypothesis that certain genetic variants of the pathogen are associated with more severe pathotypes.
- Ultimately, better understanding of the S. neurona genetic variants can facilitate the development of more effective treatment and prevention strategies for EPM.
Cite This Article
APA
Elsheikha HM, Mansfield LS.
(2007).
Molecular typing of Sarcocystis neurona: current status and future trends.
Vet Parasitol, 149(1-2), 43-55.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.06.039 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, College Road, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, United Kingdom.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Encephalomyelitis / diagnosis
- Encephalomyelitis / epidemiology
- Encephalomyelitis / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / trends
- Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / veterinary
- Sarcocystis / classification
- Sarcocystis / genetics
- Sarcocystosis / diagnosis
- Sarcocystosis / epidemiology
- Sarcocystosis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- 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.
- Yan W, Qian W, Li X, Wang T, Ding K, Huang T. Morphological and molecular characterization of Sarcocystis miescheriana from pigs in the central region of China. Parasitol Res 2013 Mar;112(3):975-80.
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