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Parasite (Paris, France)2020; 27; 1; doi: 10.1051/parasite/2019078

Prevalence and morphological and molecular characteristics of Sarcocystis bertrami in horses in China.

Abstract: Three cyst-forming Sarcocystis species have been identified in horsemeat; however, there exists considerable confusion concerning their relationships. Here, 74% (34/46) of the examined tissue samples from horses contained sarcocysts based on examination by light microscopy (LM), and the organism was identified as Sarcocystis bertrami based on cyst structure. The S. bertrami cysts were microscopic (up to 6750 μm in length) and exhibited a striated wall with 2.0-5.1 μm villar protrusions (vps) under LM. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations showed that the vps were tightly packed, similar to "type 11c". Four genetic markers (18S, 28S, ITS1 and the mitochondrial cox1 gene) of S. bertrami were sequenced and analyzed. The 28S and ITS1 sequences are the first records for Sarcocystis in horses. The newly obtained sequences of the 18S and cox1 genes both shared the highest similarities with those of S. bertrami and S. fayeri obtained from horses. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 18S, 28S and cox1 sequences revealed that S. bertrami and S. fayeri formed an independent clade within a group comprising Sarcocystis spp. from ruminants and pigs. Therefore, S. bertrami and S. fayeri are considered to represent the same species of Sarcocystis in horses, and S. fayeri is a junior synonym of Sarcocystis bertrami. Background: Prévalence et caractéristiques morphologiques et moléculaires de Sarcocystis bertrami chez les chevaux en Chine. Unassigned: Trois espèces de Sarcocystis formant des kystes ont été identifiées dans la viande de cheval, mais il existe une confusion considérable concernant leurs relations. Ici, 74 % (34/46) des échantillons de tissus examinés provenant de chevaux contenaient des sarcocystes selon l’examen par microscopie optique (LM), et l’organisme a été identifié comme Sarcocystis bertrami selon la structure du kyste. Les kystes de S. bertrami étaient microscopiques (jusqu’à 6 750 μm de longueur) et présentaient une paroi striée avec des saillies villaires (vp) de 2,0 à 5,1 μm sous LM. Les observations en microscopie électronique à transmission ont montré que les vp étaient très serrées, similaires au « type 11c ». Quatre marqueurs génétiques (18S, 28S, ITS1 et le gène mitochondrial cox1) de S. bertrami ont été séquencés et analysés. Les séquences de 28S et ITS1 sont les premières de Sarcocystis chez les chevaux. Les séquences nouvellement obtenues de 18S et des gènes mitochondriaux cox1 partagent les similitudes les plus élevées avec celles de S. bertrami et S. fayeri obtenues à partir de chevaux. Une analyse phylogénétique basée sur les séquences de 18S, 28S et cox1 a révélé que S. bertrami et S. fayeri formaient un clade indépendant au sein d’un groupe comprenant les Sarcocystis spp. des ruminants et des porcs. Par conséquent, S. bertrami et S. fayeri sont considérés comme représentant la même espèce de Sarcocystis chez les chevaux, et S. fayeri est un synonyme plus récent de Sarcocystis bertrami.
© C.-L. Ma et al., published by EDP Sciences, 2020.
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Publication Date: 2020-01-07 PubMed ID: 31908266PubMed Central: PMC6945750DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2019078Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research focusses on investigating the incidence and the characteristics of the cyst-forming Sarcocystis Bertrami species found in horses, notably in China. The study discovered that 74% of horse tissue samples examined contained these sarcocysts, and it further analyzed their genetic markers, morphology, and relationships with other Sarcocystis species.

Study Methodology and Findings

  • The study included the examination of horse tissue samples under light microscopy (LM). The researchers found that 74% (34 out of 46) of these samples contained Sarcocystis Bertrami sarcocysts based on their structure.
  • The identified Sarcocystis Bertrami sarcocysts were found to be microscopic, with lengths of up to 6750 μm. The wall of the sarcocysts exhibited a striated pattern with villar protrusions (VPS) measuring between 2.0-5.1 μm. These traits were observed under light microscopy (LM).
  • The team applied transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for a closer look into the VPS. They observed that the VPS were tightly packed, exhibiting similarities to previous research designated as “type 11c”.

Genetic Analysis

  • The researchers sequenced and analyzed four genetic markers from Sarcocystis Bertrami. These biomarkers include 18S, 28S, ITS1, and the mitochondrial COX1 gene. Conspicuously, the findings from the 28S and ITS1 sequences were first-time records for Sarcocystis in relation to horses.
  • The newly attained sequences from the 18S and COX1 genes bore a high similarity with those of Sarcocystis Bertrami and Sarcocystis Fayeri found in horses in previous studies.

Phylogenetic Analysis

  • The team employed phylogenetic analysis on the identified 18S, 28S, and COX1 gene sequences. This analysis revealed that the Sarcocystis Bertrami and Sarcocystis Fayeri formed an independent cluster within the broad group comprising Sarcocystis species originating from ruminants and pigs.
  • Based on these findings, the study concluded that Sarcocystis Bertrami and Sarcocystis Fayeri represent the same species of Sarcocystis in horses. Therefore, Sarcocystis Fayeri is deemed a synonym of Sarcocystis Bertrami.

Cite This Article

APA
Ma CL, Ye YL, Wen T, Huang ZM, Pan J, Hu JJ, Tao JP, Song JL. (2020). Prevalence and morphological and molecular characteristics of Sarcocystis bertrami in horses in China. Parasite, 27, 1. https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2019078

Publication

Parasite (Paris, France)
ISSN: 1776-1042
NlmUniqueID: 9437094
Country: France
Language: English
Volume: 27
Pages: 1
PII: 1

Researcher Affiliations

Ma, Chun-Li
  • School of Biological Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China.
Ye, Yu-Long
  • School of Biological Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China.
Wen, Tao
  • School of Biological Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China.
Huang, Zhu-Mei
  • School of Biological Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China.
Pan, Jing
  • School of Biological Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China.
Hu, Jun-Jie
  • School of Biological Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China - Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw 05282, Myanmar.
Tao, Jian-Ping
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China.
Song, Jing-Ling
  • Electron Microscope Laboratory, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, PR China.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • China / epidemiology
  • DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • Genes, Mitochondrial
  • Genetic Variation
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Phylogeny
  • Prevalence
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / genetics
  • Sarcocystis / classification
  • Sarcocystis / genetics
  • Sarcocystosis / epidemiology
  • Sarcocystosis / veterinary

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Feng Y, Guo R, Sang X, Zhang X, Li M, Li X, Yang N, Jiang T. A Systematic Meta-Analysis of Global Sarcocystis Infection in Sheep and Goats.. Pathogens 2023 Jul 2;12(7).
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  2. Marques C, da Silva B, Nogueira Y, Bezerra T, Tavares A, Borges-Silva W, Gondim L. Brazilian Horses from Bahia State Are Highly Infected with Sarcocystis bertrami.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 10;12(24).
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  3. Strazdaitė-Žielienė Ž, Baranauskaitė A, Butkauskas D, Servienė E, Prakas P. Molecular Identification of Parasitic Protozoa Sarcocystis in Water Samples.. Vet Sci 2022 Aug 5;9(8).
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  4. Zhang M, Wei K, Wu Z, Sun J, Hu J, Deng S, Tao J. Morphological and molecular characterization of a Sarcocystis species infecting donkeys from China.. Parasitol Res 2022 Oct;121(10):2917-2926.
    doi: 10.1007/s00436-022-07616-2pubmed: 35941324google scholar: lookup
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