Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora caninum in Brazilian opossums (Didelphis spp.): Molecular investigation and in vitro isolation of Sarcocystis spp.
Abstract: Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora spp. are protozoan parasites that induce neurological diseases in horses and other animal species. Opossums (Didelphis albiventris and Didelphis virginiana) are definitive hosts of S. neurona, which is the major cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Neospora caninum causes abortion in cattle and infects a wide range of animal species, while N. hughesi is known to induce neurologic disease in equids. The aims of this study were to investigate S. neurona and N. caninum in tissues from opossums in the northeastern Brazil, and to isolate Brazilian strains of Sarcocystis spp. from wild opossums for comparison with previously isolated strains. Carcasses of 39 opossums from Bahia state were available for molecular identification of Sarcocystis spp. and N. caninum in their tissues, and for sporocyst detection by intestinal scraping. In addition, Sarcocystis-like sporocysts from nine additional opossums, obtained in São Paulo state, were tested. Sarcocystis DNA was found in 16 (41%) of the 39 opossums' carcasses; N. caninum DNA was detected in tissues from three opossums. The sporocysts from the nine additional opossums from São Paulo state were tested by bioassay and induced infection in nine budgerigars, but in none of the gamma-interferon knockout mice. In vitro isolation was successful using tissues from all nine budgerigars. The isolated strains were maintained in CV-1 and Vero cells. Three of nine isolates presented contamination in cell culture and were discarded. Analysis of six isolates based on five loci showed that these parasites were genetically different from each other and also distinct from S. neurona, S. falcatula, S. lindsayi, and S. speeri. In conclusion, opossums in the studied regions were infected with N. caninum and Sarcocystis spp. and represent a potential source of infection to other animals. This is the first report of N. caninum infection in tissues from black-eared opossum (D. aurita or D. marsupialis) and white-eared opossum (D. albiventris). Brazilian opossums are probably infected by different Sarcocystis spp. distinct from S. neurona and S. falcatula, or present a high level of genetic recombination.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2017-07-05 PubMed ID: 28807293DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.07.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study investigates the presence and types of protozoan parasites, Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora caninum, in tissues from Brazilian opossums. The findings suggest that these opossums may carry parasites that can affect other animals, with evidence of the first case of Neospora caninum infection in two opossum species.
Protozoan Parasites in Brazilian Opossums
- The study focuses on the protozoan parasites Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora caninum. These parasites cause neurological diseases in horses and other animals. The opossum species Didelphis albiventris and Didelphis virginiana are definitive hosts for S. neurona, which is a major cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.
- Neospora caninum causes miscarriages in cattle and can infect a wide variety of animal species. Meanwhile, N. hughesi is known to cause neurological illness in equids.
Study Methodology and Findings
- The researchers analyzed the carcasses of 39 opossums from northeastern Brazil for the presence of Sarcocystis and Neospora caninum. They also collected Sarcocystis-like sporocysts from an additional 9 opossums in São Paulo state for testing.
- DNA of Sarcocystis was found in 16 of the 39 opossums, while Neospora caninum DNA was found in tissues from three of the opossums.
- Rather than causing infection in the gamma-interferon knockout mice tested, the sporocysts from São Paulo state induced infection in nine budgerigars, leading to successful in vitro cultivation of the parasite.
- The isolated strains, maintained in CV-1 and Vero cells, were analyzed and found to be genetically distinct from each other and from known strains of Sarcocystis.
Significant Conclusions
- The study concluded that opossums in the regions sampled were infected with both Neospora caninum and Sarcocystis species, potentially representing a source of infection to other animals.
- This study also reports the first detection of Neospora caninum infection in black-eared opossum (D. aurita or D. marsupialis) and white-eared opossum (D. albiventris).
- The distinct genetic makeup of the isolated parasites suggests Brazilian opossums are possibly infected by different Sarcocystis species which are separate from S. neurona and S. falcatula, or that a high level of genetic recombination is present.
Cite This Article
APA
Gondim LSQ, Jesus RF, Ribeiro-Andrade M, Silva JCR, Siqueira DB, Marvulo MFV, Aléssio FM, Mauffrey JF, Julião FS, Savani ESMM, Soares RM, Gondim LFP.
(2017).
Sarcocystis neurona and Neospora caninum in Brazilian opossums (Didelphis spp.): Molecular investigation and in vitro isolation of Sarcocystis spp.
Vet Parasitol, 243, 192-198.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.07.002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Departamento de Anatomia, Patologia e Clínicas, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Avenida Adhemar de Barros, 500, Ondina, Salvador 40170-110, Bahia, Brazil.
- Departamento de Anatomia, Patologia e Clínicas, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Avenida Adhemar de Barros, 500, Ondina, Salvador 40170-110, Bahia, Brazil.
- Departamento de Anatomia, Patologia e Clínicas, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Avenida Adhemar de Barros, 500, Ondina, Salvador 40170-110, Bahia, Brazil.
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife 52171-900, Pernambuco, Brazil; Instituto Brasileiro para Medicina da Conservação - Tríade, Rua Silveira Lobo 32, Caixa Postal 38, Casa Forte, Recife 532061-030, Pernambuco, Brazil.
- Instituto Brasileiro para Medicina da Conservação - Tríade, Rua Silveira Lobo 32, Caixa Postal 38, Casa Forte, Recife 532061-030, Pernambuco, Brazil.
- Faculdade Max Planck, Rodovia João Ceccon 60, Altos da Bela Vista, Indaiatuba 13331-400, São Paulo, Brazil; Instituto Brasileiro para Medicina da Conservação - Tríade, Rua Silveira Lobo 32, Caixa Postal 38, Casa Forte, Recife 532061-030, Pernambuco, Brazil.
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade de Pernambuco, Rua Arnóbio Marques, 310, Santo Amaro, Recife 50100-130, Pernambuco, Brazil; Laboratoire Population Environnement Développement, IRD Aix-Marseille Université, Centre St Charles, Case 10 3, place Victor Hugo 13331 Marseille, Cedex 03 France.
- Laboratoire Population Environnement Développement, IRD Aix-Marseille Université, Centre St Charles, Case 10 3, place Victor Hugo 13331 Marseille, Cedex 03 France.
- Instituto Federal Baiano, Campus Santa Inês, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
- Centro de Controle de Zoonoses, Secretaria Municipal de Saúde, São Paulo, SP Brazil.
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal (VPS), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87-Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508 270, Brazil.
- Departamento de Anatomia, Patologia e Clínicas, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Avenida Adhemar de Barros, 500, Ondina, Salvador 40170-110, Bahia, Brazil. Electronic address: pita@ufba.br.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biological Assay / veterinary
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Coccidiosis / epidemiology
- Coccidiosis / parasitology
- Coccidiosis / veterinary
- Didelphis / parasitology
- Melopsittacus
- Mice
- Neospora / isolation & purification
- Phylogeny
- Sarcocystis / genetics
- Sarcocystis / isolation & purification
- Sarcocystosis / epidemiology
- Sarcocystosis / parasitology
- Sarcocystosis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Llano HAB, Zavatieri Polato H, Borges Keid L, Ferreira de Souza Oliveira TM, Zwarg T, de Oliveira AS, Sanches TC, Joppert AM, Gondim LFP, Martins Soares R. Molecular screening for Sarcocystidae in muscles of wild birds from Brazil suggests a plethora of intermediate hosts for Sarcocystis falcatula. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022 Apr;17:230-238.
- Origlia J, Unzaga F, Piscopo M, Moré G. Fatal sarcocystosis in psittacine birds from Argentina. Parasitol Res 2022 Jan;121(1):491-497.
- Borges-Silva W, de Jesus RF, Ferreira R, Gondim LFP. Reactivity of Horse Sera to Antigens Derived From Sarcocystis falcatula-Like and Sarcocystis neurona. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:573016.
- Reissig EC, Helman E, Moré G. Sarcocystis spp. infection in South American deer huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) and pudu (Pudu puda) from Patagonian National Parks, Argentina. Parasitol Res 2020 Nov;119(11):3915-3922.
- Pereira HS, E Almeida LT, Fernandes V, Senra RL, Fontes PP, Bittar ER, Ribon AOB, Rotta PP, Menezes-Souza D, Bittar JFF, Mendes TAO. Chimeric Protein Designed by Genome-Scale Immunoinformatics Enhances Serodiagnosis of Bovine Neosporosis. J Clin Microbiol 2020 Jun 24;58(7).
- Hammerschmitt ME, Henker LC, Lichtler J, da Costa FVA, Soares RM, Llano HAB, Pavarini SP. First molecular characterization of Sarcocystis neurona causing meningoencephalitis in a domestic cat in Brazil. Parasitol Res 2020 Feb;119(2):675-682.
- Gondim LFP, Soares RM, Tavares AS, Borges-Silva W, de Jesus RF, Llano HAB, Gondim LQ. Sarcocystis falcatula-like derived from opossum in Northeastern Brazil: In vitro propagation in avian cells, molecular characterization and bioassay in birds. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2019 Dec;10:132-137.
- Acosta ICL, Soares RM, Mayorga LFSP, Alves BF, Soares HS, Gennari SM. Occurrence of tissue cyst forming coccidia in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) rescued on the coast of Brazil. PLoS One 2018;13(12):e0209007.
- Carvalho KS, de Barros CSL, Mendonça FS, Machado M, Riet-Correa F. Diseases of the nervous system of equids in Brazil: a review. J Vet Diagn Invest 2025 Sep;37(5):729-752.
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