Molecular screening for Sarcocystidae in muscles of wild birds from Brazil suggests a plethora of intermediate hosts for Sarcocystis falcatula

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.03.002
• Publication Date: 2022-03-03T02:01:11Z
• Authors: Horwald A.B. Llano; Heloise Zavatieri...; Lara Borges Keid; Trícia Maria Ferr...; Ticiana Zwarg; Alice S. de Oliveira; Thaís C. Sanches; Adriana M. Joppert; Luís F.P. Gondim; Rodrigo Martins S...
• Keywords: Anseriformes; Sanger sequencing

The genus Sarcocystis and the species Toxoplasma gondii are most prevalent sarcocystid organisms found in birds. Molecular phylogenies based on first internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal coding DNA (ITS1) have been widely used to identify them. Here, pectoral muscles from 400 wild birds Brazil were screened by means molecular methods using nested PCR, Sanger sequencing yielded amplicons. A pan-sarcocystid ITS1-directed PCR revealed 28 infected falcatula (ten Piciformes, eight Psittaciformes, five Columbiformes, two Accipitriformes, one Anseriformes, Passeriformes Strigiformes); halieti (one Accipitriformes); nine unknown or undescribed (six Passeriformes, Cathartiformes Cuculiformes); six harboring (three Pelecaniformes, Falconiformes Columbiformes). Samples S. falcatula-related ITS1 sequences further characterized genetic three surface antigen genes (SAGs). From this, 10 new allelic combinations SAGs (SAG2, SAG3 SAG4) identified, addition 11 SAG already Brazil. with falcatula-unrelated cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (CO1) 18S gene (18S rDNA). This study was extensive survey for Sarcocystidae species. It provides evidence natural infection 14 species, including order shows high diversity intermediate hosts South America. Evidence occurrence at least non-described also presented this study. corroborated ubiquity T. but surprisingly low prevalence parasite (1.5%).