Molecular Identification of Four Sarcocystis Species in the Herring Gull, Larus Argentatus, from Lithuania

Overview

Journal Parasit Vectors

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Parasitology
Tropical Medicine

Date 2020 Jan 8

PMID 31907072

Citations 15

Authors

Petras Prakas

Dalius Butkauskas

Evelina Juozaityte-Ngugu

Affiliations

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Abstract

Background: Birds of the family Laridae have not been intensively examined for infections with Sarcocystis spp. To date, sarcocysts of two species, S. lari and S. wobeseri, have been identified in the muscles of gulls. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the species richness of Sarcocystis in the herring gull, Larus argentatus, from Lithuania.

Methods: In the period between 2013 and 2019, leg muscles of 35 herring gulls were examined for sarcocysts of Sarcocystis spp. Sarcocystis spp. were characterised morphologically based on a light microscopy study. Four sarcocysts isolated from the muscles of each infected bird were subjected to further molecular examination. Sarcocystis species were identified by means of ITS1 sequence analysis.

Results: Sarcocysts were detected in 9/35 herring gulls (25.7%). Using light microscopy, one morphological type of sarcocysts was observed. Sarcocysts were microscopic, thread-like, had a smooth and thin (about 1 µm) cyst wall and were filled with banana-shaped bradyzoites. On the basis of ITS1 sequences, four Sarcocystis species, S. columbae, S. halieti, S. lari and S. wobeseri, were identified. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that a single infected herring gull could host two Sarcocystis species indistinguishable under light microscopy.

Conclusions: Larus argentatus is the first bird species found to act as intermediate host of four Sarcocystis spp. According to current knowledge, five species, S. falcatula, S. calchasi, S. wobeseri, S. columbae and S. halieti can use birds belonging to different orders as intermediate hosts.

Citing Articles

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Juozaityte-Ngugu E, Svazas S, Bea A, Sneideris D, Villanua D, Butkauskas D Animals (Basel). 2025; 15(5).

PMID: 40075929 PMC: 11898200. DOI: 10.3390/ani15050646.

Morphological and molecular characterisation of Sarcocystis capracanis, Sarcocystis cornagliai and Sarcocystis rossii n. sp. infecting the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex).

Rudaityte-Lukosiene E, Rehbein S, Calero-Bernal R, Butkauskas D, Prakas P Parasit Vectors. 2025; 18(1):96.

PMID: 40065382 PMC: 11892209. DOI: 10.1186/s13071-025-06737-8.

First report of Sarcocystis halieti in Asia: the genetic confirmation in muscles of the Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) from Iran.

Sazmand A, Moradi L, Almasi P, Nabavi R, Prakas P Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):6989.

PMID: 40011492 PMC: 11865500. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-90666-0.

The Genetic Identification of Numerous Apicomplexan Species in Intestines of Common Buzzard ().

Sukyte T, Juozaityte-Ngugu E, Svazas S, Butkauskas D, Prakas P Animals (Basel). 2024; 14(16).

PMID: 39199925 PMC: 11350845. DOI: 10.3390/ani14162391.

spp. Macrocysts Infection in Wildfowl Species in Eastern Baltic Region: Trends in Prevalence in 2011-2022.

Prakas P, Stankeviciute J, Svazas S, Juozaityte-Ngugu E, Butkauskas D, Vaitkeviciute-Balce R Animals (Basel). 2023; 13(18).

PMID: 37760275 PMC: 10525337. DOI: 10.3390/ani13182875.

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