The Tengmalm's owl Aegolius funereus (Aves, Strigidae) as the definitive host of Sarcocystis funereus sp. nov. (Apicomplexa)
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60460709%3A41210%2F24%3A100543" target="_blank" >RIV/60460709:41210/24:100543 - isvavai.cz</a>
Alternative codes found
RIV/60460709:41320/24:N0000036 RIV/60460709:41330/24:100543
Result on the web
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1356549" target="_blank" >http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1356549</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1356549" target="_blank" >10.3389/fvets.2024.1356549</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
The Tengmalm's owl Aegolius funereus (Aves, Strigidae) as the definitive host of Sarcocystis funereus sp. nov. (Apicomplexa)
Original language description
Background: Owls have been reported as definitive hosts, whereas wild small mammals (naturally and experimentally) as intermediate hosts of several species of Sarcocystis. Recently, dead fledglings were found infected by an unnamed species of Sarcocystis since its intermediate host was unknown. After collecting additional samples of owls and wild small mammals, the present study focused on elucidating the identity, potential intermediate host, and complete life cycle of the found Sarcocystis through experimentally infected rodents. The developmental stages' morphological and molecular characterizations (28S rRNA gene, ITS1 region) are presented herein. Methods: In total, 21 Tengmalm's owl carcasses (15 nestlings, 5 fledglings, and 1 adult male) were collected in Kauhava (west-central Finland) and parasitologically examined by wet mounts. Intestinal mucosa scrapings were used to isolate oocysts/sporocysts and employed for experimental infections in dexamethasone-immunosuppressed BALB/cOlaHsd mice. Additionally, sarcocysts were searched in the skeletal muscle of 95 samples from seven wild small mammal species. All these developmental stages were molecularly characterized by the 28S rRNA gene and ITS1 region. Experimental infections were carried out by using immunosuppressed female 8-week-old BALB/cOlaHsd mice, divided into three groups: (1) water with 15 mu g/mL of dexamethasone, (2) water with 30 mu g/mL of dexamethasone, (3) no dexamethasone treatment. Each group consisted of four individuals. In each group, two mice were infected with 1,000 sporocysts each, and the remaining two with 10,000 sporocysts each. All mice were euthanized on specific days post-infection. Results: The intestinal mucosa of 11 nestlings and 5 fledglings of the Tengmalm's owl were positive for Sarcocystis funereus sp. nov. The adult male owl and all owls' breast and heart muscles were negative for Sarcocystis. Two dexamethasone-immunosuppressed BALB/cOlaHsd mice (group 2) were positive to S. funereus sp. nov. in diaphragm and leg muscles after 22- and 24-day post-infection. Some sarcocysts were found in the wild small mammals. Molecular identification at 28S rRNA revealed sequences from naturally infected Tengmalm's owls, as well as sarcocysts of dexamethasone-immunosuppressed BALB/cOlaHsd mice were 99.87-100% similar to Sarcocystis sp. isolate Af1 previously found in the Tengmalm's owl. At the ITS1 region, the S. funereus sp. nov. isolates Af2 haplotype B and Af3 haplotype A were 98.77-100% identical to Sarcocystis sp. isolate Af1. The sequences from sarcocysts of naturally infected wild small mammals were 75.23-90.30% similar at ITS1 region to those of S. funereus sp. nov. Conclusion: The morphological and molecular characterizations and phylogenetic placement of S. funereus sp. nov. are presented here for the first time and support the erection of the new species.
Czech name
—
Czech description
—
Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
—
OECD FORD branch
40301 - Veterinary science
Result continuities
Project
—
Continuities
S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach
Others
Publication year
2024
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
ISSN
2297-1769
e-ISSN
2297-1769
Volume of the periodical
11
Issue of the periodical within the volume
1356549
Country of publishing house
CH - SWITZERLAND
Number of pages
7
Pages from-to
1-7
UT code for WoS article
001170800400001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-85185667088