Molecular Evidence of Raccoon Dog <i>(Nyctereutes procyonoides</i>) as a Natural Definitive Host for Several <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species
<i>Sarcocystis</i> parasites infect a wide range of animals, including reptiles, birds, and mammals, and have complex two-host prey–predator life cycle. Sarcocysts are mainly found in the muscles of intermediate hosts, and oocysts sporulate in the intestines of the definitive host. The r...
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2025-03-01
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| author | Petras Prakas Tamara Kalashnikova Naglis Gudiškis Donatas Šneideris Evelina Juozaitytė-Ngugu Dalius Butkauskas |
| author_facet | Petras Prakas Tamara Kalashnikova Naglis Gudiškis Donatas Šneideris Evelina Juozaitytė-Ngugu Dalius Butkauskas |
| author_sort | Petras Prakas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Sarcocystis</i> parasites infect a wide range of animals, including reptiles, birds, and mammals, and have complex two-host prey–predator life cycle. Sarcocysts are mainly found in the muscles of intermediate hosts, and oocysts sporulate in the intestines of the definitive host. The raccoon dog (<i>Nyctereutes procyonoides</i>), native to Asia and invasive in Europe, is a known disease carrier. However, studies on raccoon dogs in the transmission of <i>Sarcocystis</i> are scarce. Between 2019 and 2024, a total of 26 raccoon dog carcasses were collected in Lithuania. The results of a light microscopy examination indicated that 50% of the samples were positive for <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. sporocysts and sporulated oocysts. Based on nested PCR and sequencing of <i>cox1</i>, 88.5% of the samples were positive for these parasites. Molecular analysis revealed the presence of 11 different <i>Sarcocystis</i> species. Eight species, including <i>S. alces</i>, <i>S. capracanis</i>, <i>S. hjorti</i>, <i>S. iberica</i>, <i>S. linearis</i>, <i>S. morae</i>, <i>S. tenella</i>, and <i>S. venatoria</i> were reported for the first time in raccoon dogs as definitive hosts. The identified <i>Sarcocystis</i> species were linked to intermediate hosts, such as cervids, wild boars, pigs, goats, and sheep. These findings suggest that raccoon dogs play a key role in the spread of <i>Sarcocystis</i>, particularly species infecting cervids. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1e2051050009481d8a0ce98d9e8e0137 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-1e2051050009481d8a0ce98d9e8e01372025-08-20T01:48:53ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-03-0114328810.3390/pathogens14030288Molecular Evidence of Raccoon Dog <i>(Nyctereutes procyonoides</i>) as a Natural Definitive Host for Several <i>Sarcocystis</i> SpeciesPetras Prakas0Tamara Kalashnikova1Naglis Gudiškis2Donatas Šneideris3Evelina Juozaitytė-Ngugu4Dalius Butkauskas5Nature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania<i>Sarcocystis</i> parasites infect a wide range of animals, including reptiles, birds, and mammals, and have complex two-host prey–predator life cycle. Sarcocysts are mainly found in the muscles of intermediate hosts, and oocysts sporulate in the intestines of the definitive host. The raccoon dog (<i>Nyctereutes procyonoides</i>), native to Asia and invasive in Europe, is a known disease carrier. However, studies on raccoon dogs in the transmission of <i>Sarcocystis</i> are scarce. Between 2019 and 2024, a total of 26 raccoon dog carcasses were collected in Lithuania. The results of a light microscopy examination indicated that 50% of the samples were positive for <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. sporocysts and sporulated oocysts. Based on nested PCR and sequencing of <i>cox1</i>, 88.5% of the samples were positive for these parasites. Molecular analysis revealed the presence of 11 different <i>Sarcocystis</i> species. Eight species, including <i>S. alces</i>, <i>S. capracanis</i>, <i>S. hjorti</i>, <i>S. iberica</i>, <i>S. linearis</i>, <i>S. morae</i>, <i>S. tenella</i>, and <i>S. venatoria</i> were reported for the first time in raccoon dogs as definitive hosts. The identified <i>Sarcocystis</i> species were linked to intermediate hosts, such as cervids, wild boars, pigs, goats, and sheep. These findings suggest that raccoon dogs play a key role in the spread of <i>Sarcocystis</i>, particularly species infecting cervids.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/3/288<i>Sarcocystis</i>raccoon dogmolecular identification<i>cox1</i>definitive hostepidemiology |
| spellingShingle | Petras Prakas Tamara Kalashnikova Naglis Gudiškis Donatas Šneideris Evelina Juozaitytė-Ngugu Dalius Butkauskas Molecular Evidence of Raccoon Dog <i>(Nyctereutes procyonoides</i>) as a Natural Definitive Host for Several <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species Pathogens <i>Sarcocystis</i> raccoon dog molecular identification <i>cox1</i> definitive host epidemiology |
| title | Molecular Evidence of Raccoon Dog <i>(Nyctereutes procyonoides</i>) as a Natural Definitive Host for Several <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species |
| title_full | Molecular Evidence of Raccoon Dog <i>(Nyctereutes procyonoides</i>) as a Natural Definitive Host for Several <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Evidence of Raccoon Dog <i>(Nyctereutes procyonoides</i>) as a Natural Definitive Host for Several <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Evidence of Raccoon Dog <i>(Nyctereutes procyonoides</i>) as a Natural Definitive Host for Several <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species |
| title_short | Molecular Evidence of Raccoon Dog <i>(Nyctereutes procyonoides</i>) as a Natural Definitive Host for Several <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species |
| title_sort | molecular evidence of raccoon dog i nyctereutes procyonoides i as a natural definitive host for several i sarcocystis i species |
| topic | <i>Sarcocystis</i> raccoon dog molecular identification <i>cox1</i> definitive host epidemiology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/3/288 |
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