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Molecular identification of Sarcocystis spp. helped to define the origin of green pythons (Morelia viridis) confiscated in Germany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2013

GASTÓN MORÉ ,
NIKOLA PANTCHEV ,
DALAND C. HERRMANN ,
MAJDA GLOBOKAR VRHOVEC ,
SABINE ÖFNER ,
FRANZ J. CONRATHS  and
GEREON SCHARES
GASTÓN MORÉ*
Affiliation:
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany Laboratorio de Inmunoparasitología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 60 y 118, 1900 La Plata, Argentina Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), C1033AAJ Buenos Aires, Argentina
NIKOLA PANTCHEV
Affiliation:
IDEXX Vet Med Lab, 71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany
DALAND C. HERRMANN
Affiliation:
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
MAJDA GLOBOKAR VRHOVEC
Affiliation:
IDEXX Vet Med Lab, 71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany
SABINE ÖFNER
Affiliation:
Reptile Rescue Centre Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
FRANZ J. CONRATHS
Affiliation:
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
GEREON SCHARES
Affiliation:
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
*
* Corresponding author: Laboratorio de Inmunoparasitología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, calle 60 y 118, 1900 La Plata, Argentina. E-mail: gastonmore@fcv.unlp.edu.ar
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Summary

Sarcocystis spp. represent apicomplexan parasites. They usually have a heteroxenous life cycle. Around 200 species have been described, affecting a wide range of animals worldwide, including reptiles. In recent years, large numbers of reptiles have been imported into Europe as pets and, as a consequence, animal welfare and species protection issues emerged. A sample of pooled feces from four confiscated green pythons (Morelia viridis) containing Sarcocystis spp. sporocysts was investigated. These snakes were imported for the pet trade and declared as being captive-bred. Full length 18S rRNA genes were amplified, cloned into plasmids and sequenced. Two different Sarcocystis spp. sequences were identified and registered as Sarcocystis sp. from M. viridis in GenBank. Both showed a 95–97% sequence identity with the 18S rRNA gene of Sarcocystis singaporensis. Phylogenetic analysis positioned these sequences together with other Sarcocystis spp. from snakes and rodents as definitive and intermediate hosts (IH), respectively. Sequence data and also the results of clinical and parasitological examinations suggest that the snakes were definitive hosts for Sarcocystis spp. that circulate in wild IH. Thus, it seems unlikely that the infected snakes had been legally bred. Our research shows that information on the infection of snakes with Sarcocystis spp. may be used to assess compliance with regulations on the trade with wildlife species.

Keywords

Sarcocystis spp.18S rRNA genesequencingreptilesspecies protection
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 141 , Issue 5 , April 2014 , pp. 646 - 651
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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