Molecular Characterization of <i>Sarcocystis</i> Species Isolated from Sheep and Goats in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Sarcocystosis is induced by species of Sarcocystis, which is an intracellular protozoan parasite in the phylum Apicomplexa. The diversity and importance of Sarcocystis species in sheep and goats in Saudi Arabia are poorly understood. In this study, the tongue, esophagus, heart, diaphragm, and skeletal muscles were collected from 230 sheep and 84 goats, and the tissues were examined for the presence of Sarcocystis species by macroscopic examination and light microscopy. Microscopic Sarcocystis species cysts were found in both sheep and goats. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed S. tenella in sheep and S. capracanis in goats. Sarcocystis species were confirmed for the first time in Saudi Arabian sheep and goats by molecular testing. S. capracanis was most closely related to S. tenella, with the COX1 sequences sharing 91.7% identity. A phylogenetic analysis produced similar results and indicated that the Sarcocystis isolates were within a group of Sarcocystis species in which dogs were the final host. Finally, the Sarcocystis species cysts from sheep and goats could be grouped together, indicating that they were strongly related

Molecular Identification of Trypanosoma evansi Isolated from Arabian Camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Riyadh and Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia

We analyzed the blood from 400 one-humped camels, Camelus dromedarius (C. dromedarius), in Riyadh and Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia to determine if they were infected with the parasite Trypanosoma spp. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) gene was used to detect the prevalence of Trypanosoma spp. in the camels. Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi) was detected in 79 of 200 camels in Riyadh, an infection rate of 39.5%, and in 92 of 200 camels in Al-Qassim, an infection rate of 46%. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the isolated T. evansi was closely related to the T. evansi that was detected in C. dromedarius in Egypt and the T. evansi strain B15.1 18S ribosomal RNA gene identified from buffalo in Thailand. A BLAST search revealed that the sequences are also similar to those of T. evansi from beef cattle in Thailand and to T. brucei B8/18 18S ribosomal RNA from pigs in Nigeria

Multiple sequence alignment of two camel samples and genotypes G1, G2, and G3.

<p>Multiple sequence alignment of two camel samples and genotypes G1, G2, and G3.</p

Agarose gel (1.0%) electrophoretogram with 100-bp DNA ladder.

<p>PCR analysis of the <i>cox1</i> gene revealed a 446-bp band derived from different camel hydatid cyst isolates (2, 3).</p

Phylogenetic tree of all samples and reference sequences obtained from GenBank.

<p>Phylogenetic tree of all samples and reference sequences obtained from GenBank.</p

Agarose gel (1.0%) electrophoretogram with 100-bp DNA ladder.

<p>PCR analysis of the <i>cox1</i> gene revealed a 446-bp band derived from different sheep hydatid cyst isolates (2–18).</p

Agarose gel (1.0%) electrophoretogram with 100-bp DNA ladder.

<p>PCR analysis of the <i>cox1</i> gene revealed a 446-bp band derived from different camel hydatid cyst isolates (2, 3).</p

Phylogenetic tree of the sequences of camel samples from Saudi Arabia and reference sequences obtained from previous studies.

<p>Phylogenetic tree of the sequences of camel samples from Saudi Arabia and reference sequences obtained from previous studies.</p

Multiple sequence alignment of sheep and camel samples and reference sequences obtained from previous studies.

<p>Multiple sequence alignment of sheep and camel samples and reference sequences obtained from previous studies.</p

Multiple sequence alignment of sheep samples and genotypes G1, G2, and G3.

<p>Multiple sequence alignment of sheep samples and genotypes G1, G2, and G3.</p