Molecular identification of four Sarcocystis species in the herring gull, Larus argentatus, from Lithuania.

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

SUBMITTER: Prakas P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6945713 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature