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Genetic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Sarcocystis suihominis infecting domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) in India

  • Genetics, Evolution, and Phylogeny - Original Paper
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Abstract

A total of 57 tissue samples of domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) were collected from the meat outlets of five north Indian states and examined for sarcocystosis by histological and molecular methods. The genomic DNA extracted from five representative positive isolates was subjected to PCR amplification of the partial 18S rRNA gene followed by cloning and sequencing. Sequence analysis of the newly generated Indian isolates recorded 96.9–100.0% identity with published sequences of Sarcocystis suihominis. Two new haplotypes that have not been previously described manifested 99.5–100.0% nucleotide homology within themselves. In the phylogenetic analysis, Indian isolates of S. suihominis grouped together with S. suihominis originating from Italy, and they collectively formed a sister clade with Sarcocystis miescheriana within a clade containing various Sarcocystis spp. of ruminants having felids as final hosts. At the same time, this clade separated from a sister clade containing Sarcocystis spp. of bovid or cervid ruminants using canids as known or surmised definitive host. The current study established the phylogenetic relationship of Indian isolates of S. suihominis with various Sarcocystis spp. as well as with other taxa of Sarcocystidae family based on 18S rRNA gene for the first time.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to the Director, ICAR-IVRI, Izatnagar for the facilities provided.

Funding

This work was supported by ICAR-IVRI, Izatnagar for the project entitled “Surveillance and characterization of pork associated zoonotic parasites with special reference to Trichinella spp. (Project No. IVRI/PARA/14-17-004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Parasitology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, UP, India

    Ravi Pratap Chauhan, Anil Kumar Nehra, Hira Ram & Rajat Garg

  2. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India

    Ansu Kumari

  3. Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana, India

    Anil Kumar Nehra

  4. ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Eastern Regional Station, Kolkata, WB, India

    P. S. Banerjee

  5. Centre for Wildlife Conservation, Management and Disease Surveillance, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, UP, India

    M. Karikalan & A. K. Sharma

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  1. Ravi Pratap Chauhan
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Correspondence to Hira Ram.

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Chauhan, R.P., Kumari, A., Nehra, A.K. et al. Genetic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Sarcocystis suihominis infecting domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) in India. Parasitol Res 119, 3347–3357 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06857-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06857-3

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