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Phylogenetic relationships of Sarcocystis neurona of horses and opossums to other cyst-forming coccidia deduced from SSU rRNA gene sequences

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Abstract

Phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the nuclear-encoded small subunit rRNA (ssurRNA) gene were performed to examine the origin, phylogeny, and biogeographic relationships of Sarcocystis neurona isolates from opossums and horses from the State of Michigan, USA, in relation to other cyst-forming coccidia. A total of 31 taxa representing all recognized subfamilies and genera of Sarcocystidae were included in the analyses with clonal isolates of two opossum and two horse S. neurona. Phylogenies obtained by the four tree-building methods were consistent with the classical taxonomy based on morphological criteria. The “isosporid” coccidia Neospora, Toxoplasma, Besnoitia, Isospora lacking stieda bodies, and Hyaloklossia formed a sister group to the Sarcocystis spp. Sarcocystis species were divided into three main lineages; S. neurona isolates were located in the second lineage and clustered with S. mucosa, S. dispersa, S. lacertae, S. rodentifelis, S. muris, and Frenkelia spp. Alignment of S. neurona SSU rRNA gene sequences of Michigan opossum isolates (MIOP5, MIOP20) and a S. neurona Michigan horse isolate (MIH8) showed 100% identity. These Michigan isolates differed in 2/1085 bp (0.2%) from a Kentucky S. neurona horse isolate (SN5). Additionally, S. neurona isolates from horses and opossums were identical based on the ultrastructural features and PCR-RFLP analyses thus forming a phylogenetically indistinct group in these regions. These findings revealed the concordance between the morphological and molecular data and confirmed that S. neurona from opossums and horses originated from the same phylogenetic origin.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Thomas S. Whittam for his kind support and for making critical comments on the manuscript. The study was supported by a Grant 61–6123 from the Grayson Jockey-Club Research Foundation. This work was carried out in accordance to the law and regulations of the USA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Hany M. Elsheikha & Linda S. Mansfield

  2. Microbial Evolution Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    David W. Lacher

  3. Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, B43 Food Safety and Toxicology Bldg, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Linda S. Mansfield

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  1. Hany M. Elsheikha
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Correspondence to Linda S. Mansfield.

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Elsheikha, H.M., Lacher, D.W. & Mansfield, L.S. Phylogenetic relationships of Sarcocystis neurona of horses and opossums to other cyst-forming coccidia deduced from SSU rRNA gene sequences. Parasitol Res 97, 345–357 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-005-1396-5

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