MyMedR

Displaying all 9 publications

Abstract:

Sort:

Revision of Sarcocystis orientalis Zaman and Colley, 1975

Zaman V

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1975 Dec;6(4):603.
PMID: 818718
Matched MeSH terms: Snakes/parasitology
Entonyssus asiaticus Fain, 1960 (Acari: Entonyssidae), a lung parasite of Malaysian snakes with notes on the immature stages

Stiller D, Lim BL, Nadchatram M

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1977 Mar;8(1):129-30.
PMID: 887991
Matched MeSH terms: Snakes/parasitology*
Six platyhelminths from Malaysian reptiles including Paradistomoidella cerberi n.g., n.sp. (Digenea: Dicrocoeliidae)

Brooks DR, Palmieri JR

J Helminthol, 1981 Mar;55(1):39-43.
PMID: 7229330

Paradistomoidella cerberi n.g., n.sp. and Paracanthostomum cerberi from Cerberus rhynchops, Xenopharynx pyriformis and Allopharynx mehrai from Ptyas korros, Neopronocephalus orientalis from Geoemyda spinosa, and Duthiersia expansa from Varanus salvator are all reported from the area of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Paradistomoidella cerberi most closely resembles members of Paradistomoides but is characterized by relatively short caeca, a cirrus sac containing a bipartite rather than sinous internal seminal vesicle, and unevenly-sized suckers. Kuala Lumpur is a new locality for Paracanthostomum cerberi, X. pyriformis, A. mehrai, and D. expansa. Ptyas korros is a new host for X. pyriformis and G. spinosa is a new host for N. orientalis.

Matched MeSH terms: Snakes/parasitology*
Fulltext Sarcocystis nesbitti infection in human skeletal muscle: possible transmission from snakes

Lau YL, Chang PY, Tan CT, Fong MY, Mahmud R, Wong KT

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2014 Feb;90(2):361-4.
PMID: 24420776 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0678

Sarcocystis nesbitti is an intracellular protozoan parasite found as sarcocysts within muscle fibers of intermediate hosts (monkey and baboon). The definitive host is suspected to be the snake. We report two cases from a larger cohort of 89 patients who had fever, headache, and generalized myalgia after a trip to Pangkor Island, Malaysia. Sarcocysts were detected in skeletal muscle biopsy specimens by light and electron microscopy from these two patients. DNA sequencing based on the 18S ribosomal DNA region identified the Sarcocystis species as S. nesbitti. We also identified S. nesbitti sequences in the stools of a snake (Naja naja). Phylogenetic analysis showed that these sequences form a cluster with most of the other known Sarcocystis species for which the snake is a definitive host. We believe these two patients were likely to have symptomatic acute muscular sarcocystosis after S. nesbitti infection that may have originated from snakes.

Matched MeSH terms: Snakes/parasitology*
Fulltext Genetic assemblage of Sarcocystis spp. in Malaysian snakes

Lau YL, Chang PY, Subramaniam V, Ng YH, Mahmud R, Ahmad AF, et al.

Parasit Vectors, 2013 Sep 09;6(1):257.
PMID: 24010903 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-257

BACKGROUND: Sarcocystis species are protozoan parasites with a wide host range including snakes. Although there were several reports of Sarcocytis species in snakes, their distribution and prevalence are still not fully explored.
METHODS: In this study, fecal specimens of several snake species in Malaysia were examined for the presence of Sarcocystis by PCR of 18S rDNA sequence. Microscopy examination of the fecal specimens for sporocysts was not carried as it was difficult to determine the species of the infecting Sarcocystis.
RESULTS: Of the 28 snake fecal specimens, 7 were positive by PCR. BLASTn and phylogenetic analyses of the amplified 18S rDNA sequences revealed the snakes were infected with either S. nesbitti, S. singaporensis, S. zuoi or undefined Sarcocystis species.
CONCLUSION: This study is the first to report Sarcocystis infection in a cobra, and S. nesbitti in a reticulated python.

Matched MeSH terms: Snakes/parasitology*
Molecular evidence of Sarcocystis species in captive snakes in Japan

Abe N, Matsubara K, Tamukai K, Miwa Y, Takami K

Parasitol Res, 2015 Aug;114(8):3175-9.
PMID: 26044884 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4564-2

Sarcocystis nesbitti, using snakes as the definitive host, is a causative agent of acute human muscular sarcocystosis in Malaysia. Therefore, it is important to explore the distribution and prevalence of S. nesbitti in snakes. Nevertheless, epizootiological information of S. nesbitti in snakes remains insufficient because few surveys have assessed Sarcocystis infection in snakes in endemic countries. In Japan, snakes are popular exotic pet animals that are imported from overseas, but the degree of Sarcocystis infection in them remains unclear. The possibility exists that muscular sarcocystosis by S. nesbitti occurs in contact with captive snakes in non-endemic countries. For a total of 125 snake faecal samples from 67 snake species collected at animal hospitals, pet shops and a zoo, this study investigated the presence of Sarcocystis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the 18S ribosomal RNA gene (18S rDNA). Four (3.2%) faecal samples were positive by PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rDNA sequences obtained from four amplification products revealed one isolate from a beauty snake (Elaphe taeniura), Sarcocystis zuoi, which uses rat snakes as the definitive host. The isolate from a Macklot's python (Liasis mackloti) was closely related with unidentified Sarcocystis sp. from reticulated pythons in Malaysia. The remaining two isolates from tree boas (Corallus spp.) were closely related with Sarcocystis lacertae, Sarcocystis gallotiae and unidentified Sarcocystis sp. from smooth snakes, Tenerife lizards and European shrews, respectively. This report is the first of a study examining the distribution of Sarcocystis species in captive snakes in Japan.

Matched MeSH terms: Snakes/parasitology*
Light and electron microscopic observations of the life cycle of Sarcocystis orientalis sp. n. in the rat (Rattus norvegicus) and the Malaysian reticulated python (Python reticulatus)

Zaman V, Colley FC

Z Parasitenkd, 1975 Oct 16;47(3):169-85.
PMID: 810990

A light and electron microscopic study of Sarcocystis orientalis sp. n. was made. The life cycle of this parasite is in two hosts. Gametogony is in the intestinal epithelial cells of a predator, Python reticulatus. Isospora-like oocysts developed. Sporocysts average 9.1 by 7.7 mum. Rats (Rattus norvegicus) were infected with sporocysts and asexual stages developed. Ten days after infection large zoites (average 7.85 by 2.48 mum) were observed free in peripheral blood and within white blood cells. Small schizonts producing merozoites 2-3 mum long were seen in lung tissue. Tissue cysts developed in skeletal muscle and produced numerous cystozoites (average 5.53 by 1.38 mum). Fine structure was similar to previously described Sarcocystis spp.

Matched MeSH terms: Snakes/parasitology*
Helminth eggs from faeces of Python reticulatus with special reference to Capillaria and its public health significance in Sabah, Malaysia

Kan SK, Hii JL

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1979 Mar;10(1):155-7.
PMID: 573500
Matched MeSH terms: Snakes/parasitology*
Fulltext Examination of Sarcocystis spp. of giant snakes from Australia and Southeast Asia confirms presence of a known pathogen - Sarcocystis nesbitti

Wassermann M, Raisch L, Lyons JA, Natusch DJD, Richter S, Wirth M, et al.

PLoS One, 2017;12(11):e0187984.
PMID: 29131856 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187984

We examined Sarcocystis spp. in giant snakes from the Indo-Australian Archipelago and Australia using a combination of morphological (size of sporocyst) and molecular analyses. We amplified by PCR nuclear 18S rDNA from single sporocysts in order to detect mixed infections and unequivocally assign the retrieved sequences to the corresponding parasite stage. Sarcocystis infection was generally high across the study area, with 78 (68%) of 115 examined pythons being infected by one or more Sarcocystis spp. Among 18 randomly chosen, sporocyst-positive samples (11 from Southeast Asia, 7 from Northern Australia) the only Sarcocystis species detected in Southeast Asian snakes was S. singaporensis (in reticulated pythons), which was absent from all Australian samples. We distinguished three different Sarcocystis spp. in the Australian sample set; two were excreted by scrub pythons and one by the spotted python. The sequence of the latter is an undescribed species phylogenetically related to S. lacertae. Of the two Sarcocystis species found in scrub pythons, one showed an 18S rRNA gene sequence similar to S. zamani, which is described from Australia for the first time. The second sequence was identical/similar to that of S. nesbitti, a known human pathogen that was held responsible for outbreaks of disease among tourists in Malaysia. The potential presence of S. nesbitti in Australia challenges the current hypothesis of a snake-primate life cycle, and would have implications for human health in the region. Further molecular and biological characterizations are required to confirm species identity and determine whether or not the Australian isolate has the same zoonotic potential as its Malaysian counterpart. Finally, the absence of S. nesbitti in samples from reticulated pythons (which were reported to be definitive hosts), coupled with our phylogenetic analyses, suggest that alternative snake hosts may be responsible for transmitting this parasite in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Snakes/parasitology*