European Pine Marten (Martes martes) as Natural Definitive Host of Sarcocystis Species in Latvia: Microscopic and Molecular Analysis

• Published in: Veterinary sciences Vol. 12; no. 4; p. 379
• Main Authors: Prakas, Petras, Vaitkevičiūtė, Rasa, Gudiškis, Naglis, Grigaliūnaitė, Emilija, Juozaitytė-Ngugu, Evelina, Stankevičiūtė, Jolanta, Butkauskas, Dalius
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 17.04.2025; MDPI
• Subjects: Analysis; Animals; Birds; Cattle; Cervidae; cox1; Diagnosis; Diarrhea; Diet; Disease transmission; Food; Food poisoning; genetic identification; Host range; Infections; Intestine; ITS1; Light microscopy; Livestock; Martes martes; Mortality; Mustelidae; New species; Parasites; Pathogens; Predators; Protozoa; Reptiles & amphibians; Salmonella; Sarcocystis; Sarcocysts; Sporocysts; Sporulation; Venison; Zoonoses; Brazil; Latvia; Lithuania; United States; Europe; China; Martes martes; definitive host; genetic identification; ITS1; Mustelidae; Sarcocystis; cox1; natural transmission

Apicomplexan parasites of the genus Sarcocystis utilize a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including reptiles, birds, and mammals, and follow a complex two-host prey–predator life cycle. Sarcocysts develop within the muscle tissue of intermediate hosts, while oocyst sporulation occurs in the intestin...