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Presence of Sarcocystis sybillensis in Japanese sika deer (Cervus nippon) captured in its native territory and its phylogenetic relationship with Sarcocystis nipponi

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Abstract

The first study reporting the morphological characterization of Sarcocystis sybillensis was performed in 1983; however, without any molecular analysis. Sarcocystis nipponi has been recently described as a species synonymic to S. sybillensis. We reconfirmed the presence of S. sybillensis in Japanese sika deer (Cervus nippon) captured in its native territory; and performed its molecular and phylogenetic characterization. The morphological characteristics of the sarcocysts were consistent with those of S. nipponi and S. sybillensis described in the first report. However, the nucleotide sequence of 18S rRNA gene of S. sybillensis showed only 91.9% identity to that of S. nipponi, suggesting low homology among the concerned Sarcocystis spp. Accordingly, S. sybillensis was found to occupy a clade distinct from that of S. nipponi in a phylogenetic tree of Sarcocystis. Therefore, the present study provides essential information on 18S rRNA-based molecular characterization of S. sybillensis and disproves the existing notion of morphology-based species synonymity of S. sibillensis and S. nipponi. These results also suggest that S. sybillensis belongs to type 2 Sarcocystis.

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Funding

This research was supported by Health Labour Sciences Research Grant for Young Researcher (AY), and was partially supported by MEXT-Supported Program for the Private University Research Branding Project, (2016-2019) (KT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Iwate University, 3-18-8 Ueda, Morioka, Iwate, 020-8550, Japan

    Akiko Yamazaki, Tatsuya Hiroshima, Yoshitaka Yamaguchi & Yukiko Shirafuji

  2. Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan

    Kensuke Taira, Naoki Kobayashi & Yoshiko Sugita-Konishi

  3. Kagawa Nutrition University, 3-9-21 Chiyoda, Sakado, Saitama, 350-0288, Japan

    Morihiro Saito

  4. Koshien University, 10-1 Momijigaoka, Takarazuka, Hyogo, 665-0006, Japan

    Yoichi Kamata

Authors
  1. Akiko Yamazaki
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  2. Tatsuya Hiroshima
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  3. Yoshitaka Yamaguchi
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  4. Yukiko Shirafuji
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  5. Kensuke Taira
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  6. Morihiro Saito
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  7. Naoki Kobayashi
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  8. Yoshiko Sugita-Konishi
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  9. Yoichi Kamata
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Correspondence to Yoichi Kamata.

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Yamazaki, A., Hiroshima, T., Yamaguchi, Y. et al. Presence of Sarcocystis sybillensis in Japanese sika deer (Cervus nippon) captured in its native territory and its phylogenetic relationship with Sarcocystis nipponi. Parasitol Res 119, 2309–2315 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06730-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06730-3

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