Morphological and molecular characteristics for the identification of Eimeria spp. in Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris)

IF 1.6 Q3 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports Pub Date : 2025-11-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-29 DOI:10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101391

Huijie Liu , Jiashu Lang , Kaihui Zhang , Pitambar Dhakal , Jinfeng Zhao , Yixuan Niu , Longxian Zhang

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Abstract

Coccidiosis caused by Eimeria spp. is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in captive squirrels. To conduct morphological and molecular characterization of Eimeria spp. in Sciurus vulgaris and to determine their prevalence in Henan Province, China, we devised a novel single oocyst amplification method, integrating morphological and molecular analyses. Fecal samples from 30 Eurasian red squirrels (S. vulgaris) were examined using microscopy which revealed a 93.3 % (28/30) Eimeria spp. infection rate. Morphometric analysis identified three Eimeria spp. namely E. sciurorum (73.3 %, 22/30), E. ontarioensis (50.0 %, 15/30), and E. lancasterensis (30.0 %, 9/30), with E. sciurorum being predominant. The nuclear 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of all three species were successfully amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these three species shared 96.2 % to 98.8 % sequence identity of the 18S rRNA gene and 91.5 % to 98.0 % sequence identity of the COI gene (bootstrap support ≥95 %, 1000 replicates). These values confirm their close affinity and support their recognition as distinct species. The analysis of the evolutionary tree revealed that the genetic relationship between Eimeria spp. is consistent with the genetic relationship between host animals. This is the first molecular report of Eimeria spp. in Chinese squirrels, summarizing their global prevalence by comparing newly obtained data with published records and offering critical insights for coccidiosis surveillance and Eimeria spp. taxonomy.

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欧亚红松鼠（Sciurus vulgaris）艾美耳球虫属鉴定的形态学和分子特征

由艾美耳球虫引起的球虫病是圈养松鼠发病和死亡的主要原因之一。摘要为了对中国河南地区寻常山艾美耳球虫进行形态和分子鉴定，并确定其在河南地区的流行情况，设计了一种形态和分子分析相结合的单卵囊扩增方法。对30只欧亚红松鼠（S. vulgaris）粪便进行显微镜检查，发现艾美耳球虫感染率为93.3%（28/30）。形态计量学分析鉴定出3种艾美耳虫，分别为：sciurorum艾美耳虫（73.3%,22/30）、安大略省艾美耳虫（50.0%,15/30）和兰卡斯特艾美耳虫（30.0%,9/30），以sciurorum艾美耳虫为优势种。成功扩增了3个物种的核18S核糖体RNA （18S rRNA）基因和线粒体细胞色素c氧化酶亚基I （COI）基因并进行了测序。系统发育分析表明，3个物种的18S rRNA基因序列同源性为96.2% ~ 98.8%，COI基因序列同源性为91.5% ~ 98.0% （bootstrap支持度≥95%，1000个重复）。这些值证实了它们的亲密关系，并支持了它们作为独特物种的认识。进化树分析表明，艾美耳球虫的遗传关系与宿主动物的遗传关系是一致的。本文首次报道了中国松鼠艾美耳亚种的分子分布情况，并将新获得的数据与已发表的记录进行了比较，总结了其在全球的流行情况，为球虫病监测和艾美耳亚种的分类提供了重要的见解。

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来源期刊

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports Multiple-

CiteScore

2.90

自引率

7.10%

发文量

126

审稿时长

97 days

期刊介绍： Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports focuses on aspects of veterinary parasitology that are of regional concern, which is especially important in this era of climate change and the rapid and often unconstrained travel of people and animals. Relative to regions, this journal will accept papers of the highest quality dealing with all aspects of disease prevention, pathology, treatment, epidemiology, and control of parasites within the field of veterinary medicine. Also, case reports will be considered as they add to information related to local disease and its control; such papers must be concise and represent appropriate medical intervention. Papers on veterinary parasitology from wildlife species are acceptable, but only if they relate to the practice of veterinary medicine. Studies on vector-borne bacterial and viral agents are suitable, but only if the paper deals with vector transmission of these organisms to domesticated animals. Studies dealing with parasite control by means of natural products, both in vivo and in vitro, are more suited for one of the many journals that now specialize in papers of this type. However, due to the regional nature of much of this research, submissions may be considered based upon a case being made by the author(s) to the Editor. Circumstances relating to animal experimentation must meet the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals as issued by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (obtainable from: Executive Secretary C.I.O.M.S., c/o W.H.O., Via Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland).