Detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in placental and umbilical cord tissues suggests possible vertical transmission in domestic South American camelids

Autores
Florin-Christensen, Monica; Reategui Ordoñez, Juan; Vargas Tacuri, Cesar; Neyra, Luisa; Enriquez, Carlos V.; Diaz, Evelyn; Rodriguez Huanca, Halley; Barriga Marcapura, Ximena; Olivera, Luis V. M.; Giuliano, Susana M.
Año de publicación
2026
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Sarcocystis aucheniae is a coccidian parasite of South American camelids (SAC) that causes substantial economic losses through carcass condemnation due to the presence of macroscopic muscular cysts. Although horizontal transmission through canid definitive hosts is well established, the remarkably high prevalence of infection observed in alpacas and llamas suggests that additional transmission routes may contribute to parasite maintenance. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of S. aucheniae DNA in placenta and umbilical cord tissues. Placenta and umbilical cord samples were collected from pregnant alpacas and llamas in the final third of gestation at a slaughterhouse in southern Peru, as well as from alpacas sampled at parturition in a breeding establishment. DNA was extracted and analyzed using a previously described duplex semi-nested PCR targeting the S. aucheniae 18S rRNA gene. Selected positive amplicons were subjected to Sanger sequencing. Parasite DNA was detected in at least one tissue (placenta and/or umbilical cord) in 33 of 42 animals (78.6%). Parasite detection in placenta and umbilical cord was not statistically significantly different in paired samples, and animals positive in umbilical cord samples had increased odds of testing positive in placenta. Agreement between tissues was moderate, suggesting an uneven distribution of parasites within maternal–fetal compartments. No association was observed between parasite detection and age category. Sequencing confirmed the identity of the amplified fragments as S. aucheniae. Although detection of parasite DNA in placental and umbilical cord tissues does not by itself demonstrate fetal infection, the high frequency of positive animals and the significant association between both tissues provide the first molecular findings consistent with possible vertical transmission in S. aucheniae. These findings broaden current understanding of the parasite life cycle and suggest that vertical transmission may contribute to parasite persistence in SAC populations, with important implications for disease control.
Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria
Fil: Florin-Christensen, Monica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria; Argentina
Fil: Florin-Christensen, Monica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria; Argentina
Fil: Florin-Christensen, Monica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiología; Argentina
Fil: Reategui Ordoñez, Juan. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
Fil: Vargas Tacuri, Cesar. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
Fil: Neyra, Luisa. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
Fil: Enriquez, Carlos V. Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; Perú
Fil: Diaz, Evelyn. Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; Perú
Fil: Rodriguez Huanca, Halley. Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; Perú
Fil: Barriga Marcapura, Ximena. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
Fil: Olivera, Luis V. M. Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; Perú
Fil: Giuliano, Susana M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina
Fuente
Veterinary Parasitology 347 : 110888. (October 2026)
Materia
Sarcocistosis
Camélidos
Enfermedades de los Animales
Diagnóstico
América del Sur
Sarcocystosis
Camelids
Placenta
Animal Diseases
Diagnosis
South America
Sarcocystis aucheniae
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso restringido
Condiciones de uso
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Repositorio
INTA Digital (INTA)
Institución
Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
OAI Identificador
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oai_identifier_str oai:localhost:20.500.12123/27818
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spelling Detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in placental and umbilical cord tissues suggests possible vertical transmission in domestic South American camelidsFlorin-Christensen, MonicaReategui Ordoñez, JuanVargas Tacuri, CesarNeyra, LuisaEnriquez, Carlos V.Diaz, EvelynRodriguez Huanca, HalleyBarriga Marcapura, XimenaOlivera, Luis V. M.Giuliano, Susana M.SarcocistosisCamélidosEnfermedades de los AnimalesDiagnósticoAmérica del SurSarcocystosisCamelidsPlacentaAnimal DiseasesDiagnosisSouth AmericaSarcocystis aucheniaeSarcocystis aucheniae is a coccidian parasite of South American camelids (SAC) that causes substantial economic losses through carcass condemnation due to the presence of macroscopic muscular cysts. Although horizontal transmission through canid definitive hosts is well established, the remarkably high prevalence of infection observed in alpacas and llamas suggests that additional transmission routes may contribute to parasite maintenance. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of S. aucheniae DNA in placenta and umbilical cord tissues. Placenta and umbilical cord samples were collected from pregnant alpacas and llamas in the final third of gestation at a slaughterhouse in southern Peru, as well as from alpacas sampled at parturition in a breeding establishment. DNA was extracted and analyzed using a previously described duplex semi-nested PCR targeting the S. aucheniae 18S rRNA gene. Selected positive amplicons were subjected to Sanger sequencing. Parasite DNA was detected in at least one tissue (placenta and/or umbilical cord) in 33 of 42 animals (78.6%). Parasite detection in placenta and umbilical cord was not statistically significantly different in paired samples, and animals positive in umbilical cord samples had increased odds of testing positive in placenta. Agreement between tissues was moderate, suggesting an uneven distribution of parasites within maternal–fetal compartments. No association was observed between parasite detection and age category. Sequencing confirmed the identity of the amplified fragments as S. aucheniae. Although detection of parasite DNA in placental and umbilical cord tissues does not by itself demonstrate fetal infection, the high frequency of positive animals and the significant association between both tissues provide the first molecular findings consistent with possible vertical transmission in S. aucheniae. These findings broaden current understanding of the parasite life cycle and suggest that vertical transmission may contribute to parasite persistence in SAC populations, with important implications for disease control.Instituto de Patobiología VeterinariaFil: Florin-Christensen, Monica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria; ArgentinaFil: Florin-Christensen, Monica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria; ArgentinaFil: Florin-Christensen, Monica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiología; ArgentinaFil: Reategui Ordoñez, Juan. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; PerúFil: Vargas Tacuri, Cesar. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; PerúFil: Neyra, Luisa. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; PerúFil: Enriquez, Carlos V. Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; PerúFil: Diaz, Evelyn. Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; PerúFil: Rodriguez Huanca, Halley. Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; PerúFil: Barriga Marcapura, Ximena. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; PerúFil: Olivera, Luis V. M. Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; PerúFil: Giuliano, Susana M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaElsevier2026-09-16T14:25:44Z2026-09-16T14:25:44Z2026-10info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27818https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S03044017260020740304-40171873-2550https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2026.110888Veterinary Parasitology 347 : 110888. (October 2026)reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariaenginfo:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/2023-PD-L01-I113, Herramientas de estudio de la Patogenia e Inmunidad en agentes infecciosos y tóxicos que aporten a la sustentabilidad de la producción pecuaria en el marco de Una Saludinfo:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/2023-PD-L06-I114, Desarrollo y aplicación de métodos diagnósticos y epidemiológicos para la producción pecuaria sustentable y agroalimentaria en humanos con foco en Una Saludinfo:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)2026-09-24T11:43:50Zoai:localhost:20.500.12123/27818instacron:INTAInstitucionalhttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://repositorio.inta.gob.ar/oai/requesttripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:l2026-09-24 11:43:51.381INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariafalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in placental and umbilical cord tissues suggests possible vertical transmission in domestic South American camelids
title Detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in placental and umbilical cord tissues suggests possible vertical transmission in domestic South American camelids
spellingShingle Detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in placental and umbilical cord tissues suggests possible vertical transmission in domestic South American camelids
Florin-Christensen, Monica
Sarcocistosis
Camélidos
Enfermedades de los Animales
Diagnóstico
América del Sur
Sarcocystosis
Camelids
Placenta
Animal Diseases
Diagnosis
South America
Sarcocystis aucheniae
title_short Detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in placental and umbilical cord tissues suggests possible vertical transmission in domestic South American camelids
title_full Detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in placental and umbilical cord tissues suggests possible vertical transmission in domestic South American camelids
title_fullStr Detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in placental and umbilical cord tissues suggests possible vertical transmission in domestic South American camelids
title_full_unstemmed Detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in placental and umbilical cord tissues suggests possible vertical transmission in domestic South American camelids
title_sort Detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in placental and umbilical cord tissues suggests possible vertical transmission in domestic South American camelids
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Florin-Christensen, Monica
Reategui Ordoñez, Juan
Vargas Tacuri, Cesar
Neyra, Luisa
Enriquez, Carlos V.
Diaz, Evelyn
Rodriguez Huanca, Halley
Barriga Marcapura, Ximena
Olivera, Luis V. M.
Giuliano, Susana M.
author Florin-Christensen, Monica
author_facet Florin-Christensen, Monica
Reategui Ordoñez, Juan
Vargas Tacuri, Cesar
Neyra, Luisa
Enriquez, Carlos V.
Diaz, Evelyn
Rodriguez Huanca, Halley
Barriga Marcapura, Ximena
Olivera, Luis V. M.
Giuliano, Susana M.
author_role author
author2 Reategui Ordoñez, Juan
Vargas Tacuri, Cesar
Neyra, Luisa
Enriquez, Carlos V.
Diaz, Evelyn
Rodriguez Huanca, Halley
Barriga Marcapura, Ximena
Olivera, Luis V. M.
Giuliano, Susana M.
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Sarcocistosis
Camélidos
Enfermedades de los Animales
Diagnóstico
América del Sur
Sarcocystosis
Camelids
Placenta
Animal Diseases
Diagnosis
South America
Sarcocystis aucheniae
topic Sarcocistosis
Camélidos
Enfermedades de los Animales
Diagnóstico
América del Sur
Sarcocystosis
Camelids
Placenta
Animal Diseases
Diagnosis
South America
Sarcocystis aucheniae
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Sarcocystis aucheniae is a coccidian parasite of South American camelids (SAC) that causes substantial economic losses through carcass condemnation due to the presence of macroscopic muscular cysts. Although horizontal transmission through canid definitive hosts is well established, the remarkably high prevalence of infection observed in alpacas and llamas suggests that additional transmission routes may contribute to parasite maintenance. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of S. aucheniae DNA in placenta and umbilical cord tissues. Placenta and umbilical cord samples were collected from pregnant alpacas and llamas in the final third of gestation at a slaughterhouse in southern Peru, as well as from alpacas sampled at parturition in a breeding establishment. DNA was extracted and analyzed using a previously described duplex semi-nested PCR targeting the S. aucheniae 18S rRNA gene. Selected positive amplicons were subjected to Sanger sequencing. Parasite DNA was detected in at least one tissue (placenta and/or umbilical cord) in 33 of 42 animals (78.6%). Parasite detection in placenta and umbilical cord was not statistically significantly different in paired samples, and animals positive in umbilical cord samples had increased odds of testing positive in placenta. Agreement between tissues was moderate, suggesting an uneven distribution of parasites within maternal–fetal compartments. No association was observed between parasite detection and age category. Sequencing confirmed the identity of the amplified fragments as S. aucheniae. Although detection of parasite DNA in placental and umbilical cord tissues does not by itself demonstrate fetal infection, the high frequency of positive animals and the significant association between both tissues provide the first molecular findings consistent with possible vertical transmission in S. aucheniae. These findings broaden current understanding of the parasite life cycle and suggest that vertical transmission may contribute to parasite persistence in SAC populations, with important implications for disease control.
Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria
Fil: Florin-Christensen, Monica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria; Argentina
Fil: Florin-Christensen, Monica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria; Argentina
Fil: Florin-Christensen, Monica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiología; Argentina
Fil: Reategui Ordoñez, Juan. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
Fil: Vargas Tacuri, Cesar. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
Fil: Neyra, Luisa. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
Fil: Enriquez, Carlos V. Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; Perú
Fil: Diaz, Evelyn. Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; Perú
Fil: Rodriguez Huanca, Halley. Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; Perú
Fil: Barriga Marcapura, Ximena. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
Fil: Olivera, Luis V. M. Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia; Perú
Fil: Giuliano, Susana M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina
description Sarcocystis aucheniae is a coccidian parasite of South American camelids (SAC) that causes substantial economic losses through carcass condemnation due to the presence of macroscopic muscular cysts. Although horizontal transmission through canid definitive hosts is well established, the remarkably high prevalence of infection observed in alpacas and llamas suggests that additional transmission routes may contribute to parasite maintenance. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of S. aucheniae DNA in placenta and umbilical cord tissues. Placenta and umbilical cord samples were collected from pregnant alpacas and llamas in the final third of gestation at a slaughterhouse in southern Peru, as well as from alpacas sampled at parturition in a breeding establishment. DNA was extracted and analyzed using a previously described duplex semi-nested PCR targeting the S. aucheniae 18S rRNA gene. Selected positive amplicons were subjected to Sanger sequencing. Parasite DNA was detected in at least one tissue (placenta and/or umbilical cord) in 33 of 42 animals (78.6%). Parasite detection in placenta and umbilical cord was not statistically significantly different in paired samples, and animals positive in umbilical cord samples had increased odds of testing positive in placenta. Agreement between tissues was moderate, suggesting an uneven distribution of parasites within maternal–fetal compartments. No association was observed between parasite detection and age category. Sequencing confirmed the identity of the amplified fragments as S. aucheniae. Although detection of parasite DNA in placental and umbilical cord tissues does not by itself demonstrate fetal infection, the high frequency of positive animals and the significant association between both tissues provide the first molecular findings consistent with possible vertical transmission in S. aucheniae. These findings broaden current understanding of the parasite life cycle and suggest that vertical transmission may contribute to parasite persistence in SAC populations, with important implications for disease control.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026-09-16T14:25:44Z
2026-09-16T14:25:44Z
2026-10
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
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info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27818
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304401726002074
0304-4017
1873-2550
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2026.110888
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27818
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304401726002074
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2026.110888
identifier_str_mv 0304-4017
1873-2550
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/2023-PD-L01-I113, Herramientas de estudio de la Patogenia e Inmunidad en agentes infecciosos y tóxicos que aporten a la sustentabilidad de la producción pecuaria en el marco de Una Salud
info:eu-repograntAgreement/INTA/2023-PD-L06-I114, Desarrollo y aplicación de métodos diagnósticos y epidemiológicos para la producción pecuaria sustentable y agroalimentaria en humanos con foco en Una Salud
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
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rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Veterinary Parasitology 347 : 110888. (October 2026)
reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)
instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
reponame_str INTA Digital (INTA)
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instname_str Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.name.fl_str_mv INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
repository.mail.fl_str_mv tripaldi.nicolas@inta.gob.ar
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