Longitudinal detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in blood samples of naturally infected alpacas in the Andean highlands of Peru

Autores
Neyra, Luisa; Malaga, Jose L.; Giuliano, Susana M.; Barriga Marcapura, Ximena; Aguilar, Milagros; Chavez-Fumagalli, Miguel; Florin-Christensen, Monica; Reategui Ordoñez, Juan
Año de publicación
2025
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
Sarcocystis aucheniae is a protozoan parasite that forms macroscopic cysts in the skeletal muscles of South American camelids (SAC), impairing meat commercialization and posing a significant barrier to sustainable camelid livestock development. Although S. aucheniae DNA has been previously detected in SAC blood, the temporal dynamics of parasitemia remain unclear. This study presents the first longitudinal analysis of S. aucheniae DNA detection in alpaca (Vicugna pacos) peripheral blood. Monthly blood samples were collected from 38 male alpacas over 10 months in a SAC breeding establishment in Yanque, Peru. A duplex semi-nested PCR was used to detect DNA from parasites and the host, the latter as an extraction control. Sarcocystis aucheniae was detected in 9 animals (24 %) during the study. The maximum time length of positive detection was 2 months in 2 alpacas, while the rest of the animals tested positive in only one sampling. This suggests a brief window of blood-circulating stages, before encysting in the muscles. In one alpaca, positive and negative detection alternated in consecutive months, which might indicate fluctuating parasitemia levels, or re-infection. No correlation was found between PCR positivity and host age, temperature, or precipitation. Primer specificity was assessed by in silico alignments, and analytical sensitivity was estimated at 0.46 pg/μl of DNA. Although the method has limited diagnostic value in chronic infections, it is useful for epidemiological surveillance and transmission monitoring. This study provides novel insights into the infection kinetics of S. aucheniae and highlights the value of molecular tools in understanding parasitic transmission in SAC.
Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria
Fil: Neyra, Luisa. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
Fil: Malaga, Jose L. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
Fil: Giuliano, Susana M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina
Fil: Barriga Marcapura, Ximena. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
Fil: Aguilar, Milagros. Centro de Estudios y Promoción del Desarrollo del Sur. Centro de Desarrollo Alpaquero de Tocra (CEDAT); Perú
Fil: Chavez-Fumagalli, Miguel. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Computational Biology and Chemistry Research Group; Perú
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: Reategui Ordoñez, Juan. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
Fuente
Veterinary Parasitology 338 : 110555. (August 2025)
Materia
Sarcocystis
Camelids
Alpacas
Animal Diseases
Diagnosis
Peru
Camélidos
Alpaca
Enfermedades de los Animales
Diagnóstico
Perú
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
oai:localhost:20.500.12123/27820
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oai_identifier_str oai:localhost:20.500.12123/27820
network_acronym_str INTADig
repository_id_str l
network_name_str INTA Digital (INTA)
spelling Longitudinal detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in blood samples of naturally infected alpacas in the Andean highlands of PeruNeyra, LuisaMalaga, Jose L.Giuliano, Susana M.Barriga Marcapura, XimenaAguilar, MilagrosChavez-Fumagalli, MiguelFlorin-Christensen, MonicaReategui Ordoñez, JuanSarcocystisCamelidsAlpacasAnimal DiseasesDiagnosisPeruCamélidosAlpacaEnfermedades de los AnimalesDiagnósticoPerúSarcocystis aucheniaeSarcocystis aucheniae is a protozoan parasite that forms macroscopic cysts in the skeletal muscles of South American camelids (SAC), impairing meat commercialization and posing a significant barrier to sustainable camelid livestock development. Although S. aucheniae DNA has been previously detected in SAC blood, the temporal dynamics of parasitemia remain unclear. This study presents the first longitudinal analysis of S. aucheniae DNA detection in alpaca (Vicugna pacos) peripheral blood. Monthly blood samples were collected from 38 male alpacas over 10 months in a SAC breeding establishment in Yanque, Peru. A duplex semi-nested PCR was used to detect DNA from parasites and the host, the latter as an extraction control. Sarcocystis aucheniae was detected in 9 animals (24 %) during the study. The maximum time length of positive detection was 2 months in 2 alpacas, while the rest of the animals tested positive in only one sampling. This suggests a brief window of blood-circulating stages, before encysting in the muscles. In one alpaca, positive and negative detection alternated in consecutive months, which might indicate fluctuating parasitemia levels, or re-infection. No correlation was found between PCR positivity and host age, temperature, or precipitation. Primer specificity was assessed by in silico alignments, and analytical sensitivity was estimated at 0.46 pg/μl of DNA. Although the method has limited diagnostic value in chronic infections, it is useful for epidemiological surveillance and transmission monitoring. This study provides novel insights into the infection kinetics of S. aucheniae and highlights the value of molecular tools in understanding parasitic transmission in SAC.Instituto de Patobiología VeterinariaFil: Neyra, Luisa. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; PerúFil: Malaga, Jose L. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; PerúFil: Giuliano, Susana M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Barriga Marcapura, Ximena. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; PerúFil: Aguilar, Milagros. Centro de Estudios y Promoción del Desarrollo del Sur. Centro de Desarrollo Alpaquero de Tocra (CEDAT); PerúFil: Chavez-Fumagalli, Miguel. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Computational Biology and Chemistry Research Group; PerúFil: 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: Reategui Ordoñez, Juan. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; PerúElsevier2026-09-16T14:59:04Z2026-09-16T14:59:04Z2025-08info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27820https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S03044017250016690304-40171873-2550https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110555Veterinary Parasitology 338 : 110555. (August 2025)reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariaenginfo: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 SaludPeru .......... (nation) (World, South America)1000056info: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:20.500.12123/27820instacron: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 11:43:51.458INTA Digital (INTA) - Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuariafalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Longitudinal detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in blood samples of naturally infected alpacas in the Andean highlands of Peru
title Longitudinal detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in blood samples of naturally infected alpacas in the Andean highlands of Peru
spellingShingle Longitudinal detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in blood samples of naturally infected alpacas in the Andean highlands of Peru
Neyra, Luisa
Sarcocystis
Camelids
Alpacas
Animal Diseases
Diagnosis
Peru
Camélidos
Alpaca
Enfermedades de los Animales
Diagnóstico
Perú
Sarcocystis aucheniae
title_short Longitudinal detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in blood samples of naturally infected alpacas in the Andean highlands of Peru
title_full Longitudinal detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in blood samples of naturally infected alpacas in the Andean highlands of Peru
title_fullStr Longitudinal detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in blood samples of naturally infected alpacas in the Andean highlands of Peru
title_full_unstemmed Longitudinal detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in blood samples of naturally infected alpacas in the Andean highlands of Peru
title_sort Longitudinal detection of Sarcocystis aucheniae DNA in blood samples of naturally infected alpacas in the Andean highlands of Peru
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Neyra, Luisa
Malaga, Jose L.
Giuliano, Susana M.
Barriga Marcapura, Ximena
Aguilar, Milagros
Chavez-Fumagalli, Miguel
Florin-Christensen, Monica
Reategui Ordoñez, Juan
author Neyra, Luisa
author_facet Neyra, Luisa
Malaga, Jose L.
Giuliano, Susana M.
Barriga Marcapura, Ximena
Aguilar, Milagros
Chavez-Fumagalli, Miguel
Florin-Christensen, Monica
Reategui Ordoñez, Juan
author_role author
author2 Malaga, Jose L.
Giuliano, Susana M.
Barriga Marcapura, Ximena
Aguilar, Milagros
Chavez-Fumagalli, Miguel
Florin-Christensen, Monica
Reategui Ordoñez, Juan
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Sarcocystis
Camelids
Alpacas
Animal Diseases
Diagnosis
Peru
Camélidos
Alpaca
Enfermedades de los Animales
Diagnóstico
Perú
Sarcocystis aucheniae
topic Sarcocystis
Camelids
Alpacas
Animal Diseases
Diagnosis
Peru
Camélidos
Alpaca
Enfermedades de los Animales
Diagnóstico
Perú
Sarcocystis aucheniae
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Sarcocystis aucheniae is a protozoan parasite that forms macroscopic cysts in the skeletal muscles of South American camelids (SAC), impairing meat commercialization and posing a significant barrier to sustainable camelid livestock development. Although S. aucheniae DNA has been previously detected in SAC blood, the temporal dynamics of parasitemia remain unclear. This study presents the first longitudinal analysis of S. aucheniae DNA detection in alpaca (Vicugna pacos) peripheral blood. Monthly blood samples were collected from 38 male alpacas over 10 months in a SAC breeding establishment in Yanque, Peru. A duplex semi-nested PCR was used to detect DNA from parasites and the host, the latter as an extraction control. Sarcocystis aucheniae was detected in 9 animals (24 %) during the study. The maximum time length of positive detection was 2 months in 2 alpacas, while the rest of the animals tested positive in only one sampling. This suggests a brief window of blood-circulating stages, before encysting in the muscles. In one alpaca, positive and negative detection alternated in consecutive months, which might indicate fluctuating parasitemia levels, or re-infection. No correlation was found between PCR positivity and host age, temperature, or precipitation. Primer specificity was assessed by in silico alignments, and analytical sensitivity was estimated at 0.46 pg/μl of DNA. Although the method has limited diagnostic value in chronic infections, it is useful for epidemiological surveillance and transmission monitoring. This study provides novel insights into the infection kinetics of S. aucheniae and highlights the value of molecular tools in understanding parasitic transmission in SAC.
Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria
Fil: Neyra, Luisa. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
Fil: Malaga, Jose L. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
Fil: Giuliano, Susana M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina
Fil: Barriga Marcapura, Ximena. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
Fil: Aguilar, Milagros. Centro de Estudios y Promoción del Desarrollo del Sur. Centro de Desarrollo Alpaquero de Tocra (CEDAT); Perú
Fil: Chavez-Fumagalli, Miguel. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Computational Biology and Chemistry Research Group; Perú
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: Reategui Ordoñez, Juan. Universidad Católica de Santa María. Vicerrectorado de Investigación. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal; Perú
description Sarcocystis aucheniae is a protozoan parasite that forms macroscopic cysts in the skeletal muscles of South American camelids (SAC), impairing meat commercialization and posing a significant barrier to sustainable camelid livestock development. Although S. aucheniae DNA has been previously detected in SAC blood, the temporal dynamics of parasitemia remain unclear. This study presents the first longitudinal analysis of S. aucheniae DNA detection in alpaca (Vicugna pacos) peripheral blood. Monthly blood samples were collected from 38 male alpacas over 10 months in a SAC breeding establishment in Yanque, Peru. A duplex semi-nested PCR was used to detect DNA from parasites and the host, the latter as an extraction control. Sarcocystis aucheniae was detected in 9 animals (24 %) during the study. The maximum time length of positive detection was 2 months in 2 alpacas, while the rest of the animals tested positive in only one sampling. This suggests a brief window of blood-circulating stages, before encysting in the muscles. In one alpaca, positive and negative detection alternated in consecutive months, which might indicate fluctuating parasitemia levels, or re-infection. No correlation was found between PCR positivity and host age, temperature, or precipitation. Primer specificity was assessed by in silico alignments, and analytical sensitivity was estimated at 0.46 pg/μl of DNA. Although the method has limited diagnostic value in chronic infections, it is useful for epidemiological surveillance and transmission monitoring. This study provides novel insights into the infection kinetics of S. aucheniae and highlights the value of molecular tools in understanding parasitic transmission in SAC.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-08
2026-09-16T14:59:04Z
2026-09-16T14:59:04Z
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27820
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304401725001669
0304-4017
1873-2550
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110555
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/27820
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304401725001669
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110555
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-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
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
eu_rights_str_mv restrictedAccess
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.coverage.none.fl_str_mv Peru .......... (nation) (World, South America)
1000056
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Veterinary Parasitology 338 : 110555. (August 2025)
reponame:INTA Digital (INTA)
instname:Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria
reponame_str INTA Digital (INTA)
collection INTA Digital (INTA)
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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