title: Genetic assemblage of Sarcocystis spp. in Malaysian snakes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sarcocystis species are protozoan parasites with a wide host range including snakes. Although there were several reports of Sarcocytis species in snakes, their distribution and prevalence are still not fully explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, fecal specimens of several snake species in Malaysia were examined for the presence of Sarcocystis by PCR of 18S rDNA sequence. Microscopy examination of the fecal specimens for sporocysts was not carried as it was difficult to determine the species of the infecting Sarcocystis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 28 snake fecal specimens, 7 were positive by PCR. BLASTn and phylogenetic analyses of the amplified 18S rDNA sequences revealed the snakes were infected with either S. nesbitti, S. singaporensis, S. zuoi or undefined Sarcocystis species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first to report Sarcocystis infection in a cobra, and S. nesbitti in a reticulated python.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. lauyeeling@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Yee Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Phooi Yee
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Vellayan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Subramaniam
authors.forename: Yit Han
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Rohela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahmud
authors.forename: Arine Fadzlun
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Mun Yik
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Fong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D008296:Malaysia; D008853:Microscopy; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017385:Sequence Homology; D012911:Snakes / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S