title: First report of molecular identification of Cystoisospora suis in piglets with lethal diarrhea in Japan.
abstract: Cystoisospora suis is a pathogen that causes diarrhea in pigs and can lead to serious disease. Species identification, especially by histopathological examination, is often difficult because of morphologically similar parasites such as Eimeria species. In this study, we used histopathological, bacteriological, virological, and parasitological methods to identify the cause of the disease in two piglets with severe diarrhea. Villous atrophy, diffuse necrosis, and flattening of mucosal epithelial cells were found in the ilea of examined piglets, and coccidian parasites were found in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells. In some merozoites in the meronts, the presence of two nuclei indicated type 1 merozoites, characteristic of C. suis. According to Cystoisospora-specific PCR targeting the rRNA internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) gene, the sequences of the products were 98.5% similar to those of C. suis. Escherichia coli (O149 serogroup) exhibiting a virulence factor profile (LT, STb, and EAST1 as toxins and F4 as a colonization factor) was detected in one piglet. No other bacteria or significant enteric viruses were found. Co-infection with C. suis and E. coli could imply aggravation of the disease, although further study is needed to assess the pathogenicity of this interaction. This study is the first to clarify by molecular analysis the sequences of C. suis detected in piglets in Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsubayashi
authors.forename: Hideko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusumoto
authors.forename: Misato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaji
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasai
authors.forename: Ryosaku
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibahara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000469:parasitology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007082:Ileum / Q000473:pathology; D007564:Japan; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D021745:Sarcocystidae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer