title: Isolation, molecular characterization, and in vitro schizogonic development of Sarcocystis sp. ex Accipiter cooperii from a naturally infected Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii).
abstract: Raptors serve as the definitive host for several Sarcocystis species. The complete life cycles of only a few of these Sarcocystis species that use birds of prey as definitive hosts have been described. In the present study, Sarcocystis species sporocysts were obtained from the intestine of a Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii) and were used to infect cell cultures of African green monkey kidney cells to isolate a continuous culture and describe asexual stages of the parasite. Two clones of the parasite were obtained by limiting dilution. Asexual stages were used to obtain DNA for molecular classification and identification. PCR amplification and sequencing were done at three nuclear ribosomal DNA loci; 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and ITS-1, and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) locus. Examination of clonal isolates of the parasite indicated a single species related to S. columbae (termed Sarcocystis sp. ex Accipiter cooperii) was present in the Cooper's hawk. Our results document for the first time Sarcocystis sp. ex A. cooperii occurs naturally in an unknown intermediate host in North America and that Cooper's hawks (A. cooperii) are a natural definitive host.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. Electronic address: lindsayd@vt.edu.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lindsay
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA.
authors.forename: Shiv K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Carolina Raptor Center, 6000 Sample Road, Huntersville, NC 28078, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Building 1001, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA.
authors.forename: Jitender P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, NC, 28216, USA.
authors.forename: Alexa R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: von Dohlen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D046428:Hawks / Q000469:parasitology*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D033661:Oocysts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D012100:Reproduction, Asexual / Q000502:physiology; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D052939:Schizonts / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1
keywords: Accipiter cooperii; Cell culture; Cooper's hawk; Raptor; Sarcocystis columbae; Sarcocystis sp. ex A. cooperii; Sporocysts