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. 2025 Mar 19;49(3):145.
doi: 10.1007/s11259-025-10698-9.

First identification and molecular characterization of protozoan parasites associated with abortion in ruminants from South Sinai Governorate, Egypt

Safaa Mohamed Barghash  1 , Al-Shaimaa Mohsen Sadek  2
Affiliations

First identification and molecular characterization of protozoan parasites associated with abortion in ruminants from South Sinai Governorate, Egypt

Safaa Mohamed Barghash et al. Vet Res Commun. .

Abstract

This study presents the first molecular detection and characterization of protozoa associated with livestock abortion, including Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Sarcocystis spp., and Microsporidia spp., in the South Sinai Governorate, Egypt. A total of 226 blood samples were collected from cattle, goats, and sheep with a history of abortion. Molecular analysis was conducted using PCR and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rRNA gene. The results revealed the prevalence of T. gondii in cattle at 12.33% (9/73), while goats and sheep tested negative. In contrast, 14.92% (10/67) of goat samples tested positive for Microsporidia spp., with no cases detected in cattle or sheep. No infections with Sarcocystis spp. or N. caninum were identified in any tested animals. Across all examined livestock, the overall prevalence of T. gondii was 3.98% (9/226), while Microsporidium spp. exhibited a slightly higher prevalence at 4.42% (10/226). Molecular sequencing identified three novel T. gondii strains in cattle recorded in the GenBank database under accession numbers MZ197902, MZ197903, and MZ197904, showing 99.9% genetic similarity to reference strains. Additionally, three novel strains of Enterocytozoon bieneusi (MZ197781, MZ197782, and MZ197783) were detected in goats. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a close evolutionary relationship between these newly identified E. bieneusi strains and known genotypes, suggesting a high degree of genetic conservation. These findings underscore the ongoing risks of T. gondii and E. bieneusi to livestock and public health. Continued surveillance is necessary to assess the zoonotic potential of these novel strains to aid in effective management strategies.

Keywords: Enterocytozoon bieneusi; Microsporidium spp.; Neospora caninum; Sarcocystis spp.; Toxoplasma gondii; Abortion.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval: The study was approved by the ethics committee at the Desert Research Center (No. ACUC-APPD-APPPD-DRC- # 39 #), which is compatible with the International Animal Ethics Committee (8th Edition 2011, Record number: 13799, legacy ID: 8247) and according to the ARRIVE guidelines. Submission declaration and verification: This manuscript has not been published and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Google map showing the sampling regions and species
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Stacked bar chart representing the total number of samples and positive cases of Toxoplasma gondii and Microsporidia spp. across three livestock groups
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Phylogenetic trees of nucleotide sequences for Toxoplasmagondii and Enterocytozoonbieneusi isolates recovered from livestock. a The P30 rRNA gene region of Toxoplasmagondii isolates from aborted cattle, alongside reference sequences from GenBank, shows identities ranging from 100% to 99.8%. b The SSU rRNA gene region of Enterocytozoonbieneusi isolates from aborted goats, with reference sequences from GenBank, displays identities ranging from 100% to 99.3%. Both trees were constructed using the Tamura 3-parameter model in MEGA software version 6 and visualized with iTOL v6, with our isolates marked on a white background
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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