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. 2025 Apr 17;12(4):379.
doi: 10.3390/vetsci12040379.

European Pine Marten (Martes martes) as Natural Definitive Host of Sarcocystis Species in Latvia: Microscopic and Molecular Analysis

Petras Prakas  1 , Rasa Vaitkevičiūtė  2 , Naglis Gudiškis  1 , Emilija Grigaliūnaitė  1 , Evelina Juozaitytė-Ngugu  1 , Jolanta Stankevičiūtė  2 , Dalius Butkauskas  1
Affiliations

European Pine Marten (Martes martes) as Natural Definitive Host of Sarcocystis Species in Latvia: Microscopic and Molecular Analysis

Petras Prakas et al. Vet Sci. .

Abstract

Apicomplexan parasites of the genus Sarcocystis utilize a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including reptiles, birds, and mammals, and follow a complex two-host prey-predator life cycle. Sarcocysts develop within the muscle tissue of intermediate hosts, while oocyst sporulation occurs in the intestines of definitive hosts. Despite their broad host range, the role of Mustelidae predators in the transmission and maintenance of Sarcocystis species remains poorly understood, highlighting the need for targeted studies in this area. In 2023, 20 intestinal samples were collected from European pine martens (Martes martes) in Latvia. Light microscopy revealed sporocysts of Sarcocystis spp. in 70.0% of the samples. Sarcocystis species were identified by using the analysis of obtained cox1 and ITS1 sequences. Using molecular methods, Sarcocystis spp. were confirmed in 85.0% of the samples examined, and co-infections with two or more different parasite species were established in 30.0% samples. We detected eight Sarcocystis species (S. arieticanis, S. bertrami, S. capracanis, S. cruzi, S. entzerothi, S. hjorti, S. morae, and S. truncata) associated with intermediate hosts such as cervids, cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. Additionally, a genetically novel species, Sarcocystis sp. 25MmLV, was detected in a single European pine marten. These findings suggest that European pine martens serve as definitive hosts for multiple Sarcocystis species, particularly those infecting cervids.

Keywords: ITS1; Martes martes; Mustelidae; Sarcocystis; cox1; definitive host; genetic identification; natural transmission.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sporocysts of Sarcocystis spp. from intestinal scrapings of European pine marten.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Bayesian phylogenetic tree based on ITS1 sequences and showing the phylogenetic relationships of Sarcocystis sp. 25MmLV isolated from European pine marten from Lithuania. The phylogram was scaled according to branch length and rooted on Sarcocystis falcatula. GenBank accession numbers are given after Sarcocystis species names. The figures next to the branches display posterior probability values. Colored symbols indicate from which hosts the Sarcocystis species were isolated from; blue squares show that birds were the IHs, purple squares indicate that chickens were the IHs, and orange triangles show that Carnivora predators were the DHs. BRA—Brazil; CAF—the Central African Republic; CHN—China; EGY—Egypt; LTU—Lithuania; LVA—Latvia; MYS—Malaysia; USA—the United States of America.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Trends in the distribution of Sarcocystis species in analyzed intestinal samples of European pine marten from Latvia. (a) The prevalence of Sarcocystis species in the samples examined. (b) The prevalence of Sarcocystis species grouped by their IH. a > b (p < 0.01) and a > c (p < 0.001). (c) Percentage distribution of the number of Sarcocystis species identified per sample.
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