Authors

T Lepore¹; P M Bartley¹; F Chianini¹; A Macrae²; E A Innes¹; F Katzer¹;  ¹ Moredun Research institute;  ² Roslin Institute

Discussion

Neck muscle and tongue samples from 54 badgers (Meles meles) collected in the Lothians and Borders regions of Scotland were tested using a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) directed against the 18S ribosomal RNA gene of protozoan parasites of the family Sarcocystidae. Initially, samples from five badgers were screened using protozoan primers that detect Toxoplasma, Neospora and various species of Sarcocystis. DNA identical to S. lutrae in badgers has not been previously reported in the UK. The PCR and sequencing approach demonstrated the presence of an 18S DNA fragment identical to Sarcocystis lutrae. Neck muscle and tongue samples were further tested in a nested PCR using Sarcocystis primers that amplify S. lutrae. Positive results were obtained from 36 / 54 (67%) neck muscle and 24 / 32 (75%) tongue samples. The 468 base pair clones and DNA sequences generated from the PCR amplicons submitted to gene bank showed 100% identity when compared against a published 18S DNA sequence for Sarcocystis lutrae (accession KM657769). Our data demonstrates the presence of an 18S DNA fragment identical to S. lutrae in badgers from around the Lothians and Borders regions of Scotland.