Equine Sarcocystosis in the Northern Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Zhanaidar Bermukhametov,
Kulyay Suleimanova,
Oksana Tomaruk,
Bakhit Baimenov,
Pavel Shevchenko,
Assylbek Batyrbekov,
Zoja Mikniene,
Ahmet Onur Girişgin,
Raushan Rychshanova
Affiliations
Zhanaidar Bermukhametov
Research and Innovation Center, Research Institute of Applied Biotechnology, NLC «Akhmet Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University», Kostanay 110000, Kazakhstan
Kulyay Suleimanova
Department of Natural Sciences, Kostanay Social-Technical University named after Academician Zulharnai Aldamjar, Kostanay 110000, Kazakhstan
Oksana Tomaruk
Research and Innovation Center, Research Institute of Applied Biotechnology, NLC «Akhmet Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University», Kostanay 110000, Kazakhstan
Bakhit Baimenov
Research and Innovation Center, Research Institute of Applied Biotechnology, NLC «Akhmet Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University», Kostanay 110000, Kazakhstan
Pavel Shevchenko
Research and Innovation Center, Research Institute of Applied Biotechnology, NLC «Akhmet Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University», Kostanay 110000, Kazakhstan
Assylbek Batyrbekov
Research and Innovation Center, Research Institute of Applied Biotechnology, NLC «Akhmet Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University», Kostanay 110000, Kazakhstan
Zoja Mikniene
Large Animal Clinic, Lithuanian University of Health Science, Veterinary Academy, LT-44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
Ahmet Onur Girişgin
Department of Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, Bursa Uludag University, 16059 Nilüfer-Bursa, Turkey
Raushan Rychshanova
Research and Innovation Center, Research Institute of Applied Biotechnology, NLC «Akhmet Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University», Kostanay 110000, Kazakhstan
Background: A total of 396 samples were taken from the hearts, oesophagi, and diaphragms of 132 horses slaughtered at slaughterhouses in 2023 for subsequent examination. Methods: The histological method revealed pathomorphological changes in the muscle tissue. The molecular method identified the pathogen species. Results: Histological examination revealed thick-walled cysts with internal septa and numerous bradyzoites, and mononuclear inflammatory cells with pericyst infiltrates. Microcyst samples were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Molecular genetic analysis allowed for the identification of 18 sarcocysts. Phylogenetic analysis of Sarcocystis isolates revealed three separate clades of Sarcocystis bertrami and two separate clades of Sarcocystis fayeri. Comparison and phylogenetic analysis revealed a very close relationship between the identified Sarcocystis species and other equine Sarcocystis DNA sequences from China and Japan. Based on the results obtained, the epizootic situation and the parasitic level of sarcocystosis contamination of horses in the northern Kazakhstan were determined. Conclusion: This is the first histological and molecular study to identify Sarcocystis spp. isolated from microscopic forms of equine sarcocysts in the northern Kazakhstan. This research will contribute to the fight against the spread of sarcocystosis in the Republic of Kazakhstan and will allow us to develop proposals for improving the mechanisms of sarcocystosis control.
