Morphological and molecular characterization of Cystoisospora laidlawi oocysts (Apicomplexa Eimeriidae) in farmed American mink (Neovison vison) in Denmark

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

From a longitudinal survey conducted on 30 Danish mink farms in 2016, 11.0% of faecal samples (456/4140) were positive for Cystoisospora laidlawi oocysts by microscopy, with 60% (189/315) of mink being positive at least once during the study period. Morphological analysis of sporulated oocysts identified Cystoisospora oocysts measuring 34.3 × 29.5 μm with an oocyst length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.2. The morphological features of the oocysts were identical to Isospora laidlawi previously morphological identified in farmed mink from Denmark and elsewhere. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rDNA sequences (1221 bp) from three positive mink indicated that Cystoisospora from mink shared the highest genetic similarity to C. canis from a Canadian dog (99.6%). The phylogenetic analysis placed Cystoisospora from mink in a clade with other Cystoisospora isolates.

Original languageEnglish
JournalParasitology Research
Volume119
Pages (from-to)3549–3553
ISSN0932-0113
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • 18S rDNA, Genetic characterization, Mink, Morphology, Neovison vison, Phylogeny

ID: 248152099