Background: The tissue specimens used for extraction
of DNA in this study were from rodents trapped in four
states in Peninsular Malaysia, namely Kedah, Kelantan,
Selangor and Johor.
Methods: Histological sections of these rodent
muscle tissues stained with hematoxylin and eosin
showed infection with Sarcocystis spp. Based on
these results, the current study was carried out to
determine the phylogenetic relationship among
the identified Sarcocystis spp. in these rodents.
The formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) rodent
muscle blocks were subjected to DNA extraction and
followed with semi nested PCR targeting 5’ and 3’
regions of 18S rRNA of Sarcocystis spp.
Results: Phylogenetic analysis showed two distinct
groups of Sarcocystis spp. among the rodents in
Peninsular Malaysia. Most of the identified Sarcocystis
spp. were genetically closely related to Sarcocystis
rodentifelis and Sarcocystis muris and were also observed
to be genetically closely related to Sarcocystis sp. ex
Columba livia and Sarcocystis sp. cyst type I ex Anser
albifrons.
Conclusion: Further classification to confirm these
Sarcocystis spp. was not possible as only partial sequences
of 18S rRNA was available and this was insufficient for
optimal differentiation.