Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41586928›Full record

ArticleActa parasitologica2026

Prevalence and Comprehensive Molecular Characterization of Sarcocystis glareoli from Brain Samples of Small Mammals Captured in Lithuania.

Petras Prakas, Dovilė Laisvūnė Bagdonaitė, Marius Jasiulionis, Evelina Juozaitytė-Ngugu, Vitalijus Stirkė, Linas Balčiauskas, Dalius Butkauskas

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Acta parasitologica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Molecular and Microscopic Identification ofAnimals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Petras PrakasState Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos St. 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania. prakaspetras@gmail.com.
Dovilė Laisvūnė BagdonaitėState Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos St. 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Marius JasiulionisState Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos St. 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Evelina Juozaitytė-NguguState Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos St. 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Vitalijus StirkėState Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos St. 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Linas BalčiauskasState Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos St. 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Dalius ButkauskasState Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos St. 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania.

Funding

Lietuvos Mokslo Taryba S-MIP-23-4
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe aim of the study was to assess Sarcocystis prevalence in brains of small mammals from Lithuania and to comprehensively characterize their genetic variability.

methodsBrain samples of 687 small mammals (mice, voles and shrews) from Lithuania were analysed for Sarcocystis spp. using light microscopy and DNA sequence analysis. Parasites isolated were genetically characterised at nuclear 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS1, ITS2, mitochondrial cox1 and cytb, and apicoplast rpoB.

resultsMicroscopic and molecular examination revealed the presence of S. glareoli in three rodent species (Apodemus flavicollis, Clethrionomys glareolus and Microtus arvalis), with a total prevalence of 2.6%, (95% CI 1.4–4.4) and in single eulipotyphlan species (Sorex araneus), with a total prevalence of 0.65% (95% CI 0.02–3.6). Among the investigated hosts, the highest 13.0% (95% CI 6.4–22.6) infection rates occurred in C. glareolus. This study constitutes the first documented case of S. glareoli infecting a member of the order Eulipotyphla on a global scale. Additionally, we provide first ITS2, cox1, cytb, and rpoB sequences of S. glareoli. Only minor intraspecific genetic variability was observed in ITS1 and ITS2. Phylogenetic analyses placed S. glareoli in close relation to S. jamaicensis, S. microti, and several undescribed Sarcocystis species.

conclusionThe result of the present work is significant for the epidemiology and distinguishment of S. glareoli from genetically similar species and for phylogenetic studies of Sarcocystis spp. with small mammals as their intermediate hosts.

Indexed as

BrainRodent DiseasesSarcocystisSarcocystosisAnimalsDNA, ProtozoanDNA, Ribosomal SpacerGenetic VariationLithuaniaPhylogenyPrevalenceRNA, Ribosomal, 18SRNA, Ribosomal, 28SSequence Analysis, DNAShrewsDNA, ProtozoanDNA, Ribosomal SpacerRNA, Ribosomal, 18SRNA, Ribosomal, 28SEpidemiologyFrenkeliaMolecular characterisationPhylogenySarcocystis

Identifiers

PMID41586928

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.