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Simple Summary: Sarcocystis parasites (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) exhibit a complex life cycle necessitating two hosts and infect a wide range of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Birds of prey, positioned at the apex of the food chain, serve as definitive hosts for various Sarcocystis species. This study focuses on the molecular identification of Sarcocystis species in the intestines of the Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo). For this purpose, the small intestines of 30 birds were tested. Microscopic examination of intestinal scrapings and molecular analysis showed that 73.3% of the birds examined were infected with Sarcocystis spp. Nine Sarcocystis species using birds or rodents as their intermediate hosts were confirmed in the small intestines of Common Buzzards by means of DNA analysis. The highest detection rates were established for S. glareoli (53.3%) forming cysts in the brains of rodents and for S. halieti (36.7%) forming sarcocysts in the muscles and brains of birds. In conclusion, the Common Buzzard can transmit numerous Sarcocystis spp., including pathogenic ones. The common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) was previously shown to transmit two Sarcocystis species (S. glareoli and S. microti) forming cysts in the brains of rodents. Due to a lack of research, the richness of Sarcocystis species spread by these birds of prey is expected to be much higher. A total of 30 samples of the small intestine of the Common Buzzard were collected in Lithuania and subjected to Sarcocystis species identification based on nested PCR of 28S rRNA and ITS1, following the sequencing of amplified DNA fragments. Six known Sarcocystis spp., S. cornixi, S. glareoli, S. halieti, S. kutkienae, S. turdusi, and S. wobeseri, along with three genetically distinct species (Sarcocystis sp. Rod3, Sarcocystis sp. Rod4, and Sarcocystis sp. Rod5), were identified. Phylogenetically, these three potentially new species clustered with Sarcocystis spp. characterised by a rodents-birds life cycle. Sarcocystis spp. employing rodents and birds as their intermediate hosts were detected in 66.7% and 50.0% of samples, respectively. These findings are consistent with the diet preferences of Common Buzzards. Notably, co-infections with two or more species were observed in a half of the samples. Altogether, the obtained results indicate that the Common Buzzard could serve as definitive host of various Sarcocystis species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The gray wolf (Canis lupus) is the largest representative of the family Canidae widespread in Eurasia and North America. Sarcocystis and Trichinella parasites were previously reported in the muscles of gray wolves. Apicomplexan Sarcocystis forms sarcocysts in the muscles of intermediate hosts and develops sporocysts in the intestines of definite hosts. Members of the genus Trichinella are cosmopolitan hazardous nematodes. The species composition of these parasites in gray wolves from Lithuania has not been studied so far. We examined muscle samples from 15 gray wolves, and species of parasites were confirmed using DNA analysis methods. Microscopically, Trichinella larvae were observed in 12 animals, and sarcocysts formed by Sarcocystis spp. were noticed in four. Trichinella britovi was also identified in the examined wolves. Current data show that zoonotic T. britovi is the dominant Trichinella species in gray wolves from nearby countries. In the case of Sarcocystis, two animals harbored S. svanai, and another two individuals were infected by S. svanai and S. arctica. Future studies are needed to assess the pathogenesis of the identified Sarcocystis spp. Apicomplexan Sarcocystis and Trichinella nematodes are food-borne parasites whose life cycle is carried-out in various wildlife and domestic animals. The gray wolf (Canis lupus) is an apex predator acting as an ecosystem engineer. This study aimed to identify the species of Sarcocystis and Trichinella found in the muscles of gray wolves in Lithuania. During the 2017–2022 period, diaphragm, heart, and hind leg samples of 15 animals were examined. Microscopical analysis showed the presence of two types of Sarcocystis parasites in 26.7% of the analyzed muscle samples. Based on the sequencing of five loci, nuclear 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, ITS1, mitochondrial cox1, and apicoplast rpoB, S. arctica, and S. svanai were identified. The current work presents the first report of S. svanai in gray wolf. Phylogenetically, S. svanai clustered together with S. lutrae, infecting various carnivorans, and S. arctica was most closely related to S. felis from domestic cats. Trichinella spp. were found in 12 gray wolves (80%). For the first time, Trichinella species were molecularly identified in gray wolves from Lithuania. Trichinella britovi was confirmed in all of the isolated Trichinella larvae using a multiplex PCR. Gray wolves in Lithuania may serve as a major source of zoonotic pathogens due to the presence of these parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most abundant fish species, Rutilus rutilus, is widely distributed in Lithuania and its potential to adapt to environmental changes attracted our interest. Unfortunately, it is not properly understood how anthropogenic activities can affect the genetic diversity within this species. We studied three populations of roaches (samples collected in the Neris and Žeimena rivers, and Lake Drūkšiai) over a period of five years (from 2017 to 2022) to determine genetic diversity using mtDNA D-loop and ATP6 genetic markers. Genetic diversity parameters, AMOVA analysis, haplotype network, and PCoA analysis revealed a greater genetic variability in roach samples collected in 2017, and the greatest differences were noticed in the population inhabiting Lake Drūkšiai, as compared with other samples studied over a five-year period. Differences in genetic diversity detected after a five-year period led us to the assumption that roach populations may be related to the effects of natural (changing climatic conditions) and anthropogenic (operating nuclear power plant) origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]