Sarcocystis pinnipedi predominates Sarcocystis spp. infections in free-ranging Alaskan marine mammals

Elliott S. Chiu; Devinn Sinnott; Raphaela Stimmelmayr; David Rotstein; Anibal G. Armién; Karen Shapiro

doi:10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101234

Sarcocystis pinnipedi predominates Sarcocystis spp. infections in free-ranging Alaskan marine mammals

Elliott S. Chiu^*
, Devinn Sinnott
, Raphaela Stimmelmayr
, David Rotstein
, Anibal G. Armién
, Karen Shapiro^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

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Abstract

The diversity of Sarcocystis spp. infecting Alaskan marine mammals is largely unknown, which is relevant in a region of the world where hunting and consumption of marine mammals is essential to Alaskan native food security. Intramuscular sarcocysts were identified by histology during assessment of subsistence-hunted Alaskan pinnipeds, cetaceans, and ursids. Multilocus (ITS1, cox1, 18S, and rpoB) genetic characterization and phylogeny identified 51.2% of Sarcocystis spp. as identical to the newly described Sarcocystis pinnipedi. Infections with Sarcocystis canis (4.8%) and three novel Sarcocystis clades made up a minority of infections. Identification of potentially new species provides the framework for future investigation. © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian Society for Parasitology.

Original language	English
Article number	101234
Number of pages	5
Journal	International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
Volume	30
Online published	24 Apr 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101234
Publication status	Published - Aug 2026

Funding

Funding for the project was provided by the University of California, Davis Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center with additional support from the North Slope Borough. Samples were collected under research permits issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (# 814-1899-00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 17350, 01,02, 21389) and the USFWS (# MA134907-2; MA80164B-0 to the NSB DWM. Tissues from stranded marine mammals were collected under separate authority of the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 2 Zero Hunger
SDG 15 Life on Land

Research Keywords

Incidental parasitism
Marine mammals
Phylogeny
Protozoal infections
Sarcocystis
Subsistence hunting

Publisher's Copyright Statement

This full text is made available under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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title = "Sarcocystis pinnipedi predominates Sarcocystis spp. infections in free-ranging Alaskan marine mammals",

abstract = "The diversity of Sarcocystis spp. infecting Alaskan marine mammals is largely unknown, which is relevant in a region of the world where hunting and consumption of marine mammals is essential to Alaskan native food security. Intramuscular sarcocysts were identified by histology during assessment of subsistence-hunted Alaskan pinnipeds, cetaceans, and ursids. Multilocus (ITS1, cox1, 18S, and rpoB) genetic characterization and phylogeny identified 51.2\% of Sarcocystis spp. as identical to the newly described Sarcocystis pinnipedi. Infections with Sarcocystis canis (4.8\%) and three novel Sarcocystis clades made up a minority of infections. Identification of potentially new species provides the framework for future investigation. {\textcopyright} 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian Society for Parasitology.",

keywords = "Incidental parasitism, Marine mammals, Phylogeny, Protozoal infections, Sarcocystis, Subsistence hunting",

author = "Chiu, \{Elliott S.\} and Devinn Sinnott and Raphaela Stimmelmayr and David Rotstein and Armi{\'e}n, \{Anibal G.\} and Karen Shapiro",

year = "2026",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101234",

language = "English",

volume = "30",

journal = "International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife",

issn = "2213-2244",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",

}

Sarcocystis pinnipedi predominates Sarcocystis spp. infections in free-ranging Alaskan marine mammals. / Chiu, Elliott S.; Sinnott, Devinn; Stimmelmayr, Raphaela et al.
In: International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, Vol. 30, 101234, 08.2026.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Sarcocystis pinnipedi predominates Sarcocystis spp. infections in free-ranging Alaskan marine mammals

AU - Chiu, Elliott S.

AU - Sinnott, Devinn

AU - Stimmelmayr, Raphaela

AU - Rotstein, David

AU - Armién, Anibal G.

AU - Shapiro, Karen

PY - 2026/8

Y1 - 2026/8

N2 - The diversity of Sarcocystis spp. infecting Alaskan marine mammals is largely unknown, which is relevant in a region of the world where hunting and consumption of marine mammals is essential to Alaskan native food security. Intramuscular sarcocysts were identified by histology during assessment of subsistence-hunted Alaskan pinnipeds, cetaceans, and ursids. Multilocus (ITS1, cox1, 18S, and rpoB) genetic characterization and phylogeny identified 51.2% of Sarcocystis spp. as identical to the newly described Sarcocystis pinnipedi. Infections with Sarcocystis canis (4.8%) and three novel Sarcocystis clades made up a minority of infections. Identification of potentially new species provides the framework for future investigation. © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian Society for Parasitology.

AB - The diversity of Sarcocystis spp. infecting Alaskan marine mammals is largely unknown, which is relevant in a region of the world where hunting and consumption of marine mammals is essential to Alaskan native food security. Intramuscular sarcocysts were identified by histology during assessment of subsistence-hunted Alaskan pinnipeds, cetaceans, and ursids. Multilocus (ITS1, cox1, 18S, and rpoB) genetic characterization and phylogeny identified 51.2% of Sarcocystis spp. as identical to the newly described Sarcocystis pinnipedi. Infections with Sarcocystis canis (4.8%) and three novel Sarcocystis clades made up a minority of infections. Identification of potentially new species provides the framework for future investigation. © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian Society for Parasitology.

KW - Incidental parasitism

KW - Marine mammals

KW - Phylogeny

KW - Protozoal infections

KW - Sarcocystis

KW - Subsistence hunting

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105037525041

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105037525041#tab=impact

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101234

DO - 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2026.101234

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 2213-2244

VL - 30

JO - International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

JF - International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

M1 - 101234

ER -

Sarcocystis pinnipedi predominates Sarcocystis spp. infections in free-ranging Alaskan marine mammals

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

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