SARCOCYSTIS MEPHITISI N. SP. (PROTOZOA: SARCOCYSTIDAE), SARCOCYSTIS NEURONA-LIKE AND TOXOPLASMA-LIKE INFECTIONS IN STRIPED SKUNKS (MEPHITIS MEPHITIS)

Two structurally distinct types (A, B) of microscopic sarcocysts were found in muscles of 4 of 5 feral skunks. Type A sarcocysts had sarcocyst walls of up to 6 μm thick. The villar protrusions (Vp) on the sarcocyst wall were up to 5 μm long. The Vp were constricted at the base, expanded in the middl...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of parasitology 2002-02, Vol.88 (1), p.113-117
Main Authors: Dubey, J. P, Hamir, A. N, Topper, M. J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Bradyzoites
Cysts
Feces
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Infections
Intermediate hosts
Mephitidae
Mephitidae - parasitology
Microscopy
Microscopy, Electron
Microtubules
Muscle, Skeletal - parasitology
Muscle, Skeletal - pathology
Muscles
Oregon
Parasite hosts
Parasites
Parasitology
Protozoa
Sarcocystis - classification
Sarcocystis - growth & development
Sarcocystis - isolation & purification
Sarcocystosis - parasitology
Sarcocystosis - pathology
Sarcocystosis - physiopathology
Sarcocystosis - veterinary
Sarcocysts
Skunks
SYSTEMATICS-PHYLOGENETICS
Systematics. Geographical distribution. Morphology. Cytology
Taxonomy
Tongue - parasitology
Tongue - pathology
Toxoplasmosis, Animal - parasitology
Toxoplasmosis, Animal - pathology
Toxoplasmosis, Animal - physiopathology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Two structurally distinct types (A, B) of microscopic sarcocysts were found in muscles of 4 of 5 feral skunks. Type A sarcocysts had sarcocyst walls of up to 6 μm thick. The villar protrusions (Vp) on the sarcocyst wall were up to 5 μm long. The Vp were constricted at the base, expanded in the middle, and had a blunt tip. Numerous microtubules were present in the Vp and in the granular layer. Bradyzoites were up to 11 μm long and up to 3.2 μm wide. Based on the distinctiveness of the Vp, a new name, Sarcocystis mephitisi is proposed for type A sarcocysts. Type B sarcocysts had a relatively thin (∼1–2 μm thick) sarcocyst wall and the Vp were slender and tapered toward the tip. These sarcocysts were structurally similar to S. neurona sarcocysts. A Toxoplasma gondii–like tissue cyst was found in a section of tongue of 1 of the 4 skunks.
ISSN:0022-3395
1937-2345
DOI:10.1645/0022-3395(2002)088[0113:SMNSPS]2.0.CO;2