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Title: SARCOCYSTIS URSUSI, N. SP (APICOMPLEXA; SARCOCYSTIDAE) FROM THE BLACK BEAR (URSUS AMERICANUS)

Author
item Dubey, Jitender
item HUMPHREYS, G - INDIANA U OF PA, PA
item FRITZ, D - FORT DETRICK, MD

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/3/2007
Publication Date: 2/1/2008
Citation: Dubey, J.P., Humphreys, G.T., Fritz, D. 2008. Sarcocystis ursusi, n. sp (apicomplexa; sarcocystidae) from the black bear (ursus americanus). Journal of Parasitology. 94:496-499.

Interpretive Summary: Sarcocystis species are single celled parasites that cause illness in humans and livestock. Humans and other hosts can become infected with this parasite by ingesting infected tissues. Herbivores can become infected by ingesting food and water contaminated with the resistant parasite stages excreted in feces of infected humans. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and Indiana University , Pennsylvania report a new species of Sarcocystsis from the black bear. The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists, public health workers, and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: Infection with Sarcocystis species is common in hervibores but is rare in bears. Histological sections of 374 black bears (Ursus americanus) from Pennsylvania were examined for sarcocysts. A total of 3 sarcocysts were found in 3 bears, 1 sarcocyst per section. Sarcocysts from 2 bears were considered a new species and named Sarcocystis ursusi. Sarcocysts of S. ursusi were microscopic and contained only bradyzoites. By light microscopy, the sarcocyst wall was thin (<0.5 um thick) and had minute serrations on the sarcocyst wall. Ultrastructurally, the serrations on the sarcocyst wall consisted of villar protrusion (Vp) that were mostly 0.5 um long. The Vp had bundles of electron-dense microtubules that were as wide as the villar protrusions and these microtubules extended deep in to the ground substance layer, a feature that distinguished this species from unnamed sarcocysts from black bear. Bradyzoites were 4.8-6.0 um long. The sarcocyst from the third bear was structurally different from S. ursusi; its sarcocyst wall was approximately 2 um thick and had finger-like villi on the cyst wall giving the sarcocyst wall a striated appearance.