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Title: SARCOCYSTIS FELIS (PROTOZOA: SARCOCYSTIDAE) FROM THE AFRICAN LION (FELIS LEO)

Author
item DUBEY JITENDER P - 1265-55-00
item BWANGAMOI O - UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

Submitted to: Society of Washington Journal of Helminthological
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/14/1994
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Infection by the species of the protozoan genus Sarcocystis is widespread in livestock. Sarcocystis species undergo a 2-host life cycle involving prey and predator animals. Carnivores become infected by ingesting the Sarcocystis encysted (sarcocyst) in muscles of herbivores. Herbivores become infected by ingesting Sarcocystis excreted in feces of carnivores. Until recently, the infection of Sarcocystis in muscles of carnivores was considered rare. Recently a new species, Sarcocystis felis, was found to form sarcocysts in muscles of cats. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and the University of Zimbabwe, in Africa, have identified Sarcocystis felis in muscles of an African lion. This report enlarges host range of Sarcocystis felis.

Technical Abstract: Sarcocysts of Sarcocystis felis were found in skeletal muscle of a 7-year-old African lioness (Panthera leo) from Kenya, Africa. Sarcocysts were up to 1650 um long and up to 150 um wide. The cyst wall was 1.0 to 1.5 um thick and had characteristic fingerlike villar projections.