Summary
Electron microscope studies of the cyst wall of a murine Sarcocystis-like organism of Mus musculus indicate that the sarcocyst wall is a degenerate muscle cell. The degenerate muscle cell contains nuclei, mitochondria, ribosomes, and myofibrils in disarray with the Z-bands thickened. Surrounding the outside of the muscle cell there is a layer of fibrous material, and occasional fibroblasts are seen. The parasites are found within a parasitophorous vacuole in the muscle cell. There are short finger-like projections extending into the vacuole from the muscle cell. The ground substance of the vacuole is fairly homogeneous, but somewhat more electron dense between the finger-like projections.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Frenkel, J. K.: Advances in the biology of Sporozoa. Z. Parasitenk. 45, 125–162 (1974)
Heydorn, A.-O., Rommel, M.: Beiträge zum Lebenszyklus der Sarkosporidien. II. Hund und Katze als Überträger der Sarkosporidien des Rindes. Berl. Münch. tierärztl. Wschr. 85, 121–123 (1972)
Ludvík, J.: Elektronoptische Befunde zur Morphologie der Sarcosporidien (Sarcocystis tenella Railliet, 1886). Zbl. Bakt. Parasitenk. 172, 330–350 (1958)
Ludvík, J.: The electron microscopy of Sarcocystis miescheriana Kuhn 1865. J. Protozool. 7, 128–135 (1960)
Lumsden, R. D.: Preparatory technique for electron microscopy. In: A. J. MacInnis, M. Voge, ed., Experiments and techniques in parasitology. San Francisco: Freeman Press 1970
Markus, M. B., Killick-Kendrick, R., Garnham, P. C. C.: The coccidial nature and life-cycle of Sarcocystis. J. trop. Med. Hyg. 77, 248–259 (1974)
Mehlhorn, H., Scholtyseck, E.: Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an Cystenstadien von Sarcocystis tenella aus der Oesophagus-Muskulatur des Schafes. Z. Parasitenk. 41, 291–310 (1973)
Powell, E. C., McCarley, J. B.: A murine Sarcocystis that causes an Isospora-like infection in cats. J. Parasitol., in press (1975)
Rommel, M., Heydorn, A.-O.: Beiträge zum Lebenszyklus der Sarcosporidien. III. Isospora hominis (Railliet and Lucet, 1891) Ulenyon, 1923, eine Dauerform der Sarkosporidien des Rindes und des Schweins. Berl. Münch. tierärztl. Wschr. 85, 143–145 (1972)
Rommel, M., Heydorn, A.-O., Gruber, F.: Beiträge zum Lebenszyklus der Sarkosporidien. I. Die Sporozyste von S. tenella in den Fäzes der Katze. Berl. Münch. tierärztl. Wschr. 85, 101–105 (1072)
Scholtyseck, E., Mehlhorn, H., Müller, B. E. G.: Feinstruktur der Cyste und Cystenwand von Sarcocystis tenella, Besnoitia jellisoni, Frenkelia sp. und Toxoplasma gondii. J. Protozool. 21, 284–294 (1974)
Sénaud, J.: Sur l'évolution de enveloppe kystique chez la sarcosporidie du mouton (Sarcocystis tenella Rail.). Arch. Zool. éxp. gen. 102, 227–230 (1963)
Sénaud, J., de Puytorac, P.: Sur l'ultrastructure de l'enveloppe kystique chez la sarcosporidie du mouton (Sarcocystis tenella Rail.). Ann. Parasit. 36, 589–594 (1961)
Simpson, C. F.: Electron microscopy of Sarcocystis fusiformis. J. Parasit. 52, 607–613 (1966)
Simpson, C. F., Forrester, D. J.: Electron microscopy of Sarcocystis sp.: Cyst wall, micropore, rhoptries, and an unidentified body. Int. J. Parasit. 3, 467–470 (1973)
Zeve, V. H., Price, D. L., Herman, C. M.: Electron microscope study of Sarcocystis sp. Exp. Parasit. 18, 338–346 (1966)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Viles, J.M., Powell, E.C. The ultrastructure of the cyst wall of a murine Sarcocystis . Z. F. Parasitenkunde 49, 127–132 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00382419
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00382419