Summary
A light and electron microscopic study of Sarcocystis orientalis sp. n. was made. The life cycle of this parasite is in two hosts. Gametogony is in the intestinal epithelial cells of a predator, Python reticulatus. Isospora-like oocysts developed. Sporocysts average 9.1 by 7.7 μm. Rats (Rattus norvegicus) were infected with sporocysts and asexual stages developed. Ten days after infection large zoites (average 7.85 by 2.48 μm) were observed free in peripheral blood and within white blood cells. Small schizonts producing merozoites 2–3 μm long were seen in lung tissue. Tissue cysts developed in skeletal muscle and produced numerous cystozoites (average 5.53 by 1.38 μm). Fine structure was similar to previously described Sarcocystis spp.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blanchard, R.: Note sur les Sarcosporidies et sur un essai de classification de ces Sporozoaires. Bull. Soc. Zool. Fr. 10, 244 (1885)
Brown, R. J., Carney, W. P., Peenen, P. F. D. van, Sudomo, M.: Sarcocystis from rats in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Pub. Hlth. 5, 451–452 (1974)
Carlos, E. R., Schaffer, B. T.: Sarcocystis in the Philippines: A histologic review of 202 cases in rats. Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Pub. Hlth. 3, 371–375 (1972)
Colley, F., Zaman, V.: Observations on the endogenous stages of Toxoplasma gondii in the cat ileum. II. Electron microscope study. Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Pub. Hlth. 1, 465–480 (1970)
Dissanaike, A. S., Poopalachelvam, M.: Sarcocystis booliati n. sp. and a parasite of undetermined taxonomic position, Octoplasma garnhami n. gen. n. sp., from the moonrat, Echinosorex gymnurus. Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Pub. Hlth. (in press, 1975)
Fayer, R.: Sarcocystis: development in cultured avian and mammalian cells. Science 168, 1104–1105 (1970)
Fayer, R.: Gametogony of Sarcocystis sp. in cell culture. Science 175, 65–67 (1972)
Fayer, R., Johnson, A. J.: Sarcocystis fusiformis: Development of cysts in calves infected with sporocysts from dogs. Proc. helminth. Soc. Wash. 41(1), 105–108 (1974)
Heydorn, A. O., Rommel, M.: Beiträge zum Lebenszyklus der Sarkosporidien. II. Hund und Katze als Überträger der Sarkosporidien des Rindes. Ibid. 85, 121–123 (1972a)
Heydorn, A. O., Rommel, M.: Beiträge zum Lebenszyklus der Sarkosporidien. IV. Entwicklungsstadien von S. fusiformis in der Dünndarmschleimhaut der Katze. 85, 333–336 (1972b)
Ludvík, J.: The electron-microscopy of Sarcocystis meischeriana Kuhn 1865. J. Protozool. 7, 128–135 (1960)
Mandour, A. M.: Sarcocystis garnhami n. sp., in the skeletal muscle of an opossum, Didelphis marsupialis. J. Protozool. 12, 606–609 (1965)
Markus, M. B., Killick-Kendrick, R., Garnham, P. C. C.: The coccidial natural 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)
Pellérdy, L. P.: Coccidia and Coccidiosis. Akadémiai Kiadé, Budapest, 657 p. 1965
Pellérdy, L. P.: Catalogue. Eimeriidea (Protozoa, Sporozoa). Supplementum I. Akademiai Kiado, Budapest, Hungary, 80 p. 1969
Pelster, B., Piekarski, G.: Elektronenmikroskopische Analyse der Mikrogametenentwicklung bei Toxoplasma gondii. Z. Parasitenk. 37, 267–277 (1971)
Pelster, B., Piekarski, G.: Untersuchungen zur Feinstruktur des Makrogameten von Toxoplasma gondii. Z. Parasitenk. 39, 225–232 (1972)
Prathap, K.: Sarcocystis in the Malaysian long-tailed monkey, Macaca irus. Trans. roy. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg. 67, 615 (1973)
Rzepczyk, C. M.: Evidence of a rat-snake life cycle for Sarcocystis. Int. J. Parasit. 4, 447–449 (1974)
Scholtyseck, E., Mehlhorn, H., Hammond, D. M.: Electron microscope studies of microgametogenesis in coccidia and related groups. Z. Parasitenk. 38, 95–131 (1972)
Scholtyseck, E., Mehlhorn, H., Müller, E. G. B.: Identifikation von Merozoiten der vier cystenbildenden Coccidien (Sarcocystis, Toxoplama, Besnoitia, Frenkelia) auf Grund feinstruktureller Kriterien. Z. Parasitenk. 42, 185–206 (1973)
Scholtyseck, E., Mehlhorn, H., Hammond, D. M., Müller, E. G. B., Rammel, A., Heller, G.: Licht- und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen zur Bildung der Oocystenhülle bei Eimerien (Eimeria perjorans, E. stiedae und E. tenella). Z. Parasitenk. 31, 289–298 (1969)
Shaw, J. J., Lainson, R.: Sarcocystis of rodents and marsupials in Brazil. Parasitology 59, 233–244 (1969)
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)
Vetterling, J. M., Pacheco, N. D., Fayer, R.: Fine structure of gametogony and oocyst formation in Sarcocystis sp. in cell culture. J. Protozool. 20, 613–621 (1973)
Zaman, V.: Sarcocystis sp. in the slow loris, Nycticebus coucang. Trans. roy. Soc. trop. Med. Hyg. 64, 195–196 (1970)
Zaman, V., Colley, F.: Fine structure of Sarcocystis fusiformis from the Indian water buffalo (Bubalas bubalas) in Singapore. Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Pub. Hlth. 3, 489–495 (1972)
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
Additional information
Supported in part by the University of California International Center for Medical Research (UC ICMR, Hooper Foundation, University of California, San Francisco 94143) with research grant AI 10051 to the Department of International Health, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Public Health Service.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zaman, V., Colley, F.C. Light and electron microscopic observations of the life cycle of Sarcocystis orientalis sp. n. in the rat (Rattus norvegicus) and the Malaysian reticulated python (Python reticulatus). Z. F. Parasitenkunde 47, 169–185 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00418200
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00418200