Abstract
Two distinct types of cysts ofSarcocystis from the musculature of moose (Alces alces) were compared by electron microscopy. The fusiform Type A cysts differed from the spherical Type B cysts in the appearance and thickness of the primary cyst wall, organization of cyst interior, and the presence of a secondary cyst wall around Type B. The respective merozoites also differed in size as well as in the number of rhoptries and diameter and arrangement of micronemes. Comparison of the ultrastructure of the moose sarcocysts with those described from other ungulates revealed substantial differences. It appears that two hitherto undescribed species ofSarcocystis are present in moose although cross-transmission and additional life cycle studies are necessary for a complete description.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fayer R, Johnson AJ, Hildebrandt PK (1976) Oral infection of mammals withSarcocystis fusiformis bradyzoites from cattle and sporocysts from dogs and coyotes. J Parasitol 62:10–14
Heydorn AO, Mehlhorn H, Gestrich R (1975) Licht- und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an Cysten vonSarcocystis fusiformis in der Muskulatur von Kalbern nach experimenteller Infektion mit Oocysten und Sporocysten der großen Form vonIsospora bigemina des Hundes. 2. Die Feinstruktur der Cystenstadien. Zbl Bakt Hyg, I Abt Orig A 233:123–137
Hudkins G, Kistner TP (1977)Sarcocystis hemionilatrantis (sp.n.) life cycle in mule deer and coyotes. J Wildl Dis 13:80–84
Kan SP, Dissanaike AS (1978) Studies inSarcocystis in Malaysia. II. Comparative ultrastructure of the cyst wall and zoites ofSarcocystis levinei andSarcocystis fusiformis from the water buffalo,Bubalus bubalis. Z Parasitenkd 57:107–116
Mahrt JL, Colwell DD (1980)Sarcocystis in wild ungulates in Alberta. J Wildl Dis 16:571–576
Mehlhorn H, Scholtyseck E (1973) Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an Cystenstadien vonSarcocystis tenella aus der Oesophagus-Muskulatur des Schafes. Z Parasitenkd 41:291–310
Mehlhorn H, Heydorn AO, Gestrich R (1975a) Licht- und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an Cysten vonSarcocystis fusiformis in der Muskulatur von Kälbern nach experimenteller Infektion mit Oocysten und Sporocysten vonI. hominis Railliet et Lucet, 1891. I. Zur Entstehung der Cyste und der Cystenwand. Zbl Bakt Hyg I Abt Orig A 231:301–322
Mehlhorn H, Heydorn AO, Gestrich R (1975b) Licht- und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an Cysten vonSarcocystis fusiformis in der Muskulatur von Kälbern nach experimenteller Infektion mit Oocysten und Sporocysten der großen Form vonI. bigemina des Hundes. I. Zur Entstehung derCyste und der Cystenwand. Zbl Bakt Hyg I Abt Orig A 232:392–409
Mehlhorn H, Heydorn AO, Gestrich R (1975c) Licht- und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an Cysten vonSarcocystis ovicanis Heydorn et al. (1975) in der Muskulatur von Schafen. Z Parasitenkd 48:83–93
Mehlhorn H, Hartley WT, Heydorn AO (1976) Comparative electron microscopical study on the cyst wall in thirteenSarcocystis species. Protistologica 12:451–467
Speer CA, Pond DB, Ernst JV (1980) Development ofSarcocystis hemionilatrantis Hudkins and Kistner, 1977 in the small intestine of coyotes. Proc Helminthol Soc Wash 47:106–113
Spurr AR (1969) Low viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. J Ultrastruct Res 26:31–43
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Colwell, D.D., Mahrt, J.L. Ultrastructure of the cyst wall and merozoites ofSarcocystis from moose (Alces alces) in Alberta, Canada. Z. Parasitenkd. 65, 317–329 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00926727
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00926727