title: Viability of the sporocysts of Sarcocystis cruzi after exposure to different temperatures and relative humidities.
abstract: The effect of temperature and relative humidity (RH) on the survival of sporocysts of S. cruzi were investigated in vitro. Under all experimental conditions (temperature of 4 degrees C, 37 degrees C, or room temperature; RH of 18%, 75%, or 100%) some sporozoites retained their viability to excyst for at least 90 days. The best conditions for survival were 4 degrees C at 100% RH (more than 240 days) and 37 degrees C at 18% RH (more than 180 days). Sporocysts maintained at room temperature at all humidities had the lowest level of survival. It is concluded that sporocysts of S. cruzi are able to survive in most environments for several months and that the fluctuation of the daily ambient temperature is likely to influence the viability of the sporocysts.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell' Abruzzo e Molise, Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Savini
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Dunsmore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006813:Humidity; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000502:physiology*; D013170:Spores; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors