title: Ultrastructure of a Sarcocystis sp. infecting skinks of the genus Agama.
abstract: Macroscopically visible sarcocysts were observed in the skeletal muscles of naturally infected skinks of the genus Agama (infection rate 11.3%). Sarcocysts were described by means of transmission electron microscopy. These cysts measured 0.03-0.25 x 0.38-1.7 mm (mean 0.12 x 1.1 mm). Typical mature cysts were bordered by a primary cyst wall that measured 2.4-5.3 microm (mean 3.9 microm) and was folded into a few nonbranched finger-like protrusions measuring 0.7-1.5 x 1.0-2.5 microm (mean 1.2 x 1.5 microm). These protrusions contained granular elements, but filaments and tubular elements were not observed. A relatively thick, homogeneous tape was observed just underneath the primary cyst wall, measuring 0.5-1.0 microm (mean 0.8 microm) and containing a granulated ground substance in which filaments and tubular elements were not observed. Metrocytes measured 3.1-5.5 x 4.2-7.2 microm (mean 4.0 x 5.8 microm) and merozoites measured 1.2-3.3 x 4.4-8.6microm (mean 2.6 x 7.5 microm). The fine ultrastructural characteristics of both metrocytes and merozoites were similar to those described for many Sarcocystis species and were generally nonspecific.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Beni-Suef, Egypt.
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Sakran
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008116:Lizards / Q000469:parasitology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000473:pathology