Sarcocystis stenodactylicolubris n. sp., a new sarcosporidian coccidium with a snake-gecko heteroxenous life cycle.
Oocysts/sporocysts of Sarcocystis sp. measuring 9.7 (9-10) x 7.6 (7-8) microns were found in the intestinal contents of the Dahl's whip snake Coluber najadum. Of wide spectrum of experimentally inoculated hosts, only species of the family Gekkonidae--Ptyodactylus guttatus and Stenodactylus grandiceps--were found to be susceptible intermediate hosts. Transparent, barely visible sarcocysts found in tail, limbs and tongue striated muscles of the geckoes were 175-200 microns x 35-50 microns in size at 78 DPI. Ultrastructurally, the primary cyst wall was characteristic by spine-like villar protrusions up to 800 nm long, 200-250 nm in diameter at their base, tapering to thinner apex. Protrusions appear typically lobular or irregular in the cross-sections. Back-transmission from P. guttatus to Coluber rogersi leaded to oocysts/sporocysts excretion since 38 days post infection. Based on sarcocyst morphology and experimental data, Sarcocystis stenodactylicolubris is apparently a new species. Based on obtained and already published results, Sarcosporidia parasitising colubrid snakes as definitive hosts are suggested to be family specific on the level of their intermediate host.
Modrý
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Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic. modryd@vfu.cz
Koudela
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Slapeta
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JR
D000818:Animals; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008116:Lizards / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000662:veterinary; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000254:growth & development*; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012911:Snakes / Q000469:parasitology*