Sarcocystis greineri n. sp. (Protozoa: Sarcocystidae) in the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana).
Sarcocysts were found in the skeletal muscles of road-killed and live-trapped opossums collected in north central Florida. Sarcocysts were spindle-shaped and macroscopic and had an average measurement of 3.8 mm by 154.6 microm. Sarcocysts were only observed in skeletal muscle. Sarcocysts have invaginations throughout the sarcocyst wall, which is approximately 1 microm thick. Protrusions on the sarcocyst wall are stumpy and digitlike and contain fibrillar elements that extend from the interior portion of the cyst wall through the villi. A new name, Sarcocystis greineri, is proposed for this species.
Cheadle
M A
MA
Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610-0880, USA. cheadlea@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D005431:Florida; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D017348:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000469:parasitology; D009893:Opossums / Q000469:parasitology*; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000145:classification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary