title: Prevalence of Sarcocystis sarcocysts in nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) from Florida.
abstract: The prevalence and identity of Sarcocystis spp. sarcocysts in the skeletal muscles of nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) collected from Alachua County, FL, were determined. H & E stained sections of skeletal muscle from tongue and thigh were examined. Thirty nine of 63 (61.9%) armadillos examined contained Sarcocystis sarcocysts. Two species were identified, Sarcocystis dasypi and Sarcocystis diminuta. Sarcocystis dasypi sarcocysts were found in 38 of 63 (60.3%) and S. diminuta sarcocysts were found in 6 of 63 (9.5%). Sarcocysts of S. dasypi were larger, more densely packed with bradyzoites, and bradyzoites contained within the sarcocyst were smaller than those of S. diminuta. Mixed infections occurred in 5 of 63 (7.9%) armadillos examined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110880, Gainesville, FL 32611-0880, USA.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: DeLucia
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cheadle
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Greiner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001135:Armadillos / Q000469:parasitology*; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000469:parasitology; D015995:Prevalence; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*