title: A light and electron microscope study of Sarcocystis mitrani (sp. nov.) infecting the skink Scincus mitranus in the central region of Saudi Arabia.
abstract: The prevalence of Sarcocystis infection among skinks, Scincus mitranus, was studied for the first time. Grossly macroscopic sarcocysts were found to infect the skeletal muscles of the skink (infection rate: 4.16%). Fecal examination for the presence of sporocysts was negative in this study. Sarcocysts were studied using light and transmission electron microscopes. Mature sarcocysts measuring 0.05-0.3 x 0.5-1.8 mm (mean 0.1 5x 1.2 mm) were observed. The characteristic primary cyst wall, with long, finger-like, non-branched and non-stalked protrusions, is described. The ground substance gives rise to numerous thick septa dividing the interior of the cyst into chamber-like compartments. Zoites, including metrocytes and merozoites, were found to have the main architecture of Apicomplexa. Peculiarities of these elements and the importance of the primary cyst-wall ultrastructure for identification and specification of Sarcocystis are discussed. Secondary cyst wall was completely absent. Alterations in the infected host cell were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abdel-Ghaffar
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al-Johany
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008116:Lizards / Q000469:parasitology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000469:parasitology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology