Experimental Sarcocystis hominis infection in a water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).
A water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) was fed 5.0 x 10(5) Sarcocystis hominis sporocysts from a human volunteer who had ingested S. hominis cysts from naturally infected cattle. A necropsy was performed on the buffalo 119 days after inoculation, and a large number of microscopic sarcocysts (approximately 5,000/g) were found in skeletal muscles. Ultrastructurally, the sarcocyst wall from buffalo muscles has upright villar protrusions measuring about 5.6 x 0.8 microm with numerous microtubules that run from the base to the apex. Sarcocysts from this buffalo were infective to 2 human volunteers, confirming their identity as S. hominis. Therefore, we believe that buffaloes can act experimentally as the intermediate host for S. hominis.
Chen
X W
XW
Department of Biology, Yunnan University, Kunming City 650091, People's Republic of China. ydfzbjm@public.km.yn.cn
Zuo
Y X
YX
Hu
J J
JJ
D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000469:parasitology*; D002417:Cattle; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000469:parasitology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000469:parasitology*; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*