title: A taxonomic re-appraisal of Sarcocystis nesbitti (Protozoa: Sarcocystidae) from the monkey Macaca fascicularis in Yunnan, PR China.
abstract: The first detection of Sarcocystis nesbitti Mandour, 1969 in the Chinese mainland is reported and the morphology of the sarcocyst is described in detail. The parasite was detected in the monkey, Macaca fascicularis, maintained on a monkey farm in Yunnan Province; the infection may have occurred via faecal contamination from local rats, mice and/or birds. S. nesbitti was characterized as follows: a macroscopic sarcocyst, length of the cyst up to 2 mm; cyst wall smooth, thin and no perpendicular protrusion is seen under the light microscope; border of cyst wall wavy, primary cyst wall thin (38-65 nm) and invaginated; ground substance about 0.5-0.76 microm thick with electron-dense granules and concentric spherical bodies. The cyst wall is described as type 1 by electron microscopy. It is suspected that S. nesbitti may utilize Macaca mulatta, M. fascicularis, Cercocebus atys, and Papio papionis, as well as human as intermediate hosts. The taxonomy of S. nesbitti is re-appraised in the light of a consideration of possible experimental artefacts and examination of the past literature. Evidence is presented that S. nesbitti may be one of the species infecting humans in South Asia and that the monkey may be a potential reservoir host.
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Department, Kunming Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Qing
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chang-Gue
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Jia-Shun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Zen
authors.forename: Jing-Ling
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yang-Xian
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Yong-Shu
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Hong-Fei
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Attwood
authors.forename: Xin-Wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Gong-Chao
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Cui-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Ai-Wu
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000469:parasitology*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*