A taxonomic re-appraisal of Sarcocystis nesbitti (Protozoa: Sarcocystidae) from the monkey Macaca fascicularis in Yunnan, PR China.
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.
Yang
Zhao-Qing
ZQ
Parasitology Department, Kunming Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China.
Wei
Chang-Gue
CG
Zen
Jia-Shun
JS
Song
Jing-Ling
JL
Zuo
Yang-Xian
YX
He
Yong-Shu
YS
Zhang
Hong-Fei
HF
Attwood
S W
SW
Chen
Xin-Wen
XW
Yang
Gong-Chao
GC
Zhou
Xiang
X
Quan
Xin
X
Li
Cui-Ying
CY
Han
Dan
D
Liu
Ai-Wu
AW
Lin
Ping
P
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*