title: Sarcocystis cruzi infection in wood bison (Bison bison athabascae).
abstract: Endangered wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) is the largest terrestrial mammal in the American continent. Animal health is an important issue in their conservation, and Sarcocystis cruzi may be a cause of clinical disease in Bovidae. Hearts of eight wood bison from Alaska, USA were examined for sarcocysts by histology, transmission electron microscopy, pepsin digestion, and molecularly. Sarcocystis bradyzoites were found in pepsin digests of all eight and sarcocysts were found in histologic sections of myocardium of four bison. Sarcocysts were thin-walled and ultrastructurally consistent with S. cruzi. Characterization of DNA obtained from lysis of pepsin liberated bradyzoites by PCR-RFLP and subsequent phylogenetic analyses matched with that previously reported for S. cruzi infecting cattle in the USA. Collectively, data indicate that wood bison is a natural intermediate host for S. cruzi.
authors: Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville 20705-2350, MD, USA.
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Calero-Bernal
authors: Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville 20705-2350, MD, USA.
authors: Shiv K
authors: SK
authors: Verma
authors: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fairbanks, AK 99701, USA.
authors: C Tom
authors: CT
authors: Seaton
authors: United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, 9001 East Frontage Road, Suite A, Palmer 99645, AK, USA.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Sinnett
authors: Veterinary Pathology Services, Joint Pathology Center, 606 Stephen Sitter Avenue, Silver Spring 20910, MD, USA.
authors: Erin
authors: E
authors: Ball
authors: Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville 20705-2350, MD, USA.
authors: Detiger
authors: D
authors: Dunams
authors: Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville 20705-2350, MD, USA.
authors: Benjamin M
authors: BM
authors: Rosenthal
authors: Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville 20705-2350, MD, USA. Electronic address: jitender.dubey@ars.usda.gov.
authors: Jitender P
authors: JP
authors: Dubey
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D016164:Bison; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Bison bison athabascae; Conservation; PCR-RFLP; Protozoa; Sarcocystis cruzi; Wood bison