Redescription, deposition of life-cycle stage specimens of<i>Sarcocystis bovifelis</i>Heydorn, Gestrich, Mehlhorn and Rommel, 1975, and amendment to<i>Sarcocystis hirsuta</i>Moulé, 1888
J. P. Dubey
Abstract
Abstract There is considerable debate concerning the life cycles and taxonomy of Sarcocystis species in cattle. Of the 8 species of Sarcocystis named from cattle, 2 ( Sarcocystis cruzi and Sarcocystis heydorni ) are morphologically distinctive because their sarcocysts are microscopic and the sarcocyst wall is thin (<0.5 μ m thick). The sarcocysts of the remaining species ( Sarcocystis hirsuta , Sarcocystis hominis , Sarcocystis bovini , Sarcocystis bovifelis , Sarcocystis sinensis , Sarcocystis rommeli ) have thick (5–8 μ m) walls indistinguishable by light microscopy, alone. To provide needed clarity, I herein review the history, nomenclature and life cycle of S. bovifelis (originally named by Heydorn and associates from Germany), redescribe it and deposit specimens of its various life-cycle stages at a museum for future reference. I also provide means to distinguish this parasite from S. hirsuta . Cats are the definitive hosts for both S. bovifelis and S. hirsuta . The sarcocysts of S. bovifelis are microscopic, its sarcocyst wall is type 10g, it has 2 schizogonic stages in blood vessels and sarcocysts are formed between 25 and 30 days post-inoculation in striated muscles, but not in the heart. Sporulated oocysts are 17.1 × 12.7 μ m and sporocysts are 12.8 × 8.4 μ m. The sarcocysts of Sarcocystis hirsuta are macroscopic, up to 7 mm long, its wall is type 18. Nothing is known of the development of S. hirsuta in cattle tissues and in cat intestine. Size of its oocysts and sporocysts is uncertain.