Sarcocystis
Sarcocystis
Taxonomy
- Kingdom Protozoa
- Phylum Apicomplexa
- Class Conoidasida
- Order Eucoccidiorida
- Family Sarcocystidae
Final host
Carnivorous animals (mammals, human included, and birds of prey)
Morphology
Elongate sarcocysts are found in striated and heart muscles and may be either microscopic or visible to the nacked eye, according to species, and contain bradyzoites when mature Specific identification is based on the morphometry of the sarcocysts´s wall. Oocysts sporulate within the host and contain two sporocysts, each with four sporozoites Usually free sporocysts are passed in the faeces.
Cycle
Indirect Intermediate hosts: mammal, birds, reptiles, fish
Location
Enteric cycle (final host) in enterocytes Extra-enteric cycle (intermediate host) in endotelial and muscle cells
Feeding
Holozoic (micropores)
Diagnostic
Sporocyst
Transmission
Sporocyst (Intermediate host) Muscle cyst containing bradyzoites (final host)
