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1 October 1997 SARCOSPORIDIASIS IN RODENTS FROM THAILAND
Thomas Jäkel, Yuvaluk Khoprasert, Ingeborg Sorger, Damaris Kliemt, Viyada Seehabutr, Kornkaew Suasa-ard, Sermsakdi Hongnark
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Abstract

One to six Sarcocystis spp. were identified in the skeletal muscles of 41 (33%) of 124 wild rodents (Rattus spp. and Bandicota indica) mainly captured in the central plains of Thailand throughout the year in 1995. Included were S. singaporensis, S. villivillosi, and S. murinotechis-like cysts all of which showed a striated cyst wall at the light microscopical level, and Sarcocystis cymruensis, S. sulawesiensis, and S. zamani which possessed smooth cyst walls. The ultrastructure of the cyst wall and other morphological characteristics used to distinguish species are described. By inoculation of muscle cysts from wild-caught rodents into coccidia-free pythons (Python reticulatus, P. molurus bivittatus), we confirmed that P. reticulatus is a suitable definitive host for S. singaporensis and S. zamani in Thailand. Furthermore, we showed by fecal examination of reticulated pythons collected in the wild and subsequent experimental infection of laboratory rats that these hosts also are naturally infected with both species. Sarcocystis cymruensis is reported for the first time from Southeast Asia. This parasite was prevalent in brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) and bandicoot rats (B. indica) which were captured near human habitations; it is likely to be transmitted to rats via cats. The definitive hosts of S. sulawesiensis and S. murinotechis are unknown. Hence, at least three Sarcocystis spp. (S. singaporensis, S. zamani, S. villivillosi) are likely to cycle between snakes and rodents in agricultural areas in Thailand. Among these, S. singaporensis appears to be the most prevalent species.

Jäkel, Khoprasert, Sorger, Kliemt, Seehabutr, Suasa-ard, and Hongnark: SARCOSPORIDIASIS IN RODENTS FROM THAILAND
Thomas Jäkel, Yuvaluk Khoprasert, Ingeborg Sorger, Damaris Kliemt, Viyada Seehabutr, Kornkaew Suasa-ard, and Sermsakdi Hongnark "SARCOSPORIDIASIS IN RODENTS FROM THAILAND," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 33(4), 860-867, (1 October 1997). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-33.4.860
Received: 16 January 1997; Published: 1 October 1997
KEYWORDS
Bandicota indica
experimental transmission
prevalence
Rattus spp.
rodents
sarcocyst ultrastructure
Sarcocystis spp.
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