Transmission experiments were performed to elucidate the life cycle of Sarcocystis zuoi found in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) in China. Two king rat snakes (Elaphe carinata) fed sarcocysts from the muscles of 4 naturally infected Norway rats shed sporocysts measuring 10.8 ± 0.7 × 8.0 ± 0.7 µm, with a prepatent period of 8–9 days. Sporocysts from the intestine of 2 experimentally infected king rat snakes were given to the laboratory Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats (R. norvegicus) and Kunming (KM) mice (Mus musculus). Microscopic sarcocysts developed in the skeletal muscles of SD rats. No sarcocysts were observed in KM mice. Characters of ultrastructure and molecule of sarcocysts from SD rats were confirmed as S. zuoi. Our results indicate that king rat snake is the definitive host of S. zuoi.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 June 2012
Completion of the Life Cycle of Sarcocystis zuoi, A Parasite from the Norway Rat, Rattus norvegicus
Jun-Jie Hu,
Yu Meng,
Yan-Mei Guo,
Jie-Ying Liao,
Jing-Ling Song
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
Journal of Parasitology
Vol. 98 • No. 3
June 2012
Vol. 98 • No. 3
June 2012