Lesions in sheep inoculated with Sarcocystis tenella sporocysts from canine feces

Abstract

Sarcocystosis was studied in 37 sheep after oral inoculation with 10 4−5×10 7 sporocysts of Sarcocystis tenella from canine feces. Two sheep inoculated with 2.5×10 7 and 5×10 7 sporocysts became moribund 16 and 19 days post-inoculation (DPI), respectively, due to occlusion of arteries of gut and mesentery by first generation meronts. Sheep inoculated with 10 7 sporocysts remained clinically normal until 21 DPI and those inoculated with 10 5−10 6 became ill 24–28 DPI due to anemia coincident with maturation of second generation meronts. Inflammation, hepatitis and myocarditis were the main lesions of acute and subacute ovine sarcocystosis. Inflammation began to subside by the time (75 DPI) sarcocysts matured. Sarcocystis-induced encephalitis was distinguished from naturally occurring myelomalacia in sheep caused by an unidentified sporozoan.