Abstract.
The prevalence of Sarcocystis infection among skinks, Scincus mitranus, was studied for the first time. Grossly macroscopic sarcocysts were found to infect the skeletal muscles of the skink (infection rate: 4.16%). Fecal examination for the presence of sporocysts was negative in this study. Sarcocysts were studied using light and transmission electron microscopes. Mature sarcocysts measuring 0.05–0.3×0.5–1.8 mm (mean 0.15×1.2 mm) were observed. The characteristic primary cyst wall, with long, finger-like, non-branched and non-stalked protrusions, is described. The ground substance gives rise to numerous thick septa dividing the interior of the cyst into chamber-like compartments. Zoites, including metrocytes and merozoites, were found to have the main architecture of Apicomplexa. Peculiarities of these elements and the importance of the primary cyst-wall ultrastructure for identification and specification of Sarcocystis are discussed. Secondary cyst wall was completely absent. Alterations in the infected host cell were observed.
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Abdel-Ghaffar, F., Al-Johany, A. A light and electron microscope study of Sarcocystis mitrani (sp. nov.) infecting the skink Scincus mitranus in the central region of Saudi Arabia. Parasitol Res 88, 102–106 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004360100506
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004360100506