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Sarcocystis Infection in Sheep from South-Western Norway

Undersøkelser uedrørende naturlig forekommende Sarcocystis-infeksjon hos sau i Sørvest-Norge

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 23, pages 221–234 (1982)Cite this article

Abstract

The occurrence of Sarcocystis infection and pathological changes were recorded in samples of the heart, diaphragm, and oesophagus from 198 healthy sheep representing 3 different age groups, obtained from an abattoir.

The infection rate of S. gigantea (syn. S. tenella) was 18.2 %, and the distribution within groups was: ewes 30.0 %, yearlings 11.6 %, lambs nil. The infection rate of S. tenella (syn. S. ovicanis) was 65.1 %, and the corresponding distribution was: ewes 83.5 %, yearlings 74.4 %, and lambs 25.0 %. A third type of Sarcocystis sp. displaying thick wall was found in 3 samples.

Focal interstitial infiltrates of mononuclear cells were demonstrated in 47.9 % of the hearts, in 19.6 % of the diaphragms and in 31.3 % of the oesophagi. The occurrence of Sarcocystis and the focal interstitial mononuclear cell infiltrates were positively correlated (P < 0.0001). Morphologically identical sporocysts typical of S. tenella were produced by dogs and foxes fed naturally infected sheep tissues. A cat fed S. gigantea macrocysts produced sporocysts characteristic for the species.

Sarcocystis; pathology; life cycle; final hosts; sheep.

Sammendrag

I alt 198 tilsynelatende normale sauesl-ak-t ble undersøkt med henblikk på forekomst av Sarcocystis-infeksjon og patologiske forandringer i prøver fra hjerte, mellomgolv og spiserør.

Forekomsten av S. gigantea var 18,2 % med følgende gruppefordelinig: søyer 30,0 %, årsgamle 11,6 %, lam 0. Forekomsten av S. tenella var 65,1 % med tilsvarende gruppefordeling: søyer 83,5 %, årsgamle 74,4 % og lam 25,0 %.

En tredje Sarcocystis type med tykk vegg ble påvist i mellomgolv hos 3 dyr.

Fokale mononukleaere interstitielle infiltrater ble påvist i myocard hos 37,9 %, i mellomgolv hos 19,6 % og i spiserør hos 31,3 %. Forekomsten av Sarcocystis-infeksjon og interstitielle infiltrater var positivt korrelert (P < 0,6601).

Hund og rev som ble fôret med naturlig Infisert muskulatur fra sau og en katt som ble gitt fridissekerte S. gigantea cyster, utskilte sporocyster typiske for henholdsvis S. tenella og S. gigantea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Veterinary Institute, and Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Parasitology, Veterinary College of Norway, P.O. Box 8156, Dep., Oslo 1, Oslo, Norway

    Bjørn Bratberg, Oddvar Helle & Mosaad Hilali

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  1. Bjørn Bratberg
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  2. Oddvar Helle
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  3. Mosaad Hilali
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Bratberg, B., Helle, O. & Hilali, M. Sarcocystis Infection in Sheep from South-Western Norway. Acta Vet Scand 23, 221–234 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03546808

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147