Sarcocystis Hardangeri and Sarcocystis Rangi N. Sp. From The Domestic Reindeer (Rangifer Tarandus) in Northern Norway

Abstract

Fresh preparations of microisolated sarcocysts from striated muscle of several domestic reindeer from northern Norway were examined by light microscopy. In cardiac muscle, cysts of S. grueneri were found. In skeletal muscle, cysts of S. rangiferi, S. tarandi and S. tarandivulpes were found in all samples examined. In the abdominal muscles of some reindeer, one or two other types of cysts were found.

Cysts of one type were macroscopic in size, and ovoid to cylindrical in shape. The cysts were surrounded by a 8–12 µm thick layer of fibrous material, and measured 1682×910 µm. The cysts had relatively few and irregularly distributed, 20–35 µm long, and 3–5 µm wide, linguiform cyst wall protrusions, which could only be seen after removal of the fibrous layer. These cysts were classified as cysts of S. hardangeri, a species previously described from wild reindeer in southern Norway.

Cysts of the other type were long and slender, measuring 5460–12700 (8994 ± 2575) × 95–280 (180 ± 50) µm. The cysts had numerous very fine, flexible, hair-like cyst wall protrusions, which were 8–10 [xm long and less than 0.5 µm thick. These cysts are considered to belong to a new Sarcocystis species of reindeer, for which the name Sarcocystis rangi n, sp. is proposed. The reindeer is recorded as the intermediate host for 6 different species of Sarcocystis.

Sammendrag

Fersk hjerte- og bukmuskulatur av tamrein frå Finnmark vart undersøkt makroskopisk og under eit stereomikroskop for sarcocyster. Hos alle dyra fann ein cyster av S. grueneri i hjertemuskulaturen, og cyster av S. rangiferi, S. tarandi og S. tarandivulpes i bukmuskulaturen. Hos nokre av dyra fann ein i tillegg cyster av 1 eller 2 andre arter i bukmuskulaturen.

Den eine arta hadde makroskopiske, eggforma cyster omgjevne av eit fibrillært lag. Cystene målte 1682×910 µm, og cysteveggen hadde relativt få, tungeliknande protrusjonar som lag på skrå langs cysteoverflata. Desse cystene vart klassifiserte som cyster av S. hardangeri, ei art som tidlegare berre har vorte rapportert frä villrein frå Hardangervidda.

Den andre arta hadde lange og granne cyster som målte 8994 (5460 –12700) × 180 (95–280) µm. Cystene hadde talrike, 8–10 µm lange og mindre enn 0.5 µm tjukke, hårliknande protrusjonar. Dei tunne, bøyelege protrusjonane låg til dels langs cysteoverflata. Desse cystene vert rekna for a tilhøyra ei ny Sarcocystis art hos rein, som ein har gitt namnet Sarcocystis rangi. Rein kan såleis vera mellomvert for 6 ulike Sarcocystis-arter.