Sarcocystis host–parasite relations

Sarcocystis is a genus of parasitic Apicomplexan alveolates. Species in this genus infect reptiles, birds and mammals. The name is derived from Greek: sarkos = flesh and kystis = bladder.

There are about 130 recognised species in this genus. Revision of the taxonomy of this genus is ongoing and it is possible that all the currently recognised species may in fact be a single species or much smaller number of species that can infect multiple hosts.

The parasite's life cycle typically involves a predator and a prey animal. A single species may infect multiple prey or predator animals. In at least 56 species definitive and intermediate hosts are known. Many species are named after their recognised hosts

Further material on this genus can be found on the Sarcocystis page.

Mammalian species infected

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Order Lagomorpha

Order Primates

Genus Macaca

Order Rodentia

Family Cricetidae

Family Erinaceidae

Family Muridae

Genus Bunomys

Genus Maxomys

Genus Rattus

Family Sciuridae

Genus Spermophilus

Order Artiodactyla

Suborder Ruminantia

Family Antilocapridae

Family Bovidae

Genus Bison

Genus Bos

Genus Capra

Genus Ovis

Family Cervidae

Genus Cervus

Genus Dama

Family Giraffidae

Suborder Suina

Suborder Tylopoda

Genus Camelus

Genus Lama

Genus Vicugna

Order Carnivora

Suborder Caniformia

Family Canidae

Genus Nyctereutes

Genus Vulpes

Tribe Canini

Genus Canis

Genus Lycaon

Superfamily Pinnipedia

Family Phocidae

Family Otariidae

Family Mustelidae

Genus Mustela

Family Procyonidae

Family Ursidae

Genus Ursus

Suborder Feloidea

Genus Felis

Genus Panthera

Order Cetacea

Order Perissodactyla

Genus Equus

Superorder Xenarthra

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Genus Didelphis

Bird species infected

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This genus infects at least 11 orders, 22 families, 38 genera and 46 species.

Order Anseriformes

Family Anatidae

Genus Anas

Order Ciconiiformes

Family Ardeidae

Family Threskiornithidae

Order Charadriiformes

Family Scolopacidae

Order Coliiformes

Family Coliidae

Order Columbiformes

Family Columbidae

Order Falconiformes

Family Accipitridae

Family Falconidae

Order Galliformes

Family Phasianidae

Family Tetraonidae

Order Passeriformes

Family Fringillidae

Family Icteridae

Family Paridae

Family Turdidae

Order Pelecaniformes

Family Sulidae

Order Phoenicopteriformes

Family Phoenicopteridae

Order Psittaciformes

Family Psittacidae

Order Strigiformes

Family Strigidae

Genus Strix

Family Tytonidae

Genus Tyto

Reptile species infected

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Family Colubridae

Family Elapidae

Family Pythonidae

Family Viperidae

Family Chamaeleonidae

Family Gekkonidae

Family Lacertidae

Family Scincidae

Family Teiidae

Species infecting mammals

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Species infecting birds

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Species infecting reptiles

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Species infected but parasite not yet identified

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A number of species have been identified as being infected with Sarcocytis but the parasite itself has not been identified to species level. These host species include:

  • Mammals

pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), yak (Bos grunniens), northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus), camel (Camelus dromedarius), alpine ibex (Capra ibex), hard ground swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli branderi), red deer (Cervus elaphus), Hoffmann's two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni), beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), sea otter (Enhydra lutris), bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), donkey (Equus asinus), cougars (Felis concolor coryi, Felis concolor stanleyana), bobcat (Felis rufus floridanus), Atlantic white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus acutus), guanaco (Lama guanicoe), alpaca (Vicugna pacos), otter (Lutra lutra), wild dog (Lycaon pictus), Bartels's spiny rat (Maxomys bartelsii), Musschenbroek's spiny rat (Maxomys musschenbroekii), prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), common European weasel (Mustela nivalis), mink (Mustela vison), muskrat (Ondatra zibethica), mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus), Grant's gazelle (Nanger granti), slow loris (Nycticebus coucang), African lions (Panthera leo), leopard (Panthera pardus), tiger (Panthera tigris), baboon (Papio cynocephalus), Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans), bush rat (Rattus fuscipes), yellow-tailed rat (Rattus xanthurus), tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus), African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus), polar bear (Ursus maritimus), sea lion (Zalophus californianus) and hainag (also known as dzo or khainag)

  • Birds

goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), green backed heron (Butorides striatus), great egret (Casmerodius albus), little blue heron (Egretta caerulea), American white ibis (Eudocimus albus), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), northern gannet (Morus bassanus), yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea), common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), thick-billed parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha), northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), capercaillies (Tetrao urogallus), masked owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) and mourning doves (Zenaida macroura)

  • Reptiles

southern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix), rhinoceros horned viper (Bitis nasicornis), carpet python (Morelia spilotes) and desert viper (Pseudocerastes persicus)

Hosts infected where parasite species is known

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Species infecting animals important to man

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Species infecting cats

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Sarcocystis bovifelis
Sarcocystis cymruensis
Sarcocystis felis
Sarcocystis fusiformis
Sarcocystis gigantea
Sarcocystis hirsuta
Sarcocystis leporum
Sarcocystis medusiformis
Sarcocystis moulei
Sarcocystis muris
Sarcocystis ovifelis
Sarcocystis tenella

Species infecting dogs

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Sarcocystis asinus
Sarcocystis bertrami
Sarcocystis bigemina
Sarcocystis bovicanis
Sarcocystis cameli
Sarcocystis capracanis
Sarcocystis cruzi
Sarcocystis equicanis
Sarcocystis fayeri
Sarcocystis gracilis
Sarcocystis hemionilatrantis
Sarcocystis hericanis
Sarcocystis horvathi
Sarcocystis levinei
Sarcocystis medusiformis
Sarcocystis meischeriana
Sarcocystis mihoensis
Sarcocystis ovicanis
Sarcocystis rileyi
Sarcocystis suicanis
Sarcocystis tenella

Species infecting sheep

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Sarcocystis arieticanis
Sarcocystis tenella (Sarcocystis ovicanis)
Sarcocystis gigantea (Sarcocystis ovifelis)
Sarcocystis medusiformis

Species infecting horses

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Sarcocystis asinus
Sarcocystis bertrami
Sarcocystis equicanis
Sarcocystis fayeri
Sarcocystis neurona (Sarcocystis falcatula)

Species infecting pigs

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Sarcocystis medusiformis
Sarcocystis meischeriana (Sarcocystis suicanis)
Sarcocystis porcifelis
Sarcocystis suihominis

Species infecting cattle

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Sarcocystis bovifelis
Sarcocystis bovihominis (Sarcocystis hominis)
Sarcocystis cruzi (Sarcocystis bovicanis)
Sarcocystis hirsuta

Species infecting water buffalo

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Sarcocystis buffalonis
Sarcocystis dubeyi
Sarcocystis fusiformis
Sarcocystis levinei

Species infecting goats

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Sarcocystis capracanis
Sarcocystis hericanis
Sarcocystis moulei
Sarcocystis orientalis

Species infecting chickens

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Sarcocystis horvathi

Species infecting reindeer

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Sarcocystis hardangeri
Sarcocystis rangi
Sarcocystis rangiferi

Species infecting llamoids

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Sarcocystis aucheniae
Sarcocystis tilopodi

References

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