Sarcocystis hardangeri and Sarcocystis rangi n. sp. from the domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in northern Norway
Gjerde, B.
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 25(3): 411-418
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-605X PMID: 6441475 Document Number: 241849
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. gruneri were found. In skeletal msucle, cysts of S. rangiferi, S. tarandi and S. tarandivulpes were found in all samples examined. In the abdomnal mucles of some reindeer, 1 or 2 other types of cysts were found. Cysts of 1 type were macroscopic in size, and ovoid to cylindrical in shape. The cysts were surrounded by a 8-12 .mu.m thick layer of fibrous material, and measured 1682 .times. 910 .mu.m. The cysts had relatively few and irregularly distributed, 20-35 .mu.m long, and 3-5 .mu.m 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 5460-12,700 (8994 .+-. 2575) .times. 95-280 (180 .+-. 50) .mu.m. The cysts had numerous very fine, flexible, hair-like cyst wall protrusions, which were 8-10 .mu.m long and < 0.5 .mu.m thick. These cysts are considered to belong to a new Sarcocystis spp. of reindeer, for which the name S. rangi sp. nov. is proposed. The reindeer is recorded as the intermediate host for 6 different Sarcocystis spp.