Sarcocystis-like organisms in musculature of a domestic dog (Canis familiaris) and wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in Kenya

Abstract

Three of six wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) which died of rabies, and one Alsatian dog which died of adenocarcinoma, were found to harbour sarcocysts in their cardiac and/or skeletal muscles. The bradyzoites and metrocytes of the cysts were smaller than those seen in a lion infected with Microbesnoitia leoni and the common Sarcocystis spp. found in ruminants. It is proposed that Lycaon pictus is the natural intermediate host of the unidentified Sarcocystis-like species.