Morphological and Molecular Identification of Sarcocystis arctica in Captive Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in China Helps Clarify Phylogenetic Relationships with Sarcocystis caninum and Sarcocystis felis.

ABSTRACT: To date, only one case is known where protozoan parasites of the genus Sarcocystis were found to infect cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus); the cysts in the musculature were morphologically identified as S. felis. Here, we characterized sarcocysts by morphological and molecular methods that were observed in cheetahs who died in zoos in China. Only one type of sarcocyst was present in two of six cheetahs. By light microscopy, the sarcocyst wall was striated, 1.4-2.1 μm thick. Ultrastructurally, the wall had irregular-shaped, small villar protrusions, resembling wall type 9c, similar to those of S. arctica, S. caninum, and S. felis. The samples shared their highest molecular identity values with those of S. arctica and S. caninum: 99.9-100% an

SUBMITTER: Liao Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11758320 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature