This MedLibrary.org supplementary page on Sarcocystosis is provided directly from the open source Wikipedia as a service to our readers. Please see the note below on authorship of this content, as well as the Wikipedia usage guidelines. To search for other content from our encyclopedia supplement, please use the form below:
Related Sponsors
| Sarcocystis | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sarcocystis cyst in a sheep oesophagus. The cyst is approximately 4mm across.
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
|
Sarcocystis are a type of Protist. This apicomplexan parasite's life cycle is heteroxenous, meaning that it has more than one obligatory host in its life cycle. Sarcocystis relies on the predator-prey relationship of animals. Oocysts are passed through the feces of an infected individual where it undergoes sporogony and becomes infected itself. The oocysts then undergo lysis where the sporocysts are left out in the environment. An intermediate host such as a cow or pig will ingest a sporocyst. Sporozoites are then released in the body and migrate to the muscle tissue where it undergoes asexual reproduction. Once the intermediate host is eaten by the definitive host such as a dog or human, the parasite undergoes sexual reproduction to create macrogamonts and a mircogamonts. They create a zygote which develops into an oocyst, which is passed through the feces completing the life cycle.
Human infection is rare but can happen when undercooked meat is ingested. Symptoms include diarrhea, which may be mild and transient or severe and life threatening. Human outbreaks have occurred in Europe. Rats are a known carrier.
See also
References
Dr. Micheal Kent. Oregon State University. "Sarcocystis". May 5th 2006.
External links
 |
This protist-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Sarcocystis cruzi is the only species that is pathogenic to cattle.
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 7 October 2008, at 01:13.
Wikipedia Authorship and Review
Wikipedia content provided here is not reviewed directly by MedLibrary.org. Wikipedia content is authored by an open community of volunteers and is not produced by or in any way affiliated with MedLibrary.org.
Wikipedia Usage Guidelines
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article on "Sarcocystosis".
The URL for this specific entry is:
All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details). Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.