Experimental infection of dogs with Sarcocvstis sp. infected heart of bovine

Abstract

Eight mongrel of both sexes and different ages were used for experimental infection by digestive route with heart containing Sarcocystis sp. Six animals received once raw bovine heart obtained at the slaughter house. The other two animals received during six days bovine heart acquired at open markets. Five other dogs in the same conditions were kept as non-infected controls. Shedding of sporocysts in the faeces of the experimentally infected dogs starting on the tenth day confirmed the infection of the animals. In the single infection the patent period was 59 days and in the multiple infection was 73 and 89 days (in this case the observation was made only in 2 animals). One hundred sporocysts measured 14,1-16,7 µm x 9,3 - 11,1 µm  (x = 15,0 x 10,7 µm). This result confirmed our prior observation demonstrating that sporocysts present in 5,8% of dogs faeces in the city of São Paulo were sporocysts of Sarcocystis, species Sarcocystis cruzi (S. fusiformis).