Prevalence of sarcocysts of Sarcocystis capracanis in oesophagus and tail muscles of naturally infected goats.

The prevalence of sarcocysts of Sarcocystis capracanis in oesophagus and tail muscles of 76 goats slaughtered at Jabalpur, India, was found to be 67.10 and 46.05%, respectively. A total of 79.3% of oesophagi and 72.4% of tails had sarcocysts in older goats (greater than 1 year), but their prevalence in younger animals (less than 1 year) was 40.0% in oesophagi and none in tails. Therefore examination by biopsy of the tail muscles can be used to monitor the development of Sarcocystis sarcocysts in experimental infection without killing the animal.

Ultrastructure of sarcocysts from water buffalo in India.

The ultrastructure of sarcocysts of macro- and microscopic species of Sarcocystis was compared from naturally infected water buffalo from India. Grossly visible sarcocysts had walls consisting of cauliflower-like villar protrusions, typical of S. fusiformis. The sarcocyst wall of the microscopic species of Sarcocystis was 6.4 microns thick and consisted of tightly packed conical villar protrusions that were 9.6 microns long and 3.7 microns wide at the base. At approximately 3 microns above the base, the distal two-thirds of the villar protrusion became conical shaped and was bent laterally at an angle of 45 degrees to the sarcocyst surface. The granular layer beneath the villar protrusions was 0.9 microns thick. In S. levinei the granular layer was 1.9 microns thick, the villar protrusions were narrow and it had a highly undulating primary cyst wall. Whether the microscopic S. levinei-like sarcocysts of Indian and Malaysian water buffalo are distinct species of Sarcocystis will require further investigation.

Sporocyst output in dogs fed sarcocysts of Sarcocystis Levinei of the buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

Four dogs shed 21 35 900, 49 32 600, 29 59 800 and 37 57 200 sporocysts between 15 and 74 days after being fed bubaline oesophagus which was naturally infected with Sarcocystis Levinei.

Development of sarcocysts of Sarcocystis levinei in water buffalo infected with sporocysts from dogs.

Half a million sporocysts of Sarcocystis levinei obtained from experimentally infected dogs were fed to a buffalo calf, and sarcocysts of this species were recovered from its oesophageal muscles when the animal was killed on the 62nd day of inoculation, thus establishing a buffalo-dog-buffalo cycle.

Biochemical and histochemical studies of the sarcocyst of Sarcocystis fusiformis of buffalo Bubalus bubalis.

The glycogen content and activities of alkaline and acid phosphatases of sarcocysts of Sarcocystis fusiformis from naturally infected Indian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) were determined biochemically and histochemically.

Gametogony and sporogony of Sarcocystis fusiformis of buffaloes in the small intestine of experimentally infected cats.

The gametogonous and sporogonous stages of Sarcocystis fusiformis were studied in the small intestine of 10 cats each fed 350 macroscopic sarcocysts and killed 12 h, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 days post infection. The macrogamonts were observed from 12 h up to 9 days post infection, whereas microgamonts were seen only on Day 3 and were very few in number. Developing oocysts were seen from Day 5 to Day 11 post infection, and from Day 13 fully sporulated oocysts and sporocysts were found in increasing numbers.

Biochemistry of the sarcocyst of Sarcocystis fusiformis of buffalo Bubalus bubalis.

Sarcocysts of Sarcocystis fusiformis from oesophageal muscles of naturally-infected Indian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) were analysed for total lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, fatty acids and glycerides and total protein. Protein and phospholipids constituted the major portion of the sarcocyst. Acetylcholinesterase and glutamate-oxalo-acetate transaminase activities when assayed were higher than glutamate-pyruvate transaminase in sarcocysts.

Stephanofilarial dermatitis in India.

Four species of Stephanofilaria have been reported from India causing various forms of dermatitis in cattle, buffalo, goat and elephant. However, additional work is needed to establish their identity as separate species. The lesions appear to flare up following reinfection, while the application of a petroleum jelly alone reduces them. In vitro tests have shown organophosphorous compounds to possess stephanofilaricidal action in addition to their insecticidal activity. Aspects where further work is needed are indicated.

Prenatal diagnosis of lethal osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) by ultrasonography.

Ultrasonography was performed during the second trimester (17 weeks) in a pregnancy at risk for osteogenesis imperfecta congenita (OI). The scan showed that the femur was short, bent and dense. Radiologic examination of the fetus after interruption of pregnancy showed typical X-ray changes of OI.