| Abstract: | Tissues from 168 mature sows obtained at slaughter in northern and southern Georgia were examined for infection with Sarcocystis spp. Digestion techniques revealed zoites in 28 (16.5%) sows. Infected meat was fed to laboratory-reared dogs, cats, raccoons (Procyon lotor), and opossums (Didelphis marsupialis). Dogs and raccoons shed sporocysts (8.3 mum X 11.2 mum) 12 to 14 days after infection. Cats and opossums were refractory to infection. Sarcocystis-free pigs were infected with 50,000 sporocysts of swine-dog origin. Tissues from laboratory-infected swine were fed to dogs and raccoons. Both species shed sporocysts 14 days later. This is the 1st time in which a definitive host has been demonstrated for species of Sarcocystis occurring in North American swine. The raccoon constitutes a new definitive host for S suicanis Erber 1977. In contrast to previously reported low prevalences of Sarcocystis infections in swine, the relatively high prevalence reported here indicates that S suicanis may be of importance to swine producers in Georgia. |
