AUTHOR=Jiang Nan , Xin Shilin , Zhu Niuping , Yang Liulu , Huang Wei , Hu Junjie , Zhu Xiuhong , Yang Yurong 

TITLE=First Report of Sarcocystis Masoni in a Captive Alpaca (Vicugna Pacos) From China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.759252

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2021.759252

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Sarcocystosis is a parasitic disease caused by intracellular protozoan parasite of the genus <italic>Sarcocystis</italic>. Tissue samples of alpacas (<italic>n</italic> = 4) from Henan province (China) were screened for <italic>Sarcocystis</italic> spp. infection by histological examination, pepsin digestion, and molecular assays.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold><italic>Sarcocystis</italic> spp. was detected in heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney of an alpaca by molecular assays. Many sarcocysts with inflammation responses were observed in this alpaca myocardium, and they showed a high similarity to <italic>Sarcocystis masoni</italic> by sequence analysis.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> This study is the first to demonstrate <italic>Sarcocystis</italic> spp. infection in alpaca from China. The higher parasite load in the alpaca myocardium indicated that it had contact with an environment contaminated with sporocysts, and that the alpaca was susceptible to <italic>Sarcocystis</italic> spp.</p>