Enterotoxicity of Extract from Sarcocystis Cysts with Canine Final Host in Japan

Abstract

Extracts from Sarcocystis cysts (S. fayeri, S. cruzi, S. miescheriana, S. arieticanis, S. sybillensis and S. sp.) were subcutaneously injected into rabbits to detect the toxicity. The main clinical signs of the rabbits were depression and intermittent diarrhea. Histopathological changes were exclusively found in the intestines and lungs. Regarding the intestines, most of the epithelial cells showed morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis and were detached from atrophic and flattened villi. Some thrombi were observed in the small vessels of the lungs. The extracts from Sarcocystis cysts were all positive in the rabbits' intestinal loop test. These results suggest that extracts from Sarcocystis cysts with canine final host possessed enterotoxicity.