SHEEP EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH SARCOCYSTIS FROM DOGS .2. ABORTION AND DISEASE IN EWES

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 68  (1) , 108-123
Abstract
This is the 1st study of Sarcocystis-induced abortion in sheep. Pregnant ewes (11) were experimentally inoculated with 50,000, 100,000 or 500,000 Sarcocystis ovicanis sporocysts from dogs. Eight ewes either aborted, died or became moribund before term; they produced 15 fetuses, 11 of normal appearance and 4 necrotic. No evidence of intrauterine transmission was obtained. All infected ewes became anemic, inappetent and lost weight. Ewes inoculated with the greatest numbers of sporocysts exhibited the most striking signs of acute illness. At necropsy of acutely ill ewes the heart was the most severely affected organ, appearing nearly black as a result of hemorrhagic pancarditis. Less hemorrhage was seen in the kidney, liver, spleen and skeletal muscles. Microscopically, schizonts were found in capillary endothelial cells of most organs 27-33 days after inoculation. Ewes surviving the acute illness exhibited signs of wool breaking and nervous disturbances. At postmortem, the heart and kidneys of these ewes were moderately hemorrhagic, and the adrenal glands and mesenteric lymph nodes were enlarged. Microscopically, sarcocysts were found in the heart, diaphragm, esophagus, tongue, skeletal and eye muscles, cerebellum and cerebrum.

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