TRANSMISSION OF Sarcocystis rileyi TO THE STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis)

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Abstract
Musculature containing grossly visible cysts of S. rileyi from northern shoveler (Anas clypeata) ducks was fed to the striped skunk (M. mephitis). Skunks used were determined to be Sarcocystis free, the challenged skunk became infected and shed both sporulated oocysts and free sporocysts in the feces. The prepatent period was 15 days and the patent period 50 days. Oocysts were fully sporulated when shed and contained 2 sporocysts, free sporocysts averaged 9 .times. 13.5 .mu.m (n = 50). Each sporocyst contained 4 sporozoites and a granular residuum.