Sarcocystis AND RELATED ORGANISMS IN AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE: II. SURVEY FINDINGS IN BIRDS, REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS AND FISH

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Abstract
Sarcocystis was found in 105 (44 spp., 25 families) of 832 (12.6%) (129 spp., 43 families) avian muscle samples. Muscle sarcocysts were most prevalent (16-29%) in certain carnivorous, omnivorous or insectivorous birds. Lower prevalences (6-13%) were recorded in other carnivorous, ground-feeding omnivorous and insectivorous birds. In waterfowl, prevalence of infection was only 3.5%. Generally, sarcocysts in bird muscle were thin-walled (> 0.5 .mu.m) with small zoites. Sarcocysts in little pied cormorants (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos), hoary-headed grebes (Podiceps poliocephalus) and a pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) examined in Victoria [Australia] had thicker (0.5-1 .mu.m) walls. Of 53 (5.7%) muscle samples from reptiles (14 spp., 4 families) 3 had Sarcocystis. Greatest prevalence was in goannas (Varanus spp.) were 2 of 3 specimens were positive. Ninety samples from 9 amphibian spp. (2 families) and 7 samples from 5 spp. of fish (5 families) were negative for muscle sarcocysts. Sporocysts and oocysts of Sarcocystis or Frenkelia were found in intestinal scrapings from 8 of 18 (44.4%) barn owls (Tyto spp.), 2 of 5 (40.0%) spotted owls (Ninox novaeseelandiae), and 2 of 7 (28.5%) brown falcons (Falco berigora). Mucosal scrapings from 5 of 12 (41.7%) elapid snakes (1 Austrelaps superba and 4 Notechis ater) were positive for sporocysts and oocysts.

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