EXPERIMENTAL TRANSMISSION OF Sarcocystis sp. (PROTOZOA: SARCOCYSTIDAE) BETWEEN THE SHOVELER (Anas clypeata) DUCK AND THE STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis)

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Abstract
Muscle containing macroscopic cysts of Sarcocystis sp. from naturally infected wild shoveler (A. clypeata) ducks was fed to 2 captive striped skunks (M. mephitis). The skunks passed sporocysts in their feces beginning 19 and 22 days post-infection [p.i.], and continued to pass small numbers of sporocysts sporadically to 63 and 51 days p.i., respectively. Sporocysts from the skunks were administered orally to 4 laboratory-reared shovelers. No cysts were found in ducks examined 56 and 84 days p.i. One duck examined at 85 days p.i. had many microscopic cysts in its skeletal muscle. The remaining duck had numerous small macroscopic cysts in muscle at 154 days p.i. A skunk fed muscle from this duck began to pass sporocysts on day 18 p.i. All cysts in muscle (natural and experimental infection) had irregular cauliflower-like projections of the primary cyst wall.