Macrocysts of the protozoan parasite Sarcocystis spp. occurred in 34 of 241 (14%) adult and 6 of 70 (8.6%) immature mottled ducks (Anas fulvigula) that were collected in southwestern Louisiana from 1987 to 1989. The prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. among immature ducks was higher than previously reported, possibly because of a longer exposure period. No differences in carcass composition variable...

1 Corresponding author: [email protected]; (901) 678-1502; fax: (901) 678-4746 ABSTRACT: A greater than 98% decline in Arundinaria gigantea (Walt.) Muhl. (giant cane or river cane) canebrake communities have resulted in a critically endangered ecosystem. Historical accounts suggest loss of canebrake habitat has resulted in the extirpation (and perhaps extinction) of many species. Thus, caneb...

Ethanolic extract (50 %) of stems of Calotropis gigantea R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) at doses of 250 and 500 mg kg-1 were studied for hepatoprotective activity in male Wistar rats with liver damage induced using carbon tetrachloride, 2 mL kg-1 twice a week. The protective effect of C. gigantea extract was compared with the standard drug silymarin. Various biochemical parameters such as aspartate am...

Background: Sarcocystosis is one of the most distributed parasitic diseases over the world, caused by Sarcocystis spp. In this study, we assessed the effect of electron beam irradiation on the viability of Sarcocystis spp. in beef.  Methods: Experimental beef groups were irradiated by four different electron beam doses of 1, 2, 3, and 4 kGy, at intervals of 0 and 24 h after irradiation, then t...

Pterygota macrocarpa and Cola gigantea are African medicinal plants used in traditional medicine for the treatment of sores, skin infections, and other inflammatory conditions including pains. This study therefore aims at investigating the antimicrobial properties of ethanol leaf and stem bark extracts of P. macrocarpa and C. gigantea using the agar diffusion and the micro-dilution techniques a...

Understanding the role of disease in population regulation is important to the conservation of wildlife. We evaluated the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii exposure and Sarcocystis spp. infection in 46 road-killed and accidentally trapper-killed fisher (Martes pennanti) carcasses collected and stored at -20 C by the Pennsylvania Game Commission from February 2002 to October 2008. Blood samples we...

Four valid species of Sarcocystis have been reported from the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): Sarcocystis fusiformis, Sarcocystis buffalonis, Sarcocystis levinei and Sarcocystis dubeyi. Here, we redescribe structure of S. fusiformis sarcocysts by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM). Twenty-one macroscopic sarcocysts from oesophagus of the water buffalo in Egypt were examin...

Bovine sarcocystosis is an economically important disease worldwide caused by the apicomplexan protozoan, Sarcocystis species. There are three main species of cattle Sarcocystis; S. cruzi (S. bovicanis), S. hirsuta (S. bovifelis) and S. hominis (S. bovihominis). The current study was conducted to identify Sarcocystis species infecting slaughtered cattle at Sharkia province, Egypt using light an...

a simple special protocol using semichon’s acetic carmine stain was applied for examination of muscles of some small mammals, naturally infected with sarcocystis spp. using this method, infected muscles fibers with sarcocystis could easily be differentiated from muscle tissues. this method can be applied for screening of infected muscles with sarcocystis cysts on large number of samples for epi...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Calotropis procera and Calotropis gigantea, originally from warm parts of Africa and Asia, are now pan-tropical and in ecological terms considered an indicator of overgrazed, disturbed lands; they grow successfully in dry areas. Variations in water relations, morphology and photosynthesis of the two species growing in the same habitat were studied to assess possible mechanis...