A COMPARATIVE SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF THE CYST WALL IN11 SARCOCYSTIS SPECIES OF MAMMALS

Sarcocysts found in the musculature of necropsied mammals were dried w ith hexamethyldisilazane and examined by scanning electron microscopy. The object of research in this morphological study was the outer surf ace configuration of the cyst wall. A Smooth cyst wall without villar protrusions (Sarcocystis cf. sebeki/European badger, Meles meles) was compared with 10 others each with its distinctly characterized villar protrusions. In scanning electron microscopy these resembled stumpy na ils with angular heads (Sarcocystis sp./serow, Capricornis crispus), t ongues (S. sp./sambar, Cervus unicolor), ears (S. sp./wapiti, Cervus e laphus canadensis), elongated cones or clubs (S. sp./domestic horse, E quus caballus), hairs (S. sp./Mongolian gazelle, Procapra gutturosa), and molar teeth (another S. sp./Mongolian gazelle). This study reveale d that what appeared in light microscopy to be finger-like protrusions of Sarcocystis hofmanni in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), of Sarcocy stis hominis in bison (Bison bison), of Sarcocystis hirsuta in cattle (Bos taurus), and of Sarcocystis tenella in sheep (Ovis aries) were mo re similar to columns (S. hofmanni), straps (S. hominis), stalked poly hedrons (S. hirsuta), or cylinders (S. tenella).