SARCOCYSTIS BUFFALONIS N-SP (PROTOZOA, SARCOCYSTIDAE) FROM THE WATER-BUFFALO (BUBALUS-BUBALIS) IN VIETNAM

Sarcocystis buffalonis n. sp. is proposed for a species forming thick- walled, macroscopic sarcocysts in skeletal muscles and the esophagus o f the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Sarcocysts of S. buffalonis wer e found in 68 (10.5%) of 647 buffalo carcasses examined grossly at sla ughter in Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam. Sarcocystis buffalonis sarcocysts were 1-8 mm long and 0.1-0.5 mm wide. The cyst wall was 3- 7.7 mu m thick and had palisadelike villar protrusions that were const ricted at the base, expanded laterally in the mid-region, and tapered distally. The villar protrusions contained microfilaments and electron -dense granules. Sarcocysts of Sarcocystis fusiformis, the other well- known macroscopic species occurring in water buffalo, were also found in 60 of the 68 animals infected with S. buffalonis. Sarcocysts of S. fusiformis were thin walled and had characteristic cauliflowerlike vil lar protrusions. Two of 7 cats fed isolated S. buffalonis sarcocysts w ere found to have 12 x 8 mu m sporocysts in their intestine or feces 1 0 days after inoculation.