Jp. Dubey et al., First isolation of Sarcocystis neurona from the South American opossum, Didelphis albiventris, from Brazil, VET PARASIT, 95(2-4), 2001, pp. 295-304
Sarcocystis neurona was isolated from sporocysts from two of eight South Am
erican opossums, Didelphis albiventris, from Brazil. Interferon gamma gene
knock out (KO) mice fed sporocysts from two opossums developed neurologic s
arcocystosis. S. neurona was demonstrated in the brains of infected KO mice
by immunohistochemical staining with anti-S, neurona antibody. The parasit
e was cultivated in cell culture and S. neurona DNA was isolated from cultu
red merozoites. This is the first report of isolation of S. neurona from Br
azil and the first report from its new host, D. albiventris. Published by E
lsevier Science B.V.