Myocarditis and encephalitis associated with Sarcocystis neurona infectionin raccoons (Procyon lotor)

Sarcocystis neurona associated granulomatous encephalitis was found in 2 of 84 adult raccoons. Both raccoons also had an extensive nonsuppurative myoc arditis and one had S. neurona schizonts and merozoites in the myocardium. Only the asexual stages (schizonts and merozoites) of S. neurona are found in tissues of naturally infected animals (horse, mink, raccoons, cats, skun k, pony, seals, sea otters) and since these have not been reported outside the central nervous system, the presence of concurrent myocarditis in racco ons with the presence of S. neurona in the current study is of interest. Pa thologists should consider the possible association of S. neurona with myoc ardial inflammation in other S. neurona susceptible animals. Published by E lsevier Science B.V.