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A Trap-Vaccinate-Release Protocol for Immunization of Skunks and Additional Rabies Vectors Against Rabies

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Systemic sarcocystosis in a striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis).

G N Burcham¹, J A Ramos-Vara, R Vemulapalli

¹Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, 406 South University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. gburcham@purdue.edu

Veterinary Pathology

|April 9, 2010

Summary

A striped skunk infected with Sarcocystis neurona showed systemic disease, a rare finding in skunks. Canine distemper virus coinfection may have contributed to the severity of this protozoal infection.

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Area of Science:

Veterinary Pathology
Parasitology
Wildlife Disease

Background:

Striped skunks are known intermediate or aberrant hosts for Sarcocystis neurona.
Systemic Sarcocystis neurona infections are uncommon, particularly in extraneural tissues.

Observation:

A striped skunk presented with neurological signs and was found to have protozoa in multiple tissues.
Histopathology revealed protozoal schizonts and merozoites associated with necrosis and inflammation in the lungs, brain, liver, and nasal epithelium.

Findings:

Immunohistochemistry and PCR confirmed the protozoa as Sarcocystis neurona, with high genetic similarity to known strains.
Canine distemper virus infection was also identified, suggesting a potential role in immunosuppression.

Implications:

This case highlights the potential for systemic Sarcocystis neurona infections in striped skunks.
Concurrent viral infections like canine distemper may predispose skunks to severe protozoal disease, impacting wildlife health strategies.