Histopathological changes in the liver tissue of house mouse and common vole during sarcocytosis

The asexual reproduction of Sarcocystis dispersa was studied in the liver of the house mouse. Histopathological examinations revealed infection of parenchymal cells with the parasite and diffuse cellular infiltrations with the presence of polymorphonuclear cells, monocytes and eosinophilic leukocytes. The volume and number of cellular infiltrates increased gradually from day 3 till day 10 p.i. Then appeared necrotic foci and both phenomena reached the maximum on days 10-12 p.i. On days 21-34 p.i., no changes occurred in the tissue and the liver healed without scars. The infection of common vole with Sarcocystis cernae sporocysts caused cellular infiltrations in the liver around the portobiliary veins. The parasite was present from day 3 till day 7 p.i. The histopathological picture of liver changes was similar to that in the house mouse.