GAMOGONY OF SARCOCYSTIS STRIXI IN MAMMALIAN CELL CULTURES.

Area of Science:

• Disease ecology
• Parasitology
• Mammalian cell culture

Background:

• Sarcocystis species infect various hosts, including birds of prey.
• Understanding Sarcocystis infection dynamics is crucial for disease ecology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the hypothesis of developing a laboratory model for Sarcocystis strixi infection in mammals.
• To utilize gamma interferon gene knockout (KO) mice and mammalian cell cultures for S. strixi propagation.

Main Methods:

• Sporocysts of S. strixi from infected owls were fed to KO mice.
• Bradyzoites were isolated from KO mouse muscles via acid-pepsin digestion.
• Isolated bradyzoites were used to inoculate mammalian cell cultures.

Main Results:

• Bradyzoites, metrocytes, and an unidentified spherical stage were observed in muscle digests.
• Macrogamonts and microgamonts were present in cell cultures 24 hours post-inoculation.
• Sporulated oocysts were not observed in the infected cell cultures.

Conclusions:

• The hypothesis of developing a laboratory model for S. strixi infection in mammals using the described methods was rejected.
• Further research is needed to establish a successful laboratory model for S. strixi propagation.