[Fine structure and development of Sarcocystis aucheniae in llamas]

Isolated cysts of Sarcocystis aucheniae of the llama (Lama glama) were fed to one dog and one cat. Only the dog excreted sporocysts, measuring 13.1-15.7 (15.0 +/- 0.54) X 9.0-11.3 (10.4 +/- 0.36) micron after 11 days for 21 days. A second cat, which had ingested meat of a llama containing macrocysts of S. aucheniae as well as sarcosporidial cysts visible only under a microscope also did not excrete sporocysts. The cysts of S. aucheniae are surrounded by a folded primary cyst wall forming cauliflower-like protrusions into the muscle fibre. The protrusions contain numerous microfilaments. In addition, the primary cyst wall forms numerous tiny vesicles. The parasitized muscle fibre is located in a large cavity within the normal muscle tissue. The cyst wall of S. aucheniae is similarly structured to that of S. gigantea of the sheep.