Sarcocystis sp. in guanaco (Lama guanicoe) and effect of temperature on its viability

The biology of the Sarcocystis sp. that infect guanacoes was studied by feeding the infected meat to dogs, cats, rats and mice. Tissues from guanaco, heavily infected with macrocysts, were fed to these animals and their faeces collected daily and examined for the presence or absence of sporocysts. It was shown that only dogs were suitable definitive hosts. The effect of cooking and freezing on the viability of this protozoan organism was also investigated. Freezing to -18 degrees C and -24 degrees C and cooking were effective for inactivating Sarcocystis in guanaco meat. These methods could therefore be used instead of condemning guanaco carcasses infected with Sarcocystis.