Antelopes (Bovidae) kept in European zoological gardens as intermediate hosts of Sarcocystis species

Four different forms of sarcocysts from the zoo-kept antelopes Addax nasomaculatus. Antilope cervicapra, Taurotragus oryx and Boselaphus tragocamelus (Bovidae) were investigated by light and transmission electron microscopy, in special consideration of the cyst wall. The sarcocysts found in Addax (born in a zoo) were not distinguishable from Sarcocystis medusiformis of Australasian sheep by their morphology and would be the first indication for the occurrence of this species in Europe. Sarcocysts from Antilope (born in a zoo) resembled the tenella/capracanis type of sheep/goats and were, therefore, designated as Sarcocystis sp. (? cf. capracanis) in this paper. Sarcocysts from Taurotragus were similar to a zoonotic species of cattle and hence provisionally designated as S. sp. (? cf. hominis). A sarcocyst form with hair-like villar protrusions of the cyst wall was found in Taurotragus. Boselaphus and Antilope and compared with a common species of cattle: S (? cf. cruzi).