Keywords
How to Cite
Abstract
The genus Sarcocystis comprises apicomplexan parasites associated with clinical manifestations, including reproductive and neurological disorders, in a wide range of domestic and wild animals. Infections by Sarcocystis spp. have been reported in birds on all continents except Antarctica. In this context, the present study reports two cases in which Sarcocystis spp. were identified at different developmental stages, endogenous and exogenous, in wild birds captured in Southeastern Brazil. Oocysts and sporocysts were detected in the feces of a roadside hawk Rupornis magnirostris, captured on Marambaia Island, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. In addition, bradyzoite cysts were observed in the muscle tissue of a rufous-bellied thrush Turdus rufiventris, captured in Itatiaia National Park. Accordingly, this study provides comments on the parasitic dynamics of Sarcocystis spp. in a wild environment and discusses the potential species involved in these host-parasite associations. For Sarcocystis sp. detected in the rufous-bellied thrush, based on evidence from previous studies, we strongly suggest that this species is Sarcocystis falcatula. In contrast, for Sarcocystis sp. detected from the roadside hawk, no specific species assignment can be made, as data on hawks acting as definitive hosts of Sarcocystis spp. in South America remain scarce. Although S. falcatula may involve Accipitriformes in its life cycle, members of this order are considered intermediate rather than definitive hosts for this species. Therefore, we present herein a survey of Sarcocystis spp. that involve Accipitriformes in their life cycles, including comparative data on sporocyst measurements for each species.
References
Atkinson, C. T., Thomas, N. J., & Hunter, D. B. (2008). Parasitic diseases of wild birds. Wiley-Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780813804620.
Baker, D. G. (2006). Parasitic diseases. In M. A. Suckow, S. H. Weisbroth & C. L. Franklin (Eds.), The laboratory rat (pp. 453–478). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012074903-4/50016-9.
Baker, E., Bower, L., Gerhold, R., & Miller, D. (2025). Prevalence and Pathology Associated with Sarcocystis spp. in Raptors in Tennessee, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 61(3), 700-707. https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-24- 00130. PMid:40312962.
Berto, B. P., Cardozo, S. V., Gomes, L., Fonseca, I. P., & Lopes, C. W. G. (2014). Sarcocystis sporocysts from the common barn-owl Tyto alba in Portugal. Acta Parasitológica Portuguesa, 20(1/2), 61-64.
Box, E. D., & Smith, J. H. (1982). The intermediate host spectrum in a Sarcocystis species of birds. The Journal of Parasitology, 68(4), 668-673. https://doi.org/10.2307/3280926. PMid:6811715.
Box, E. D., Meier, J. L., & Smith, J. H. (1984). Description of Sarcocystis falcatula Stiles, 1893, a Parasite of Birds and Opossums. The Journal of Protozoology, 31(4), 521-524. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.1984.tb05495.x. PMid:6439855.
Černá, Ž. (1984). The role of birds as definitive hosts and intermediate hosts of heteroxenous coccidians. The Journal of Protozoology, 31(4), 579-581. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.1984.tb05508.x. PMid:6439858.
Černá, Ž., & Kvašňovská, Z. (1986). Life cycle involving bird-bird relation in Sarcocystis coccidia with the description of Sarcocystis accipitris sp. n. Folia Parasitologica, 33(4), 305-309.
Dame, J. B., MacKay, R. J., Yowell, C. A., Cutler, T. J., Marsh, A., & Greiner, E. C. (1995). Sarcocystis falcatula from Passerine and Psittacine Birds: Synonymy with Sarcocystis neurona, Agent of Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis. The Journal of Parasitology, 81(6), 930-935. https://doi.org/10.2307/3284044. PMid:8544067.
Dolnik, O. V. (2006). The relative stability of chronic Isospora sylvianthina (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) infection in blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla): evaluation of a simplified method of estimating isosporan infection intensity in passerine birds. Parasitology Research, 100(1), 155-160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-006-0253-5. PMid:16874477.
Dubey, J. P., Rosenthal, B. M., & Speer, C. A. (2001). Sarcocystis lindsayi n. sp. (Protozoa: Sarcocystidae) from the South American opossum, Didelphis albiventris from Brazil. The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 48(5), 595-603. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.2001.tb00196.x. PMid:11596925.
Dubey, J. P., Lane, E., & Van Wilpe, E. (2004). Sarcocystis ramphastosi sp. nov. and Sarcocystis sulfuratusi sp. nov. are described from natural infected keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus). Acta Parasitologica, 49(2), 93-101.
Dubey, J. P., Calero-Bernal, R., Rosenthal, B. M., Speer, C. A., & Fayer, R. (2015). Sarcocystosis of animal and man. CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/b19184.
Duszynski, D. W., & Wilber, P. G. (1997). A guideline for the preparation of species descriptions in the Eimeriidae. The Journal of Parasitology, 83(2), 333-336. https://doi.org/10.2307/3284470. PMid:9105325.
Fayer, R. (1980). Epidemiology of protozoan infection: The Coccidia. Veterinary Parasitology, 6(1-3), 75-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4017(80)90039-4.
Fayer, R. (1981). Coccidian Taxonomy Nomenclature. The Journal of Protozoology, 28(2), 266-267. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.1981.tb02849.x.
Fenger, C. K., Granstrom, D. E., Langemeier, J. L., Stamper, S., Donahue, J. M., Patterson, J. S., Gajadhar, A. A., Marteniuk, J. V., Xiaomin, Z., & Dubey, J. P. (1995). Identification of opossums (Didelphis virginiana) as the putative definitive host of Sarcocystis neurona. The Journal of Parasitology, 81(6), 916-919. https://doi.org/10.2307/3284040. PMid:8544064.
Fichet-Calvet, E., Kia, E. B., Giraudoux, P., Quéré, J. P., Delattre, P., & Ashford, R. W. (2004). Frenkelia parasites in a small mammal community. Dynamics of infection and effect on the host. Parasite : Journal de la Société Française de Parasitologie, 11(3), 301-310. https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2004113301. PMid:15490755.
Frenkel, J., & Dubey, J. (2000). The taxonomic importance of obligate heteroxeny: Distinction of Hammondia hammondi from Toxoplasma gondii– another opinion. Parasitology Research, 86(10), 783-786. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004360000261. PMid:11068808.
Gardiner, C. H., Fayer, R., & Dubey, J. P. (1998). An atlas of Protozoan parasites in animal tissues. American Registry of Pathology.
Gjerde, B., & Schulze, J. (2014). Muscular sarcocystosis in two arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) due to Sarcocystis arctica n. sp.: Sarcocyst morphology, molecular characteristics and phylogeny. Parasitology Research, 113(3), 811-821. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-013-3711-x. PMid:24297693.
Gjerde, B., & Josefsen, T. D. (2015). Molecular characterisation of Sarcocystis lutrae n. sp. and Toxoplasma gondii from the musculature of two Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in Norway. Parasitology Research, 114(3), 873-886. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4251-8. PMid:25512210.
Gjerde, B., Vikøren, T., & Hamnes, I. S. (2018). Molecular identification of Sarcocystis halieti n. sp., Sarcocystis lari and Sarcocystis truncata in the intestine of a white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in Norway. International Journal for Parasitology. Parasites and Wildlife, 7(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2017.12.001. PMid:29270360.
Godoy, S. N., De Paula, C. D., Cubas, Z. S., Matushima, E. R., & Catão-Dias, J. L. (2009). Occurrence of Sarcocystis falcatula in Captive Psittacine Birds in Brazil. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 23(1), 18-23. https://doi.org/10.1647/2008-006R.1. PMid:19530402.
Hafeez, M. A., Stasiak, I., Delnatte, P., El-Sherry, S., Smith, D. A., & Barta, J. R. (2014). Description of two new Isospora species causing visceral coccidiosis in captive superb glossy starlings, Lamprotornis superbus (Aves: Sturnidae). Parasitology Research, 113(9), 3287-3297. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-3992-8. PMid:24948107.
Juozaitytė-Ngugu, E., Švažas, S., Šneideris, D., Rudaitytė-Lukošienė, E., Butkauskas, D., & Prakas, P. (2021). The Role of Birds of the Family Corvidae in Transmitting Sarcocystis Protozoan Parasites. Animals (Basel), 11(11), 3258. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113258. PMid:34827989.
Juozaitytė-Ngugu, E., Butkauskas, D., Švažas, S., & Prakas, P. (2022). Investigations on Sarcocystis species in the leg muscles of the bird family Corvidae in Lithuania. Parasitology Research, 121(2), 703-711. https://doi.org/10.1007/ s00436-021-07409-z. PMid:35067742.
Juozaitytė-Ngugu, E., & Prakas, P. (2023). The richness of Sarcocystis species in the common gull (Larus canus) and black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) from Lithuania. Parasitologia, 3(2), 172-180. https://doi.org/10.3390/ parasitologia3020018.
Juozaitytė-Ngugu, E., Švažas, S., Bea, A., Šneideris, D., Villanúa, D., Butkauskas, D., & Prakas, P. (2025). Molecular Confirmation of Raptors from Spain as Definitive Hosts of Numerous Sarcocystis Species. Animals (Basel), 15(5), 646. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15050646. PMid:40075929.
Khan, A., Shaik, J. S., Behnke, M., Wang, Q., Dubey, J. P., Lorenzi, H. A., Ajioka, J. W., Rosenthal, B. M., & Sibley, L. D. (2014). NextGen sequencing reveals short double crossovers contribute disproportionately to genetic diversity in Toxoplasma gondii. BMC Genomics, 15(1), 1168. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-15-1168. PMid:25532601.
Kirillova, V., Prakas, P., Calero-Bernal, R., Gavarāne, I., Fernández-García, J. L., Martínez-González, M., Rudaitytė- Lukošienė, E., Martínez-Estéllez, M. Á. H., Butkauskas, D., & Kirjušina, M. (2018). Identification and genetic characterization of Sarcocystis arctica and Sarcocystis lutrae in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Baltic States and Spain. Parasites & Vectors, 11(1), 173. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-2694-y. PMid:29530098.
Krone, O., Rudolph, M., & Jakob, W. (2000). Protozoa in the Breast Muscle of Raptors in Germany. Acta Protozoologica, 39, 35-42.
Kutkienė, L., Prakas, P., Sruoga, A., & Butkauskas, D. (2009). Sarcocystis in the birds family Corvidae with description of Sarcocystis cornixi sp. nov. from the hooded crow (Corvus cornix). Parasitology Research, 104(2), 329-336. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-1196-9. PMid:18855013.
Kutkienė, L., Prakas, P., Sruoga, A., & Butkauskas, D. (2010). The mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) as intermediate host for Sarcocystis wobeseri sp. nov. from the barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis). Parasitology Research, 107(4), 879-888. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-1945-4. PMid:20567986.
Kutkienė, L., Prakas, P., Butkauskas, D., & Sruoga, A. (2012). Description of Sarcocystis turdusi sp. nov. from the common blackbird (Turdus merula). Parasitology, 139(11), 1438-1443. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182012000819. PMid:22814103.
Levine, N. D., & Tadros, W. (1980). Named species and hosts of Sarcocystis (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae). Systematic Parasitology, 2(1), 41-59. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015094.
Llano, H. A. B., Polato, H. Z., Keid, L. B., Oliveira, T. M. F. S., Zwarg, T., Oliveira, A. S., Sanches, T. C., Joppert, A. M., Gondim, L. F. P., & Soares, R. M. (2022). Molecular screening for Sarcocystidae in muscles of wild birds from Brazil suggests a plethora of intermediate hosts for Sarcocystis falcatula. International Journal for Parasitology. Parasites and Wildlife, 17, 230-238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.03.002. PMid:35282411.
Llano, H. B., Marín-Zapata, M., Úsuga-Monroy, C., & Duque-Arias, S. (2025). Morphological and molecular characterization of Sarcocystis cooperii n. sp. and related Sarcocystis species in three Colombian avian hosts. Veterinary World, 18(10), 3255-3267. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2025.3255-3267. PMid:41333730.
Long, P. L. (1990). Coccidiosis of man and domestic animals (1. ed.). CRC Press.
Máca, O. (2020). Molecular identification of Sarcocystis lutrae (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) from the raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides, and the common raccoon, Procyon lotor, in the Czech Republic. Parasites & Vectors, 13(1), 231. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04108-z. PMid:32375886.
Máca, O., & González-Solís, D. (2022a). White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) as the definitive host of Sarcocystis lutrae in the Czech Republic. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, 981829. https://doi.org/10.3389/ fvets.2022.981829. PMid:36061107.
Máca, O., & González-Solís, D. (2022b). Role of three bird species in the life cycle of two Sarcocystis spp. (Apicomplexa, Sarcocystidae) in the Czech Republic. International Journal for Parasitology. Parasites and Wildlife, 17, 133-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.01.002. PMid:35070681.
Markus, M. B., Killick-Kendrick, R., & Garnham, P. C. C. (1974). The coccidial nature and life cycle of Sarcocystis. The Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 77(11), 248-259. PMid:4219030.
Mayr, S. L., Maier, K., Müller, J., Enderlein, D., Gruber, A. D., & Lierz, M. (2016). Accipiter hawks (Accipitridae) confirmed as definitive hosts of Sarcocystis turdusi, Sarcocystis cornixi and Sarcocystis sp. ex Phalacrocorax carbo. Parasitology Research, 115(8), 3041-3047. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-5059-5. PMid:27083188.
Modrý, D., Votýpka, J., & Svobodová, M. (2004). Note on the taxonomy of Frenkelia microti (Findlay & Middleton, 1934) (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae). Systematic Parasitology, 58(3), 185-187. https://doi.org/10.1023/ B:SYPA.0000032924.63708.57. PMid:15218365.
Mugridge, N. B., Morrison, D. A., Johnson, A. M., Luton, K., Dubey, J. P., Votýpka, J., & Tenter, A. M. (1999). Phylogenetic relationships of the genus Frenkelia: A review of its history and new knowledge gained from comparison of large subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene sequences. International Journal for Parasitology, 29(6), 957-972. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7519(99)00062-4. PMid:10480733.
Odening, K. (1998). The present state of species-systematics in Sarcocystis Lankester, 1882 (Protista, Sporozoa, Coccidia). Systematic Parasitology, 41(3), 209-233. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006090232343.
Olias, P., Gruber, A. D., Hafez, H. M., Heydorn, A. O., Mehlhorn, H., & Lierz, M. (2010a). Sarcocystis calchasi sp. nov. of the domestic pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica) and the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis): Light and electron microscopical characteristics. Parasitology Research, 106(3), 577-585. https://doi.org/10.1007/ s00436-009-1701-9. PMid:20033211.
Olias, P., Olias, L., Lierz, M., Mehlhorn, H., & Gruber, A. D. (2010b). Sarcocystis calchasi is distinct to Sarcocystis columbae sp. nov. from the wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) and Sarcocystis sp. from the sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus). Veterinary Parasitology, 171(1-2), 7-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.03.021. PMid:20381254.
Olias, P., Olias, L., Krücken, J., Lierz, M., & Gruber, A. D. (2011). High prevalence of Sarcocystis calchasi sporocysts in European Accipiter hawks. Veterinary Parasitology, 175(3-4), 230-236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.10.025. PMid:21074324.
Olias, P., Maier, K., Wuenschmann, A., Reed, L., Armién, A. G., Shaw, D. P., Gruber, A. D., & Lierz, M. (2014). Sarcocystis calchasi has an expanded host range and induces neurological disease in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) and North American rock pigeons (Columbia livia f. dom.). Veterinary Parasitology, 200(1-2), 59-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.11.012. PMid:24360290.
Olson, E. J., Wünschmann, A., & Dubey, J. P. (2007). Sarcocystis sp.-associated meningoencephalitis in a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation : Official Publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc, 19(5), 564-568. https://doi.org/10.1177/104 063870701900519. PMid:17823405.
Pak, S. M., Pak, L. S., & Sklyarova, O. N. (1989a). Sarcocystis citellibuteonis n. sp. of Sarcosporidia from the largetoothed suslik Citellus fulvus. Izvestiya Akademii Nauk Kazakhskoi SSR. Seriya Biologicheskaya, 3, 30-33.
Pak, S. M., Sklyarova, O. N., & Pak, L. S. (1989b). Sarcocystis alectorivulpes and Sarcocystis alectoributeonis, new species of sarcosporidia from Alectoris chucar. Izvestiya Akademii Nauk Kazakhskoĭ SSR. Seriya Biologicheskaya, 6, 25-30.
Prakas, P., Kutkienė, L., Sruoga, A., & Butkauskas, D. (2011). Sarcocystis sp. from the herring gull (Larus argentatus) identity to Sarcocystis wobeseri based on cyst morphology and DNA results. Parasitology Research, 109(6), 1603-1608. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-011-2421-5. PMid:21597959.
Prakas, P., & Butkauskas, D. (2012). Protozoan parasites from genus Sarcocystis and their investigations in Lithuania. Ekologija (Lietuvos Mokslų Akademija), 58(1), 45-58. https://doi.org/10.6001/ekologija.v58i1.2349.
Prakas, P., Kutkienė, L., Butkauskas, D., Sruoga, A., & Žalakevičius, M. (2013). Molecular and morphological investigations of Sarcocystis corvusi sp. nov. from the jackdaw (Corvus monedula). Parasitology Research, 112(3), 1163-1167. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-3247-5. PMid:23269511.
Prakas, P., Kutkiene, L., Butkauskas, D., Sruoga, A., & Zalakevicius, M. (2014). Description of Sarcocystis lari sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) from the great black-backed gull, Larus marinus (Charadriiformes: Laridae), on the basis of cyst morphology and molecular data. Folia Parasitologica, 61(1), 11-17. https://doi.org/10.14411/fp.2014.002. PMid:24684048.
Prakas, P., Strazdaitė-Žielienė, Ž., Rudaitytė-Lukošienė, E., Servienė, E., & Butkauskas, D. (2018a). Molecular identification of Sarcocystis lutrae (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) in muscles of five species of the family Mustelidae. Parasitology Research, 117(6), 1989-1993. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-5880-0. PMid:29700640.
Prakas, P., Butkauskas, D., Švažas, S., Juozaitytė-Ngugu, E., & Stanevičius, V. (2018b). Morphologic and genetic identification of Sarcocystis fulicae n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) from the Eurasian coot (Fulica atra). Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 54(4), 765-771. https://doi.org/10.7589/2017-11-279. PMid:29863972.
Prakas, P., Butkauskas, D., & Juozaitytė-Ngugu, E. (2020a). Molecular and morphological description of Sarcocystis kutkienae sp. nov. from the common raven (Corvus corax). Parasitology Research, 119(12), 4205-4210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06941-8. PMid:33125552.
Prakas, P., Butkauskas, D., & Juozaitytė-Ngugu, E. (2020b). Molecular identification of four Sarcocystis species in the herring gull, Larus argentatus, from Lithuania. Parasites & Vectors, 13(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071- 019-3869-x. PMid:31907072.
Prakas, P., Bea, A., Juozaitytė-Ngugu, E., Olano, I., Villanúa, D., Švažas, S., & Butkauskas, D. (2021). Molecular identification of Sarcocystis halieti in the muscles of two species of birds of prey from Spain. Parasites & Vectors, 14(1), 414. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04921-0. PMid:34407877.
Prakas, P., Estruch, J., Velarde, R., Ilgūnas, M., Šneideris, D., Nicolás-Francisco, O., Marco, I., & Calero-Bernal, R. (2024a). First report of Sarcocystis halieti (Apicomplexa) in bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus). Veterinary Research Communications, 48(1), 541-546. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-023-10191-1. PMid:37556068.
Prakas, P., Gudiškis, N., Kitrytė, N., Bagdonaitė, D. L., & Baltrūnaitė, L. (2024b). Detection of three Sarcocystis Species (Apicomplexa) in blood samples of the Bank Vole and Yellow-Necked mouse from Lithuania. Life, 14(3), 365. https://doi.org/10.3390/life14030365. PMid:38541690.
Prakas, P., Jasiulionis, M., Šukytė, T., Juozaitytė-Ngugu, E., Stirkė, V., Balčiauskas, L., & Butkauskas, D. (2024c). First observations of buzzards (Buteo) as definitive hosts of Sarcocystis parasites forming cysts in the brain tissues of rodents in Lithuania. Biology (Basel), 13(4), 264. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13040264. PMid:38666876.
Ridgely, R. S., & Tudor, G. (2009). Field guide to the songbirds of South America: The Passerines. University of Texas Press.
Rimoldi, G., Speer, B., Wellehan Junior, J. F., Bradway, D. S., Wright, L., Reavill, D., Barr, C. B., Childress, A., Shivaprasad, H. L., & Chin, R. P. (2013). An outbreak of Sarcocystis calchasi encephalitis in multiple psittacine species within an enclosed zoological aviary. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation : Official Publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc, 25(6), 775-781. https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638713502981. PMid:24081928.
Rogers, K. H., Arranz-Solís, D., Saeij, J. P., Lewis, S., & Mete, A. (2022). Sarcocystis calchasi and other Sarcocystidae detected in predatory birds in California, USA. International Journal for Parasitology. Parasites and Wildlife, 17, 91-99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.12.008. PMid:35004169.
Rommel, M., Krampitz, H. E., & Geisel, O. (1977). Beiträge zum Lebenszyklus der Frenkelien. Zeitschrift für Parasitenkunde, 51(2), 139-146. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00500953. PMid:403694.
Sato, A. P., da Silva, T. C. E., de Pontes, T. P., Sanches, A. W. D., Prakas, P., & Locatelli-Dittrich, R. (2022). Molecular characterization of Sarcocystis spp. in seabirds from southern Brazil. Parasitology International, 90, 102595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parint.2022.102595. PMid:35552005.
Sazmand, A., Moradi, L., Almasi, P., Nabavi, R., & Prakas, P. (2025). First report of Sarcocystis halieti in Asia: The genetic confirmation in muscles of the Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) from Iran. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 6989. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90666-0. PMid:40011492.
Shadbolt, T., Pocknell, A., Sainsbury, A. W., Egerton-Read, S., & Blake, D. P. (2021). Molecular identification of Sarcocystis wobeseri-like parasites in a new intermediate host species, the white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla). Parasitology Research, 120(5), 1845-1850. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-021-07103-0. PMid:33666756.
Sharma, R. K., & Shah, H. L. (1990). Pariah kite (Milvus migrans) as a definitive host of an unknown Sarcocystis species. The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 60(7), 804-805.
Sigrist, T. (2014). Guia de campo: Avifauna brasileira. Avis Brasilis.
Smith, D. D. (1981). The Sarcocystidae: Sarcocystis, Frenkelia, Toxoplasma, Besnoitia, Hammondia and Cystoisospora. The Journal of Protozoology, 28(2), 262-266. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.1981.tb02848.x.
Smith, J. H., Neill, P. J., Dillard III, E. A., & Box, E. D. (1990). Pathology of experimental Sarcocystis falcatula infections of canaries (Serinus canarius) and pigeons (Columba livia). The Journal of Parasitology, 76(1), 59-68. https://doi.org/10.2307/3282628. PMid:2105389.
Stabenow, C. DA S., de Oliveira, F. C., Albuquerque, G. R., & Lopes, C. W. G. (2008). Sarcocystis lindsayi-like (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystinae) of the opossum (Didelphis aurita) from Southeastern Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária = Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Parasitology : Órgão Oficial do Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinária, 17(Suppl.1), 342-344. PMid:20059875.
Stabenow, C. DA S., Ederli, N. B., Lopes, C. W. G., & de Oliveira, F. C. R. (2012). Didelphis aurita (Marsupialia: Didelphidae): A new host for Sarcocystis lindsayi (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae). The Journal of Parasitology, 98(6), 1262-1265. https://doi.org/10.1645/GE-3140.1. PMid:22571294.
Su, C. L., Khan, A., Zhou, P., Majumdar, D., Ajzenberg, D., Dardé, M. L., Zhu, X. Q., Ajioka, J. W., Rosenthal, B., Dubey, J. P., & Sibley, L. D. (2012). Globally diverse Toxoplasma gondii isolates comprise six major clades originating from a small number of distinct ancestral lineages. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109(15), 5844-5849. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1203190109. PMid:22431627.
Šukytė, T., Butkauskas, D., Juozaitytė-Ngugu, E., Švažas, S., & Prakas, P. (2023). Molecular Confirmation of Accipiter Birds of Prey as Definitive Hosts of Numerous Sarcocystis Species, including Sarcocystis sp., Closely Related to Pathogenic S. calchasi. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 12(6), 752. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12060752. PMid:37375442.
Šukytė, T., Juozaitytė-Ngugu, E., Švažas, S., Butkauskas, D., & Prakas, P. (2024). The genetic identification of numerous apicomplexan Sarcocystis species in intestines of Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo). Animals (Basel), 14(16), 2391. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162391. PMid:39199925.
Taylor, M. A., Coop, R. L., & Wall, R. L. (2017). Parasitologia Veterinária (4. ed.). Guanabara Koogan.
Upton, S. J., Campbell, T. W., Weigel, M., & McKown, R. D. (1990). The Eimeriidae (Apicomplexa) of raptors: Review of the literature and description of new species of the genera Caryospora and Eimeria. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 68(6), 1256-1265. https://doi.org/10.1139/z90-187.
Upton, S. J., & McKown, R. D. (1992). The red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis, a native definitive host of Frenkelia microti (Apicomplexa) in North America. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 28(1), 85-90. https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-28.1.85. PMid:1548806.
Verma, S. K., Von Dohlen, A. R., Mowery, J. D., Scott, D., Rosenthal, B. M., Dubey, J. P., & Lindsay, D. S. (2017a). Sarcocystis jamaicensis n. sp., from Red-Tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) definitive host and IFN-γ gene knockout mice as experimental intermediate host. The Journal of Parasitology, 103(5), 555-564. https://doi.org/10.1645/17-10. PMid:28644743.
Verma, S. K., Von Dohlen, A. R., Mowery, J. D., Scott, D., Cerqueira-Cézar, C. K., Rosenthal, B. M., Dubey, J. P., & Lindsay, D. S. (2017b). Sarcocystis strixi n. sp. from a barred owl (Strix varia) definitive host and interferon gamma gene knockout mice as experimental intermediate host. The Journal of Parasitology, 103(6), 768-777. https://doi.org/10.1645/16-173. PMid:28783438.
Votýpka, J., Modrý, D., Oborník, M., Šlapeta, J., & Lukeš, J. (2016) Apicomplexa. In J. M. Archibald, A. G. B. Simpson, C. H. Slamovits, L. Margulis, M. Melkonian, D. J. Chapman, & J. O. Corliss (Eds.), Handbook of the Protists (pp. 1-58). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28149-0_20.
Ward, J. M., Gartrell, B. D., Conklin, J. R., & Battley, P. F. (2011). Midazolam as an adjunctive therapy for capture myopathy in Bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica baueri) with prognostic indicators. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 47(4), 925-935. https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-47.4.925. PMid:22102663.
Wünschmann, A., Rejmanek, D., Conrad, P. A., Hall, N., Cruz-Martinez, L., Vaughn, S. B., & Barr, B. C. (2010). Natural fatal Sarcocystis falcatula infections in free-ranging eagles in North America. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation : Official Publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc, 22(2), 282-289. https://doi.org/10.1177/104063871002200222. PMid:20224094.
Ziegler, L., Parmentier, S. L., Fischer, D., Heckmann, J., Klopfleisch, R., Kershaw, O., Ziegler, U., Neurath, H., Schmidt, V., & Lierz, M. (2018). Investigations into causes of neurologic signs and mortality and the first identification of Sarcocystis calchasi in free-ranging woodpeckers in Germany. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine : Official Publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, 49(1), 247-251. https://doi.org/10.1638/2017-0087R.1. PMid:29517425.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Carlos Nei Ortúzar-Ferreira, Rodrigo Gredilha-Duarte, Gabriela de Carvalho Cid, Bruno Pereira Berto, Carlos Wilson Gomes Lopes