Discovery of three novel coccidian parasites infecting California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), with evidence of sexual replication and interspecies pathogenicity.

Journal article

Enteric protozoal infection was identified in 5 stranded California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). Microscopically, the apical cytoplasm of distal jejunal enterocytes contained multiple stages of coccidian parasites, including schizonts with merozoites and spherical gametocytes, which were morphologically similar to coccidians. By histopathology, organisms appeared to be confined to the intestine and accompanied by only mild enteritis. Using electron microscopy, both sexual (microgametoc...

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Authors: Colegrove, K; Grigg, M; Carlson-Bremer, D; Miller, R; Gulland, F

• Journal: Journal of parasitology
• Volume: 97
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 868-877
• Publication date: 2011-10-01
• DOI: 10.1645/ge-2756.1
• EISSN: 1937-2345
• ISSN: 0022-3395
• Language: English
• Keywords: Sequence Alignment; Sarcocystosis; Sarcocystis; Female; Molecular Sequence Data; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Enterocytes; Phoca; Animals; Male; Antibodies, Protozoan; Sea Lions; Toxoplasmosis, Animal; Coccidiosis; Toxoplasma; Immunohistochemistry; DNA, Protozoan; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Intestine, Small; Neospora