Occurrence of Sarcocystis Lankester, 1882, in wild geese in Saskatchewan

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Wobeser, G., Leighton, F. A., Cawthorn, R. J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1981
• Subjects: Canada; Lankester; Branta canadensis
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z81-224; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z81-224

Skeletal and cardiac muscle from wild geese dead of avian cholera was examined for Sarcocystis sp. infection. Microscopic cysts of Sarcocystis sp. were found in skeletal muscle of 42 of 88 Lesser Snow Geese, Anser caerulescens caerulescens, 1 of 7 Ross Geese, Anser rossi, and 1 of 3 Canada Geese, Branta canadensis, collected during April and May in central Saskatchewan. Two types of microcysts were present in skeletal muscle; one type had finger-like protrusions on the primary cyst wall; the other had a relatively smooth primary cyst wall. Both types were found in one Lesser Snow Goose. Microscopic cysts were found in the heart of 8 of 150 Lesser Snow Geese and 3 of 35 Ross Geese. All cysts in the myocardium had a smooth primary cyst wall.