Fatal Hepatic Sarcocystosis in Two Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus)

• DOI: 10.2307/3284422
• Publication Date: 2006-05-06T14:20:23Z
• Authors: M. M. Garner; B. C. Barr; A. E. Packham; A. E. Marsh; K. A. Burek-Hunti...; R. K. Wilson; J. P. Dubey
• Keywords: Sarcocystosis; Rhoptry; Conoid; Schizogony; Coccidia

Fatal hepatic sarcocystosis was diagnosed in 2 polar bears from a zoo Anchorage, Alaska. Gross lesions were icterus and systemic petechiae. Marked microscopic detected only the liver included severe random necrotizing hepatitis with hemorrhage. Only asexual stages of an apicomplexan parasite within hepatocytes, rare extracellular zoites seen foci necrosis. The divided by endopolygeny, occasionally merozoites formed rosettes around central residual body. Ultrastructural features conoid low numbers micronemes at apical pole, centrally located nuclei, absence rhoptries. parasites failed to react anti-Neospora sp., anti-Toxoplasma gondii, or anti-Sarcocystis neurona sera. ultrastructural morphology are most compatible protozoan genus Sarcocystis. life cycle this is not known.