Sarcocystis is a genus of parasitic Apicomplexan alveolates. Species in this genus infect reptiles, birds and mammals. The name is derived from Greek: sarkos = flesh and kystis = bladder. There are about 130 recognised species in this genus. Revision of the taxonomy of this genus is ongoing and it is possible that all the currently recognised species may in fact be a single species or much smaller number of species that can infect multiple hosts. The parasite's life cycle typically involves a predator and a prey animal. A single species may infect multiple prey or predator animals. In at least 56 species definitive and intermediate hosts are known. Many species are named after their recognised hosts Further material on this genus can be found on the Sarcocystis page.

Mammalian species infected

Superorder Euarchontoglires

Order Lagomorpha Order Primates Genus Macaca Order Rodentia Family Cricetidae Family Erinaceidae Family Muridae Genus Bunomys Genus Maxomys Genus Rattus Family Sciuridae Genus Spermophilus

Superorder Laurasiatheria

Order Artiodactyla Suborder Ruminantia Family Antilocapridae Family Bovidae Genus Bison Genus Bos Genus Capra Genus Ovis Family Cervidae Genus Cervus Genus Dama Family Giraffidae Suborder Suina Suborder Tylopoda Genus Camelus Genus Lama Genus Vicugna Order Carnivora Suborder Caniformia Family Canidae Genus Nyctereutes Genus Vulpes Tribe Canini Genus Canis Genus Lycaon Superfamily Pinnipedia Family Phocidae Family Otariidae Family Mustelidae Genus Mustela Family Procyonidae Family Ursidae Genus Ursus Suborder Feloidea Genus Felis Genus Panthera Order Cetacea Order Perissodactyla Genus Equus

Superorder Xenarthra

Marsupials

Genus Didelphis

Bird species infected

This genus infects at least 11 orders, 22 families, 38 genera and 46 species. Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae Genus Anas Order Ciconiiformes Family Ardeidae Family Threskiornithidae Order Charadriiformes Family Scolopacidae Order Coliiformes Family Coliidae Order Columbiformes Family Columbidae Order Falconiformes Family Accipitridae Family Falconidae Order Galliformes Family Phasianidae Family Tetraonidae Order Passeriformes Family Fringillidae Family Icteridae Family Paridae Family Turdidae Order Pelecaniformes Family Sulidae Order Phoenicopteriformes Family Phoenicopteridae Order Psittaciformes Family Psittacidae Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae Genus Strix Family Tytonidae Genus Tyto

Reptile species infected

Snakes

Family Colubridae Family Elapidae Family Pythonidae Family Viperidae

Lizards

Family Chamaeleonidae Family Gekkonidae Family Lacertidae Family Scincidae Family Teiidae

Species infecting mammals

Species infecting birds

Species infecting reptiles

Species infected but parasite not yet identified

A number of species have been identified as being infected with Sarcocytis but the parasite itself has not been identified to species level. These host species include: pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), yak (Bos grunniens), northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus), camel (Camelus dromedarius), alpine ibex (Capra ibex), hard ground swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli branderi), red deer (Cervus elaphus), Hoffmann's two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni), beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), sea otter (Enhydra lutris), bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), donkey (Equus asinus), cougars (Felis concolor coryi, Felis concolor stanleyana), bobcat (Felis rufus floridanus), Atlantic white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus acutus), guanaco (Lama guanicoe), alpaca (Vicugna pacos), otter (Lutra lutra), wild dog (Lycaon pictus), Bartels's spiny rat (Maxomys bartelsii), Musschenbroek's spiny rat (Maxomys musschenbroekii), prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), common European weasel (Mustela nivalis), mink (Mustela vison), muskrat (Ondatra zibethica), mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus), Grant's gazelle (Nanger granti), slow loris (Nycticebus coucang), African lions (Panthera leo), leopard (Panthera pardus), tiger (Panthera tigris), baboon (Papio cynocephalus), Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans), bush rat (Rattus fuscipes), yellow-tailed rat (Rattus xanthurus), tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus), African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus), polar bear (Ursus maritimus), sea lion (Zalophus californianus) and hainag (also known as dzo or khainag) goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), green backed heron (Butorides striatus), great egret (Casmerodius albus), little blue heron (Egretta caerulea), American white ibis (Eudocimus albus), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), northern gannet (Morus bassanus), yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea), common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), thick-billed parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha), northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), capercaillies (Tetrao urogallus), masked owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) and mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) southern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix), rhinoceros horned viper (Bitis nasicornis), carpet python (Morelia spilotes) and desert viper (Pseudocerastes persicus)

Hosts infected where parasite species is known

Species infecting animals important to man

Species infecting cats

Sarcocystis bovifelis Sarcocystis cymruensis Sarcocystis felis Sarcocystis fusiformis Sarcocystis gigantea Sarcocystis hirsuta Sarcocystis leporum Sarcocystis medusiformis Sarcocystis moulei Sarcocystis muris Sarcocystis ovifelis Sarcocystis tenella

Species infecting dogs

Sarcocystis asinus Sarcocystis bertrami Sarcocystis bigemina Sarcocystis bovicanis Sarcocystis cameli Sarcocystis capracanis Sarcocystis cruzi Sarcocystis equicanis Sarcocystis fayeri Sarcocystis gracilis Sarcocystis hemionilatrantis Sarcocystis hericanis Sarcocystis horvathi Sarcocystis levinei Sarcocystis medusiformis Sarcocystis meischeriana Sarcocystis mihoensis Sarcocystis ovicanis Sarcocystis rileyi Sarcocystis suicanis Sarcocystis tenella

Species infecting sheep

Sarcocystis arieticanis Sarcocystis tenella (Sarcocystis ovicanis) Sarcocystis gigantea (Sarcocystis ovifelis) Sarcocystis medusiformis

Species infecting horses

Sarcocystis asinus Sarcocystis bertrami Sarcocystis equicanis Sarcocystis fayeri Sarcocystis neurona (Sarcocystis falcatula)

Species infecting pigs

Sarcocystis medusiformis Sarcocystis meischeriana (Sarcocystis suicanis) Sarcocystis porcifelis Sarcocystis suihominis

Species infecting cattle

Sarcocystis bovifelis Sarcocystis bovihominis (Sarcocystis hominis) Sarcocystis cruzi (Sarcocystis bovicanis) Sarcocystis hirsuta

Species infecting water buffalo

Sarcocystis buffalonis Sarcocystis dubeyi Sarcocystis fusiformis Sarcocystis levinei

Species infecting goats

Sarcocystis capracanis Sarcocystis hericanis Sarcocystis moulei Sarcocystis orientalis

Species infecting chickens

Sarcocystis horvathi

Species infecting reindeer

Sarcocystis hardangeri Sarcocystis rangi Sarcocystis rangiferi

Species infecting llamoids

Sarcocystis aucheniae Sarcocystis tilopodi