Hypnozoites of Cystoisospora Frankel, 1977 (Apicomplexa: Cystoisosporinae) in Mongolian gerbil lymph nodes and their transmission to cats free of coccidia.

Abstract

Nine Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were fed with 5.6 x 10(5) Cystoisospora sporulated oocysts orally. After 28 days post inoculation (DPI) four animals were euthanized, and their mesenteric lymph nodes were removed and they were submitted to peptic digestion technique and samples of them were submitted to transmission electron microscopy for hypnozoites identification. From lymph nodes digestion 4 x 10(2) hypnozoites/mL were obtained. Morphologically they were banana or stick form in shape, and measured 18.17 (15.09-20.02) in length by 6.21 (5.48-7.06) microm in width. In the same experiment, at 6 DAI, five gerbils were posted and liver, mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen were removed from each animal and were homogenized before given to three cats free of coccidia. All visceras used individually in each cat were capable to induce infection of species, C. felis and C. rivolta.