ABSTRACT
Species of the genus Sarcocystis are apicomplexan parasites of the order Eucoccidiorida, closely related to the genera Besnoitia, Caryospora, Cystoisospora, Frenkelia, Hammondia, Neospora, and Toxoplasma. Species of Sarcocystis undergo the typical apicomplexan life cycle with three developmental stages: gametogony, sporogony and schizogony; gametogony and sporogony occur within the definitive host while schizogony occurs in the intermediate host. Depending on species of Sarcocystis, the time required for bradyzoites to develop and become infectious to definitive hosts can be short or extended. The number of schizogonous generations may be an important factor. Sporogony of species of Sarcocystis occurs in the lamina propria of the intestine. Bledsoe suggested that the highly vascular structure of the lamina propria provides adequate oxygen supply for the aerobic process of sporogony. In the genus Sarcocystis there are approximately 130 named species, of which both intermediate and definitive hosts are recognized for 64 species.
