ABSTRACT
A sarcocyst observed in a llama (Lama glama) was named Sarcocystis aucheniae but no other detail was provided.149 In Argentina, sarcocysts found in a guanaco, Lama guanicoe, were named Sarcocystis tilopodi based on having found it in a different species of Lama.1435 In Chile, macroscopic and microscopic sarcocysts were found in L. guanicoe which transmitted infection to dogs.722 Four dogs fed sarcocysts excreted sporocysts but 4 cats fed the same infected meat did not excrete sporocysts. Additionally, 1 dog fed isolated macrocysts also excreted sporocysts. Based on these results, the author suggested that the parasite in L. glama should be named S. lamacanis and the parasite in the species in L. guanicoe should be called S. guanicoe-canis.1435 In Germany, both microscopic and macroscopic sarcocysts were found in L. glama.1561 1 dog and 1 cat were fed isolated macroscopic sarcocysts; only the dog excreted oocysts. Moreover, another cat fed infected meat also did not excrete sporocysts. These experiments conrmed the ndings that sarcocysts from llamas are transmissible to dogs but not cats.722 The idea that 2 species of Sarcocystis (S. aucheniae and “ Sarcocystis lamacenis,” possibly S. lamacanis) infect alpacas was supported by others.1043,1127
Critical examination of the taxonomy of the Sarcocystis species led to the conclusion that there is only 1 valid name, S. aucheniae, and that there is no valid reason to separate species infecting llamas and alpacas (Vicugna pacos).1317 Because the sarcocyst that Brumpt rst recognized was macroscopic it seems reasonable to designate macroscopic species as S. aucheniae. A new name can be proposed for the microscopic species when its structure is described. Some authors have called the microscopic sarcocyst S. lamacanis,649 others have called it S. lamacensis.1490 There is no morphological description of the microcyst sarcocyst of the llama. The closest description is an illustration of the microcyst in a histologic section of the heart of a llama in gure 1 from Reference 393 reproduced here (Figure 13.1). Therefore, the names S. guanicoe-canis, S. lamacanis, S. lamacensis should be nomina dubia.
