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1 January 1992 Sarcocysts in the Florida Bobcat (Felis rufus floridanus)
Andrena J. Anderson, Ellis C. Greiner, Carter T. Atkinson, Melody E. Roelke
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Abstract

Sarcocysts were found in the tongue, diaphragm, heart, intestinal tunica muscularis, and skeletal muscle of bobcats (Felis rufus floridanus) collected in Florida (USA). The tongue was found to be the best indicator tissue for sarcocysts (P < 0.005). Thirty of 60 bobcats screened were found to contain sarcocysts in at least one of the muscle tissues examined. Of the positive bobcats, 28 of 28 tongues contained sarcocysts, while only 10 of 27 (37%), and 8 of 26 (31%) contained sarcocysts in the diaphragm or cardiac muscle, respectively. Although immune suppression has been suggested as a possible reason for formation of sarcocysts in some carnivores, no such correlation was evident in the bobcats. Comparisons of prey species taken by the panther and bobcat, and overlap of geographical range by the two species leave questions as to the source of infection, and the species of Sarcocystis that is infecting both felids.

Anderson, Greiner, Atkinson, and Roelke: Sarcocysts in the Florida Bobcat (Felis rufus floridanus)
Andrena J. Anderson, Ellis C. Greiner, Carter T. Atkinson, and Melody E. Roelke "Sarcocysts in the Florida Bobcat (Felis rufus floridanus)," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 28(1), 116-120, (1 January 1992). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-28.1.116
Received: 15 February 1991; Published: 1 January 1992
KEYWORDS
bobcats
Felis rufus floridanus
muscle
Sarcocystis sp.
sarcocysts
survey
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