Sarcocystis singaporensis: studies on host specificity, pathogenicity, and potential use as a biocontrol agent of wild rats.

Host specificity and pathogenicity of Sarcocystis singaporensis were investigated as a prerequisite to a subsequent application of the parasite as a biocontrol agent of wild rats in Egypt. After inoculation of 7 snake species comprising the families Elapidae, Viperidae, Colubridae, and Boidae with sarcocysts, sporocyst development was only observed in a reticulated python. Among amphibians, reptiles, and rodents that orally received various sporocyst doses in the laboratory, 2 x 10(4) sporocysts or more were lethal to roof rats Rattus rattus frugivorous, brown rats Rattus norvegicus, and bandicoot rats Nesokia indica. Sarcocysts developed in Rattus spp. and Nile grass rats Arvicanthis niloticus. Subsequently, the pathogenicity of S. singaporensis was tested under natural control situations offering bait pellets containing high amounts of sporocysts to a free-living population of roof rats, which was monitored by indirect census baiting commonly used in rodenticide evaluation. Ten days after consumption of the bait pellets, the infected population collapsed, leading to a control success of 73%. A negative control population, which received a placebo, remained stable. These data demonstrate for the first time that S. singaporensis can be used as a biocontrol agent of wild rats. However, an immunization experiment with roof rats in the laboratory showed that these are capable of mounting a rapid specific immune response resulting in survival of acute sarcocystosis.