Excystation rates and infectivity of sporocysts of Sarcocystis cruzi exposed to different treatments and storages.

The effect of some chemical and anatomical factors on the excystability and infectivity in cell culture of sporocysts of Sarcocystis cruzi was investigated. A significantly (P < 0.001) higher excystation rate (ER) occurred when sodium bicarbonate was added to the excysting fluid at concentrations between 0.075 and 0.3 M. Sporocysts collected from different dogs had different ER. In contrast, although not uniformly distributed along the intestinal lumen, the sporocysts collected from the different tracts of the intestine showed similar ER. The period of storage did not affect the excystability of the sporocysts; however, it influenced the pattern of growth of the sporozoites in cell culture. Sporozoites excysted from sporocysts stored for approximately 2 years grew slower and produced significantly fewer merozoites compared to those excysted from sporocysts stored for 5-7 months.