Experimental infection of raccoon dogs with Sarcocystis cruzi and S. miescheriana.

Raccoon dogs were successfully infected with Sarcocystis cruzi and S. miescheriana by oral inoculation of infected cardiac muscle of cattle and pigs slaughtered in Saitama and Okinawa prefectures, respectively. Oocysts and sporocysts passed by raccoon dogs were similar in measurements and morphological features as reported of S. cruzi and S. miescheriana respectively. The prepatent and patent periods of both S. cruzi and S. miescheriana were 9 and 66-72 days respectively in raccoon dogs.