Investigation of Sarcocystis Spp. Infection in Free-Ranging American Black Bears (Ursus Americanus) and Grizzly Bears (Ursus Arctos Horribilis) in British Columbia, Canada

Fatal hepatic sarcocystosis in three captive and one free-ranging pinniped

“…Sections of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and/or frozen liver from all four animals were collected and sent to the Molecular Parasitology Section at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland for molecular characterization. We also obtained a frozen liver section from a black bear that had hepatic sarcocystosis with visible schizonts present ( Lee et al, 2021 ). DNA was extracted using the DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit (Qiagen, Inc., Valencia, CA, USA) according to manufacturer instructions.…”

“…Sarcocystis canis was first described as the causative agent associated with encephalitis, hepatitis, and generalized coccidiosis in dogs ( Dubey and Speer, 1991 ). Hepatitis associated with S. canis has also been diagnosed in a chinchilla ( Chinchilla laniger ), a horse ( Equus caballus ), black bears ( Ursus americanus) (reviewed in Dubey et al, 2016 ; Lee et al, 2021 ) and other Sarcocystis parasites found to be infecting brown bears ( Sarcocsytis arctosi ) and polar bears ( Sarcocystis spp.) have also been described ( Dubey et al, 2007 ; Garner et al, 1997 ).…”