Influence of size of sporocyst inoculum upon the size and number of sarcocysts of Sarcocystis falcatula which develop in the brown-headed cowbird

The influence of the number of sporocysts in the inoculum of Sarcocystis falcatula on the morphology of the sarcocysts has not been reported in the literature. To determine if there is a relationship, different number of sporocysts were inoculated orally into wild-caught cowbirds. After 14 weeks, the cowbirds were euthanised and muscle tissue was examined grossly and by histologic sections. Sarcocysts were compared based on the numbers which developed and their sizes. There was a linear increase in the number of sarcocysts as the size of the inoculum increased, however, the size of the sarcocysts became smaller with the increase in number of sporocysts inoculated.