Muscle (tongue and oesophagus) from African buffaloe, Syncerus caffer was examined for the presence of sarcocysts. Twenty-two tongue samples (66.7%) from 33 adult buffaloes (older than one year) were infected with numerous macrocysts and a few microcysts of a Sarcocystis sp. In two of these animals sarcocysts were also found in the oesophagi. Furthermore, an oesophagus from an additional older buffalo was positive. Sarcocysts were not seen in 7 buffaloes younger than one year. Light and electron microscopic investigations revealed sarcocysts with a cyst wall ultrastructure belonging to the type 21 of the classification by Dubey et al. (1989a). For the first time this type of sarcocyst is described in African buffaloes. Encapsulation of the host cell (“secondary cyst wall”), often present in other Sarcocystis species with macrocysts, was lacking. The cyst wall was morphologically similar to S. fusiformis isolated from the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). However, dimorphism of cystozoites, not known in S. fusiformis, was noted. Some sarcocysts had short plump, and others long bananashaped cystozoites. This phenomenon is discussed, considering also the possibility of sexual dimorphism.
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