OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF SARCOCYSTIS PARASITE ISOLATED FROM SHEEP IN YAZD PROVINCE, IRAN
Introduction: Sarcocystis species are one of the most important meat borne parasites. Sarcocystosis causes several symptoms in human as well as numerous diseases with a high economic impact on livestock. In the current paper at first the results of a pilot study for determination of disease agent in the lambs of Yazd province in central Iran is presented. Then the status of parasite in red meat products in the study region is discussed. Materials and Methods: Muscles of 70 slaughtered sheep from both sexes and different ages were investigated for presence of parasite cysts from September to October 2013. Carcass inspection with naked eye at industrial slaughterhouses of Yazd for macroscopic cysts, and pepsin-digestion method for microscopic cysts was performed on common infected sites
Prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in processed meat products by using digestion and impression smear methods in Hamedan, Iran
Sarcocystis is a common zoonotic parasite which can be transmitted through ingestion of contaminated, undercooked meat and is a major cause of economic loss in many countries. This study aimed to detect Sarcocystis parasite in processed meat products in Hamedan, Iran. A total of 20 samples of hamburger, sausage, and cocktail were collected from markets from three factories in Hamedan, Iran. The samples were examined by digestion and impression smear methods for detecting Sarcocystis parasite. The results showed that 80% of all tested samples were infected with Sarcocystis. The infection rate in hamburger, sausage, and cocktail were 87.5, 83.33, and 66.66%, respectively. The highest infestation rate was observed in hamburger. The present study shows that the rate of Sarcocystis contamination in meat products is very high. So, evaluation of raw meat quality in addition to applying hygienic programs at all stages of the production line is inevitable. Also, consumption of undercooked meat products or fast food should be avoided.
Sarcocystis levinei infection in Philippine water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).
Ultrastructural studies of sarcocysts obtained from Philippine water buffaloes revealed the presence of the commonly reported macroscopic species, Sarcocystis fusiformis, and the microscopic species Sarcocystis levinei (Dissanaike A, Kan S. Studies on Sarcocystis in Malaysia. I: Sarcocystis levinei n.sp. from the water buffalo Bubalus bubalis. Z Parasitenkd 1978;55:127-38), (Huong L, Dubey J, Uggla A. Redescription of Sarcocystis levinei Dissanaike and Kan, 1978 (Protozoa: Sarcocystidae) of the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). J Parasitol 1997;83:1148-52). The globular to oval microscopic cysts commonly observed in the muscles of the diaphragm and neck exhibit compartmentalized arrangement of zoites with septal partitions and measure 13-48 microns in diameter. The parasitophorous vacuolar membrane of sarcocyst bears minute and hair-like villar protrusions measuring 2.3-2.75 microns long emanating at certain distances from the primary cyst wall and lack microfilaments. Villar protrusions have expanded to dome-shaped base measuring 0.33-1.6 microns long by 0.22-1.0 micron wide, and intermediate and tapering distal segments bent approximately 90 degrees and run parallel to the cyst surface. The distal segments at some areas join to form conical tufts. The primary cyst wall bears numerous prominent undulations that are arranged in small clusters. The ground substance is 0.42-0.57 micron thick. This paper documents the first report of S. levinei in Philippine water buffaloes possessing the type 7 cyst wall.