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Research in Veterinary Science Nov 2023The increase of wild boar populations density and their meat consumption across Europe could expose humans to a plethora of foodborne diseases as sarcocystosis, caused...
The increase of wild boar populations density and their meat consumption across Europe could expose humans to a plethora of foodborne diseases as sarcocystosis, caused by the zoonotic protozoan Sarcocystis suihominis. Humans become infected by eating raw or undercooked pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) containing S. suihominis sarcocysts. Despite this, to date very few data are available on the risk of infection by this parasite to wild boar (Sus scrofa) meat consumers. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the occurrence of Sarcocystis spp. in wild boars from southern Italy, applying both histology and a new multiplex PCR assay targeting the cox1 gene. Between 2019 and 2020, 997 muscle tissues (i.e., n = 269 oesophagus, n = 277 diaphragms, n = 298 hearts, n = 153 tongues) from 311 wild boars were collected and screened by a combined histological and molecular approach. Overall, 251 (80.7%) animals tested were positive for Sarcocystis spp., and S. miescheriana whose definitive hosts are canids, was the only molecularly identified species. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the prevalence of Sarcocystis infection was found according to the wild boar age and muscle tissue. Findings outlined the low zoonotic potential of infection to humans via wild boar meat consumption in Italy and the importance of the application of new molecular methods in distinguishing different Sarcocystis species.
Topics: Animals; DNA, Mitochondrial; Italy; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; Phylogeny; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis; Sus scrofa; Swine; Swine Diseases; Electron Transport Complex IV
PubMed: 37812987
DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.105039 -
Cureus Jun 2022is an intracellular protozoan parasite that manifests as a sarcocyst within the muscle fibers of an intermediate host. commonly affects animals; in fact, cases of...
is an intracellular protozoan parasite that manifests as a sarcocyst within the muscle fibers of an intermediate host. commonly affects animals; in fact, cases of sarcocystosis involving human hosts are rare and often undiagnosed. The two types of species that may infect and utilize humans as a definitive host are and , both of which predominantly involve the gastrointestinal system. The low prevalence of intestinal sarcocystosis among humans is rarely accompanied by symptoms, except for individuals who ingest large amounts of the parasite. This study presents an unusual case of tongue sarcocystosis, a site that has not been previously reported, that was treated successfully with oral Albendazole for two weeks.
PubMed: 35844333
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.25912