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International Journal For Parasitology.... Dec 2023Fatal hepatic sarcocystosis was diagnosed as the cause of death in four pinnipeds: two captive Hawaiian monk seals (), a captive, and a free-ranging California sea lion...
Fatal hepatic sarcocystosis was diagnosed as the cause of death in four pinnipeds: two captive Hawaiian monk seals (), a captive, and a free-ranging California sea lion (). Based on necropsy, histopathology, electron microscopy and DNA sequencing, intralesional protozoal schizonts were determined to have caused the necrotizing hepatitis observed. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) revealed schizonts similar to in hepatocytes. PCR-DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis at the conserved and variable gene markers within the nuclear rRNA gene array from schizont-laden tissue established that the parasites were indistinguishable from at the locus. However, six distinct single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were resolved at suggesting that the parasites infecting pinnipeds were distinct from which commonly infects bears and dogs. We hypothesize that the parasite represents a novel variant that we refer to as . like that infects pinnipeds. The definitive host of is enigmatic and its life cycle incomplete. These findings document a critical need to identify the life cycle(s), definitive host(s), and all susceptible marine and terrestrial intermediate hosts of and the like variant infecting pinnipeds.
PubMed: 38059179
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.10.010 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Dec 2022is a zoonotic pathogen that threatens public health and the quality of food safety. To determine the spp. prevalence in ruminants (Ruminantia) in China, we conducted a... (Review)
Review
is a zoonotic pathogen that threatens public health and the quality of food safety. To determine the spp. prevalence in ruminants (Ruminantia) in China, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Data were collected from English databases (PubMed and Web of Science) and Chinese databases (Chinese Web of knowledge (CNKI), Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP) and Wan Fang databases). A total of 20,301 ruminants from 54 publications were evaluated. The pooled prevalence of spp. among ruminants in mainland China was 65% (95% CI: 57-72%). Our results indicate that sarcocystosis is prevalent in ruminants, which show significant geographical differences. Therefore, it there is a need for continuous monitoring of infections of spp. in ruminants to reduce the threat to human health and economic losses to the animal industry.
PubMed: 36611757
DOI: 10.3390/ani13010149 -
Sarcocystis neurona and related Sarcocystis spp. shed by opossums (Didelphis spp.) in South America.Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia... 2021Protozoan parasites of the genus Sarcocystis are obligatory heteroxenous cyst-forming coccidia that infect a wide variety of animals and encompass approximately 200... (Review)
Review
Protozoan parasites of the genus Sarcocystis are obligatory heteroxenous cyst-forming coccidia that infect a wide variety of animals and encompass approximately 200 described species. At least four Sarcocystis spp. (S. falcatula, S. neurona, S. lindsayi and S. speeri) use opossums (Didelphis spp.) as definitive hosts, and two of them, S. neurona and S. falcatula, are known to cause disease in horses and birds, respectively. Opossums are restricted to the Americas, but their distribution in the Americas is heterogeneous. Five Didelphis spp. are distributed in South America (D. aurita, D. albiventris, D. marsupialis, D. imperfecta and D. pernigra) whereas just one opossum species (D. virginiana) is found in North America. Studies conducted in the last decades show that Sarcocystis spp., derived from South American Didelphis spp., have biological and genetic differences in relation to Sarcocystis spp. shed by the North American opossum D. virginiana. The aim of this review was to address the peculiar scenario of Sarcocystis species shed by South American opossums, with a special focus on diagnosis, epidemiology, and animal infections, as well as the genetic characteristics of these parasites.
Topics: Animals; Birds; Didelphis; Horse Diseases; Horses; Opossums; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis; South America
PubMed: 34259741
DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612021059 -
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 -
Comparative Medicine Jun 2020Sarcocystosis, presumably caused by , was diagnosed in 2 purpose-bred, SPF Dutch belted laboratory rabbits from a class A breeder. The rabbits were purchased by a...
Sarcocystosis, presumably caused by , was diagnosed in 2 purpose-bred, SPF Dutch belted laboratory rabbits from a class A breeder. The rabbits were purchased by a research facility and conventionally housed individually in stainless-steel suspended caging. At necropsy and tissue harvest, gross lesions were not observed in the muscles. Upon histologic examination, sarcocysts were found in the eyelid of one rabbit and the tongue of the other. To our knowledge, this report is the first description of infection by spp. in laboratory rabbits.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Laboratory; Muscles; Rabbits; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis
PubMed: 32384940
DOI: 10.30802/AALAS-CM-19-000113 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023Sarcocystosis is an intracellular parasitic disease caused by spp. that has a worldwide prevalence. Symptoms of the disease include diarrhea and muscle pain. The... (Review)
Review
Sarcocystosis is an intracellular parasitic disease caused by spp. that has a worldwide prevalence. Symptoms of the disease include diarrhea and muscle pain. The disease poses a threat to the health of animals. The aim of this review is to investigate the global prevalence of infection in sheep and goats during 2013-2022. We searched five databases: Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. A total of 36 articles containing 44 datasets met the criteria and were included in the study. The total infection rates of in sheep and goats were 66.3% (95% CI, 51.79-79.38%) and 52.1% (95% CI, 29.45-74.23%), respectively. It was found that species tend to have a host species preference. Coinfection of and often occurred in sheep, and goats were frequently infected with . Age and sex were identified as risk factors for infection in sheep and goats. The infection rates of female and male animals were significantly different, with females having a higher infection rate. Age-adjusted analysis showed that infection rates in animals older than one year were higher than in animals younger than one year. This study unveiled the global distribution of and sheds light on its transmission in sheep and goats.
PubMed: 37513749
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070902 -
Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia... 2020In this study, we described the morphological features and unusual presentations of hydatidosis, fasciolosis, and eosinophilic myositis caused by Sarcocystis species...
In this study, we described the morphological features and unusual presentations of hydatidosis, fasciolosis, and eosinophilic myositis caused by Sarcocystis species diagnosed at the slaughterhouse lines. Twenty-seven samples of atypical parasitic lesions from distinct cattle were evaluated, of which 12 corresponded to hydatidosis, 11 to fasciolosis, and 4 to eosinophilic sarcocystosis. Hydatid cysts were observed mainly in the heart, with all cases involving the left ventricle. Fasciolosis lesions involved mainly the lungs, and were characterized by a focal nodular elevated area involving the edges of the lobes. Intralesional trematodes were observed in three cases. Sarcocystosis lesions were observed in four cases, and lesions were primarily located in the skeletal and cardiac muscles. Grossly, they presented as focal or focally extensive streaks, patches, or numerous nodules that were greenish to mildly yellowish. Histologically, all the cases had intralesional ruptured cysts of Sarcocystis that were associated with severe eosinophilic myositis and myocarditis. Parasitic lesions in atypical locations and/or with aberrant responses should be promptly identified because it may mistakenly diagnosed as other potentially zoonotic diseases, such as cysticercosis and tuberculosis.
Topics: Abattoirs; Animals; Brazil; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Helminthiasis, Animal
PubMed: 32667499
DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612020043 -
Journal of the South African Veterinary... Aug 2020Impalas (Aepyceros melampus) are common African antelope. A retrospective study was conducted of 251 impala cases from game farms, national parks and zoos submitted by...
Impalas (Aepyceros melampus) are common African antelope. A retrospective study was conducted of 251 impala cases from game farms, national parks and zoos submitted by veterinarians and pathologists in South Africa (2003-2016). Histopathology slides as well as records of macroscopic lesions and additional diagnostic tests performed were examined. Non-infectious conditions, such as acute pulmonary congestion and oedema, cachexia, traumatic injury and anaesthetic-related mortality were the most common causes of morbidity and mortality. Bacterial sepsis was the most common infectious disease, whilst skeletal muscle and myocardial sarcocystosis and verminous cholangitis and pneumonia were the most common parasitic diseases. Although the retrospective nature of this study limits the significance of the relative prevalence of lesions in the three locations, management decisions and diagnostic plans may be informed by the results. Impala from game farms had significantly more cachexia cases than those from other locations. Impala from zoos had significantly more lymphoid depletion than those from other locations. These findings suggest that nutrition and pasture management, enclosure design, management of intra- and interspecies aggression and improved anaesthetic protocols could improve animal welfare and survival of impala on game farms and in zoos. This report presents a detailed survey of diseases and conditions found in impala that provides baseline data for veterinary pathologists.
Topics: Animal Diseases; Animals; Antelopes; Female; Male; Retrospective Studies; South Africa
PubMed: 32787424
DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v91i0.1965 -
Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia... 2021The macroscopic, histological, and molecular aspects of Sarcocystis spp. were examined in the tissues of two cattle and four sheep, 16 and eight fragments analyzed...
The macroscopic, histological, and molecular aspects of Sarcocystis spp. were examined in the tissues of two cattle and four sheep, 16 and eight fragments analyzed respectively, condemned in the slaughterhouse. All 24 samples were collected and analyzed for detecting macrocysts and macroscopic lesions. Subsequently, subdivided for direct examination, polymerase chain reaction and histopathological examination. All sheep tissues samples had grossly white round to oval tissue cysts, ranging from 0.3 to 1 cm in diameter. In contrast, cattle tissues did not present grossly visible cysts but had randomly distributed white-yellow foci with irregular contours. All samples from cattle and sheep had microscopic cysts. In the histological examination of sheep tissues, circular to elongated, encapsulated, basophilic structures ranging from 30 to 3,000 µm in length and 20 to 1,000 µm in width were observed within the skeletal muscle fibers. In cattle tissues, all cardiac muscle four fragments analyzed contained circular to elongated basophilic structures inside cardiomyocytes and in some Purkinje fibers. PCR were performed using the primers: 2L and 3H. In conclusion, all 24 tissues were infected with Sarcocystis spp., and S. gigantea (in sheep) and S. cruzi (in cattle). were the identified species by sequencing.
Topics: Abattoirs; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis; Sheep; Sheep Diseases
PubMed: 34133647
DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612021050 -
Iranian Journal of Parasitology 2022We aimed to evaluate contamination in conventional and industrial raw beef burger samples from butcheries and retail stores in Hamadan, western Iran.
BACKGROUND
We aimed to evaluate contamination in conventional and industrial raw beef burger samples from butcheries and retail stores in Hamadan, western Iran.
METHODS
Overall, 80 samples including 30 conventional and 50 industrial hamburgers were randomly obtained from different butcheries and supermarkets. All specimens were studied by digestion method following microscopic examination. Samples' genomic ribosomal DNA were amplified and nucleotide sequences were analyzed by BLAST for comparison with the sequences in the gene bank of the NCBI.
RESULTS
bradyzoites were detected in 46 of 80 (57.6%) samples. Positive specimens were included as 46 (57.6%) and 30 (37.5%) by digestion and molecular method, respectively. Differences between two studied (digestion and molecular) methods was statistically significant (=0.00). Twenty-six (86.5 %) of 30 conventional beef burgers and 20 (40%) of 50 industrial burgers were positive for sp. by digestion method. There was a significant difference between infested conventional and industrial beef burgers (=0.01).
CONCLUSION
The parasitic contamination of beef burgers implied a high level of infection in cattle. Felids as the definitive hosts for urged on the improvement of the hygienic conditions of keeping and feeding livestock in order to reduce the infection. Molecular techniques confirm species in meat products with high sensitivity and distinguish it from human species.
PubMed: 36046555
DOI: 10.18502/ijpa.v17i1.9014