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Clinical Microbiology Reviews Apr 2015Recurrent outbreaks of muscular sarcocystosis among tourists visiting islands in Malaysia have focused international attention on sarcocystosis, a disease once... (Review)
Review
Recurrent outbreaks of muscular sarcocystosis among tourists visiting islands in Malaysia have focused international attention on sarcocystosis, a disease once considered rare in humans. Sarcocystis species require two hosts, definitive and intermediate, to complete their life cycle. Humans can serve as definitive hosts, with intestinal sarcocystosis for two species acquired from eating undercooked meat: Sarcocystis hominis, from beef, and Sarcocystis suihominis, from pork. Symptoms such as nausea, stomachache, and diarrhea vary widely depending on the number of cysts ingested but appear more severe with pork than with beef. Humans serve as intermediate hosts for Sarcocystis nesbitti, a species with a reptilian definitive host, and possibly other unidentified species, acquired by ingesting sporocysts from feces-contaminated food or water and the environment; infections have an early phase of development in vascular endothelium, with illness that is difficult to diagnose; clinical signs include fever, headache, and myalgia. Subsequent development of intramuscular cysts is characterized by myositis. Presumptive diagnosis based on travel history to tropical regions, elevated serum enzyme levels, and eosinophilia is confirmed by finding sarcocysts in muscle biopsy specimens. There is no vaccine or confirmed effective antiparasitic drug for muscular sarcocystosis, but anti-inflammatory drugs may reduce symptoms. Prevention strategies are also discussed.
Topics: Animals; Enzymes; Humans; Intestines; Life Cycle Stages; Meat; Muscles; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis; Travel
PubMed: 25715644
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00113-14 -
Veterinary World Feb 2021Sarcocystosis is a zoonotic infection caused by various species of organisms with a worldwide geographic distribution. This study investigated the presence of...
BACKGROUND AND AIM
Sarcocystosis is a zoonotic infection caused by various species of organisms with a worldwide geographic distribution. This study investigated the presence of organisms in cattle and sheep slaughtered at an abattoir in Sulaimani Province in North Iraq.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 130 muscle samples were collected during May, June, and July of 2020, including 80 samples from sheep and 50 samples from cattle. Samples were examined visually for macrosarcocysts. The peptic digestion method was used to analyze fresh muscle tissue samples for detecting microsarcocysts followed by microscopic examination. Furthermore, muscle samples were fixed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histopathological examination.
RESULTS
In the gross examination, macroscopic cysts were not detected in both cattle and sheep; hence, all the prevalence data were obtained through microscopic observation of muscle samples. The peptic digestion method revealed the presence of banana-shaped bradyzoites in 90% and 92.5% of slaughtered cattle and sheep muscle samples, respectively. Organ-wise prevalence revealed that 95% and 92% of esophageal samples of sheep and cattle contained spp., respectively Moreover, 90% and 88% of sheep and cattle diaphragms were respectively infected. Histopathological examination of tissue sections revealed two morphologically distinct types of microsarcocysts, including thin-walled and thick-walled, in both sheep and cattle.
CONCLUSION
The suspected spp. were and in sheep and and or in cattle. Infective stages of different spp. are widespread in the study area environment.
PubMed: 33776313
DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.468-474 -
Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia... 2021Toxoplasmosis occurs worldwide causing economic losses to the animal production and problems to the public health. The study aimed to detect Toxoplasma gondii and...
Toxoplasmosis occurs worldwide causing economic losses to the animal production and problems to the public health. The study aimed to detect Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis spp.in 141 meat products from commercial meat cuts of pork, beef, and kibbeh sold in commercial markets from Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Samples were bioassayed in mice to isolate the parasite, and the parasite DNA detected by PCR targeting the 529 base pairs repeat element region (PCR-529-bp). All samples resulted negative on bioassay, whereas PCR positive for 9 (6,38%), distributed as 5/48 beef, 3/49 pork, and 1/44 kibbeh. PCR-positive were investigated for the the parasite genotype using multiplex-, nested-, and RFLP-PCR for 11 markers (SAG1, 5'-3'SAG2, alt.SAG2, SAG3, B-TUB, GRA6, L358, c22-8, c29-6, PK1, Apico). Complete genotype was determined on just one PCR-positive sample that matched MAS, TgCkBr89 and TgCkBr147 isolates already identified. In addition, nested- and RFLP-PCR targeting 18S rRNA was run for all PCR-positive samples and, the products, sequenced and aligned to the GenBank at NCBI website. Four samples showed 100% homology with T. gondii (GenBank #L37415.1), three with Sarcocystis hominis (GenBank #AF006471.1), two Sarcocystis cruzi (GenBank #AF176934.1), and one Sarcocystis hirsuta (GenBank #AF006469.1), indicating the circulation of T. gondii and Sarcocystis spp.
Topics: Animals; Brazil; DNA, Protozoan; Genotype; Meat; Mice; Sarcocystis; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis, Animal
PubMed: 34190775
DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612021051 -
Parasitology Oct 2022There is considerable debate concerning the life cycles and taxonomy of species in cattle. Of the 8 species of named from cattle, 2 ( and ) are morphologically...
There is considerable debate concerning the life cycles and taxonomy of species in cattle. Of the 8 species of named from cattle, 2 ( and ) are morphologically distinctive because their sarcocysts are microscopic and the sarcocyst wall is thin (<0.5 m thick). The sarcocysts of the remaining species (, , , , , ) have thick (5–8 m) walls indistinguishable by light microscopy, alone. To provide needed clarity, I herein review the history, nomenclature and life cycle of (originally named by Heydorn and associates from Germany), redescribe it and deposit specimens of its various life-cycle stages at a museum for future reference. I also provide means to distinguish this parasite from . Cats are the definitive hosts for both and . The sarcocysts of are microscopic, its sarcocyst wall is type 10g, it has 2 schizogonic stages in blood vessels and sarcocysts are formed between 25 and 30 days post-inoculation in striated muscles, but not in the heart. Sporulated oocysts are 17.1 × 12.7 m and sporocysts are 12.8 × 8.4 m. The sarcocysts of are macroscopic, up to 7 mm long, its wall is type 18. Nothing is known of the development of in cattle tissues and in cat intestine. Size of its oocysts and sporocysts is uncertain.
Topics: Cattle; Animals; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Cattle Diseases; Life Cycle Stages; Oocysts
PubMed: 35924738
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182022001044 -
Food and Waterborne Parasitology Mar 2024Bovine eosinophilic myositis is an inflammatory myopathy characterized by multiple focal or diffuse grey to green patches leading to condemnation of affected carcasses....
Bovine eosinophilic myositis is an inflammatory myopathy characterized by multiple focal or diffuse grey to green patches leading to condemnation of affected carcasses. Although its etiology is still uncertain, there is evidence that species may play a role in the development of eosinophilic myositis. The goal of the present study was to identify spp. in intralesional and extralesional tissues of condemned cattle carcasses, in order to evaluate the possible role of different bovine spp. in the etiology of bovine eosinophilic myositis. Muscle samples ( = 100) of 26 affected carcasses were collected in Northern Italy. One to five samples with lesions and two aliquots of tissue without lesions were collected from each carcass; lesions were grossly categorized in green focal lesions and green diffuse patches. Genomic DNA was extracted and analyzed by multiplex-PCR targeting different spp. Unidentified species were characterized morphologically (light microscopy, histology), ultrastructurally (scanning and transmission electron microscopy) and on the molecular level (complete 18S rRNA gene and partial gene sequencing). A bovine eosinophilic myositis prevalence of 0.017% was visually assessed by routine carcass inspection between 2014 and 2019 in Italy (184/1,108,150 slaughtered cattle). Out of 26 carcasses, 25 revealed the presence of at least one species (96.2%). The presence of spp. DNA was significantly more frequent in intralesional than in extralesional samples. Considering the different species, and were significantly more frequent in intralesional (41.7% and 50%, respectively) than in extralesional samples (1.9% and 15.4%, respectively), while there was no significant difference between the presence of and in intralesional (27.1% and 2.1%, respectively) and extralesional (30.8% and 1.9%, respectively) samples. The presence of an unnamed sp. showing thick-walled (3.7-5.4 μm) cysts with densely packed, flattened, undulating and narrow protrusions, which showed an S-shape in side view, was recorded in the diaphragm of two carcasses. Genomic DNA from individual sarcocysts isolated from the diaphragm was successfully amplified and further sequenced. Sequence comparison revealed <94.6% and 83.4% identity at 18S rRNA and genes, respectively, with other named spp., while the phylogenetic analysis clearly separated the unnamed sp. from the other spp. using cattle as intermediate hosts. The present study contributes to the understanding of the importance of different spp. in the pathogenesis of bovine eosinophilic myositis. The results emphasize the association of and with bovine eosinophilic myositis and highlight the presence of a new sp. using cattle as intermediate hosts. The name sp. nov. is proposed for the newly described species.
PubMed: 38313347
DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00220 -
Food and Waterborne Parasitology Mar 2020spp. are protozoan parasites which can infect a wide range of vertebrates, including humans; the latter can act as definitive hosts for two cattle spp.: and . Reports...
spp. are protozoan parasites which can infect a wide range of vertebrates, including humans; the latter can act as definitive hosts for two cattle spp.: and . Reports of intestinal sarcocystosis are well documented in the literature, but PCR-based methods have been scarcely used to identify species in human stools, and have been limited to the molecular analysis of 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene sequences. Since the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene is one of the most promising tools for distinguishing between closely related spp., and taking into account the lack of publicly available COI sequences, in the present study we obtained the first partial COI sequence of from human stool samples of patient with gastrointestinal symptoms. We designed specific COI primers to develop a multiplex PCR method for the identification of spp. in cattle. The submission of the COI sequence described herein and the unambiguous identification of through the application of the new multiplex PCR is important for determining the prevalence of this zoonotic spp. in meat and the risk for consumers.
PubMed: 32154396
DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2020.e00074 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jan 2023Bovine eosinophilic myositis (BEM) is a specific inflammatory myopathy, often associated with spp., with multifocal gray-green lesions leading to carcass condemnation...
Bovine eosinophilic myositis (BEM) is a specific inflammatory myopathy, often associated with spp., with multifocal gray-green lesions leading to carcass condemnation with considerable economic losses. Here is described a peculiar case of BEM that occurred in an adult (16 month) cattle, born in France, bred, and slaughtered in Italy at the end of 2021. On inspection, muscles showed the typical multifocal gray-green lesions that were sampled for, cytological, histological, and molecular investigations, while meat juice was subjected to IFAT for IgG. Genomic DNA was extracted from lesions, portions of healthy muscle and from meat juice pellet and analyzed by PCR targeting 18S rDNA, COI mtDNA and B1 genes, and sequenced. The cytology showed inflammatory cells mostly referable to eosinophils; at histology, protozoan cysts and severe granulomatous myositis were observed. A BEM lesion and meat juice pellet subjected to PCR showed, concurrently, sequences referable both to and . Meat juice IFAT resulted negative for IgG. Our findings highlight the first detection of DNA in association with in a BEM case, suggesting a multiple parasite infection associated with this pathology, although the actual role of infection in the pathophysiology of the diseases should be clarified.
PubMed: 36670850
DOI: 10.3390/ani13020311 -
Heliyon Jun 2020is a genus of eucoccidian parasites, which globally infects humans and various animals. In addition to economic losses in livestock industries, the parasite is a...
is a genus of eucoccidian parasites, which globally infects humans and various animals. In addition to economic losses in livestock industries, the parasite is a zoonosis that infects humans through contaminated beef and pork with the parasite sarcocysts. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess contamination in beef and industrial raw beef burger samples from butcheries and retail stores in Tehran, Iran. Overall, 180 samples of 90 beefs and 90 raw industrial beef burgers with at least 80% meat were randomly collected in Tehran, Iran. Samples were studied microscopically after peptic digestion. Furthermore, sample genomic DNAs were used in conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify approximately 900-bp fragments from 18S ribosomal DNA. Of 180 samples, 170 samples (94.4%) were microscopically and 161 samples (89.44%) were molecularly positive for spp. Eucoccidial DNA fragments were detected in 161 samples (89.4%), including 78 (86.6%) beef and 83 (92.2%) beef burger samples. No significant differences were found between the beef and beef burger infestations by bradyzoites using statistical analysis ( > 0.05). Statistically significant differences were seen between the sample type and the intensity of parasites in samples ( = 0.003). Furthermore, differences between the conventional PCR results (positive/negative) and the intensity of parasites in samples were statistically significant ( < 0.001). The considerable prevalence of spp. in beef and beef burger samples reflects high transmission of the parasite in meat producing cattle, which is important due to food hygiene. Although the most prevalent bovine species, , is not a zoonosis, it is highly recommended to follow guidelines on the parasite transmission prevention due to the existence of as a zoonotic bovine species.
PubMed: 32548332
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04171 -
Parasites & Vectors Dec 2020Six Sarcocystis species are known to use cattle (Bos taurus) as the intermediate host, two of which, S. hominis and S. heydorni, are zoonotic. There is a need for a...
BACKGROUND
Six Sarcocystis species are known to use cattle (Bos taurus) as the intermediate host, two of which, S. hominis and S. heydorni, are zoonotic. There is a need for a method that will enable rapid identification of the Sarcocystis species in cattle.
METHODS
The diaphragm muscles of 102 cattle from Lithuania were examined for the presence of Sarcocystis spp., using two different methods for species identification. Individual sarcocysts were isolated from squash preparations of the diaphragm muscle under the light microscope, followed by genetic characterisation of excised cysts using sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA (18S rRNA) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) genes. The same cattle muscle samples were digested and species-specific PCR analyses targeting cox1 were developed to identify the Sarcocystis isolates to the species level.
RESULTS
Under the light microscope, sarcocysts were detected in 87.3% of animals, and Sarcocystis infection was verified in all digested samples. Three species, namely S. cruzi (n = 20), S. bovifelis (n = 23) and S. hirsuta (n = 6), were identified by DNA sequence analysis of isolated sarcocysts. Based on sequence analysis of cox1, the level of genetic variability depended on Sarcocystis species and geographical location. Four Sarcocystis species, S. cruzi (96.1%), S. bovifelis (71.6%), S. hirsuta (30.4%) and S. hominis (13.7%), were confirmed in the digested samples. In individual samples, the most common finding was two species of Sarcocystis (44.1%), followed by three species (26.5%), a single species (24.5%) and four species (4.9%).
CONCLUSIONS
Although examination of tissue preparations under the light microscrope did not detect any sarcocysts belonging to S. hominis, this species was identified in the digested samples subjected to a cox1-specific PCR analysis. These results demonstrate the need for effective molecular diagnosis techniques to detect Sarcocystis spp., which may be present at a lower prevalence and not detectable among the limited number of sarcocysts identified individually under the light microscope.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Genetic Variation; Lithuania; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Species Specificity
PubMed: 33287879
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04473-9 -
Parasites & Vectors May 2021Sarcocystis species are obligatorily heteroxenous parasites, of which some are zoonotic, representing a public health and economic impact. This study investigated the...
BACKGROUND
Sarcocystis species are obligatorily heteroxenous parasites, of which some are zoonotic, representing a public health and economic impact. This study investigated the occurrence of Sarcocystis spp. in cattle sampled from a Belgian slaughterhouse.
METHODS
A total of 200 carcasses were included in the study, sampled during 10 sampling days. The sedimentation method was applied to isolate the sarcocysts from both heart and diaphragm muscles collected from each carcass. Multiplex PCR, PCR-RFLP as well as cox1 gene sequencing techniques were applied serially on collected sarcocysts for species identification.
RESULTS
Sarcocystis spp. were detected in 64% (128/200; 95% CI 57-71%) of the sampled carcasses. Female dairy cattle presented the highest Sarcocystis occurrence rate (91%) as well as the highest Sarcocystis species diversity compared to female beef and male beef. Sarcocystis spp. were detected more often in the heart muscles than in the diaphragm among female beef (p < 0.001) and dairy carcasses (p = 0.001), while in male carcasses no significant difference was observed (p = 0.763). The effect of age was not significant in male carcasses (p = 0.872), while the odds of finding sarcocysts significantly increased with age (p = 0.003) within both types of female carcasses. S. cruzi was the most prevalent species and was found in 56.5% (113/200) of the carcasses, followed by S. hominis (21.0%, 42/200), S. bovifelis (12.5%, 25/200), S. bovini (2.0%, 4/200), S. hirsuta (1.5%, 3/200) and S. heydorni (0.5%, 1/200). Six different species were detected in the diaphragm, while only two species were recovered from the heart. S. cruzi was the most prevalent species in heart, while in the diaphragm, this was S. hominis.
CONCLUSIONS
The detection of S. hominis in 21% of the sampled carcasses presents a potential food safety issue, and further research is warranted into controlling this infection.
Topics: Abattoirs; Animals; Belgium; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Cross-Sectional Studies; DNA, Ribosomal; Female; Genetic Variation; Male; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; Red Meat; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 34020700
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04788-1