-
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 -
Journal of Parasitic Diseases :... Apr 2013Sarcocystis spp. are a group of tissue cyst-forming coccidia which infect a vast range of animals as well as human beings. Found frequently in animal carcasses at... (Review)
Review
Sarcocystis spp. are a group of tissue cyst-forming coccidia which infect a vast range of animals as well as human beings. Found frequently in animal carcasses at slaughter, undermining their value, they have also been found associated with clinical disease. Dogs and cats are involved in the transmission. Studies in India point to a vast reservoir of infection with high prevalence rates in various livestock species. However, there is a glaring paucity of reports on the horse and Sarcocystis of the camel has remained totally unexplored so far. At least two different Sarcocystis spp. can parasitize each livestock host species. Experimental transmission studies have provided additional parameters for distinguishing the species. The clinical symptoms are generally non-specific and diagnosis in the living animal, by the presently available means, is almost impossible. Immunodiagnosis till now is beset with problem of cross-reactivity. Treatment with anti-coccidials presently tried do not seem satisfactory. Of the two zoonotic species with cattle-man and pig-man cycles, only the latter seems of some significance in India due to backyard pig-rearing and slaughter practices. It is a paradox that despite high prevalence of S. suihominis in pigs, reports of human cases are limited. This and some of the existing grey areas of information in the Indian context, have been highlighted as also possible directions for future research.
PubMed: 24431532
DOI: 10.1007/s12639-012-0135-y -
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 -
Clinical Microbiology Reviews Oct 2004Sarcocystis species are intracellular protozoan parasites with an intermediate-definitive host life cycle based on a prey-predator relationship. Asexual stages develop... (Review)
Review
Sarcocystis species are intracellular protozoan parasites with an intermediate-definitive host life cycle based on a prey-predator relationship. Asexual stages develop in intermediate hosts after they ingest the oocyst stage from definitive-host feces and terminate with the formation of intramuscular cysts (sarcocysts). Sarcocysts in meat eaten by a definitive host initiate sexual stages in the intestine that terminate in oocysts excreted in the feces. Most Sarcocystis species infect specific hosts or closely related host species. For example, humans and some primates are definitive hosts for Sarcocystis hominis and S. suihominis after eating raw meat from cattle and pigs, respectively. The prevalence of intestinal sarcocystosis in humans is low and is only rarely associated with illness, except in volunteers who ingest large numbers of sarcocysts. Cases of infection of humans as intermediate hosts, with intramuscular cysts, number less than 100 and are of unknown origin. The asexual stages, including sarcocysts, can stimulate a strong inflammatory response. Livestock have suffered acute debilitating infections, resulting in abortion and death or chronic infections with failure to grow or thrive. This review provides a summary of Sarcocystis biology, including its morphology, life cycle, host specificity, prevalence, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies, for human and food animal infections.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Muscular Diseases; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis
PubMed: 15489353
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.17.4.894-902.2004 -
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 -
Parasite (Paris, France) 2018Human Sarcocystis infections are known to be caused by the ingestion of raw or undercooked beef or pork containing mature sarcocysts of Sarcocystis hominis or S....
Human Sarcocystis infections are known to be caused by the ingestion of raw or undercooked beef or pork containing mature sarcocysts of Sarcocystis hominis or S. suihominis, respectively. In addition, several cases of parasitic food poisoning in Japan have recently been reported after consumption of raw horsemeat containing sarcocysts of S. fayeri. In this study, the presence of sarcocysts in 28 horsemeat and 121 beef samples collected in Tokyo was investigated. Sarcocysts of S. fayeri were found in 16 horsemeat samples. Sarcocysts of S. hominis were not detected in beef samples, while sarcocysts of S. cruzi were detected in 60 beef samples. In addition, S. hirsuta and S. bovini were isolated only from New Zealand beef samples. Bradyzoites in sarcocysts collected from 62/73 sarcocyst-positive refrigerated horsemeat and beef samples were determined to be viable. Molecular analysis of S. fayeri 18S rRNA gene sequences revealed that intraspecific variation among eight individual bradyzoites from a single sarcocyst was as high as 9.8%. In contrast, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (mtDNA cox1) gene sequences from the six fragments of a single sarcocyst were 100% identical. Sarcocysts of S. bovini isolated from beef also exhibited intraspecific variation in 18S rRNA gene sequences and had to be cloned before sequencing, while mtDNA cox1 gene sequences were obtained by direct sequencing. Therefore, we conclude that molecular analysis of the mtDNA cox1 gene is the most useful for identification of Sarcocystis species. This study provides the first published partial sequence of the S. fayeri mtDNA cox1 gene.
Topics: Animals; Buffaloes; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; DNA, Ribosomal; Electron Transport Complex IV; Foodborne Diseases; Genetic Variation; Horse Diseases; Horses; Humans; Japan; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; Red Meat; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis
PubMed: 29737276
DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2018026 -
Tropical Life Sciences Research Jan 2017Sarcosporidiosis is a disease caused by intracellular protozoan parasites, namely, spp. In pigs, three species of spp. have been recognised, including , and . The aim...
Sarcosporidiosis is a disease caused by intracellular protozoan parasites, namely, spp. In pigs, three species of spp. have been recognised, including , and . The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of muscular sarcosporidiosis in pigs using the pepsin digestion technique. A total of 150 fresh heart, oesophagus and thigh muscle samples from 50 Yorkshire and Landrace pigs were collected from two local abattoirs in Perak from May to August 2014. All the fresh muscle samples were thoroughly examined for macrocyst-forming spp. and processed using the peptic digestion technique to detect bradyzoites. The results from the muscle samples showed that 58% (29 out of 50) of the pigs were positive for spp. These findings highlight the importance of implementing stringent measures for screening pigs in abattoirs for spp. infection because this infection in pigs is a public health concern.
PubMed: 28228924
DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2017.28.1.12 -
The Journal of Veterinary Medical... Mar 1998Sarcoystis suihominis was detected for the first time in Japan from the heart and diaphragm of 5 out 600 older culled breeding pigs slaughtered in Saitama Prefecture,...
Sarcoystis suihominis was detected for the first time in Japan from the heart and diaphragm of 5 out 600 older culled breeding pigs slaughtered in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Fresh cysts were 1,080-2,040 x 106-170 microns in size. Bradysoites measured 15 x 4 microns on average. The cyst wall was usually observed thick, 4-6 microns, and striated, but occasionally thin and smooth according to the difference in sectioning angle and in portion of cysts. Scanning electron microscopy showed that many palisade-like villar protrusions, 6-6 x 0.3-0.5 microns in size, were closely folded onto the surface of cyst. A small number of microtubules were seen in the core of protrusion. No dogs nor domestic cats fed with 20 fresh cysts each excreted oocysts or sporocysts in the feces throughout the experimental period of 30 days.
Topics: Animals; Cats; Diaphragm; Dogs; Heart; Japan; Myocardium; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis; Swine; Swine Diseases
PubMed: 9560777
DOI: 10.1292/jvms.60.307 -
JMM Case Reports Dec 2014Sarcocystosis is mainly a veterinary problem; however, humans can serve as the definitive host for at least two species ( and ). Intestinal infections occur in the...
INTRODUCTION
Sarcocystosis is mainly a veterinary problem; however, humans can serve as the definitive host for at least two species ( and ). Intestinal infections occur in the definitive host after ingesting the intramuscular cysts (sarcocysts) in the intermediate host, which initiate sexual stages in the intestine that terminate in oocysts excreted in the faeces.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 19-year-old male presented with diffuse abdominal pain, watery non-bloody diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and intermittent low-grade fever that lasted for more than 3 weeks. Multiple stool cultures on enriched and selective media gave negative results. Microscopic examination of wet mounts of stool prepared from formalin/ethyl acetate concentrates, together with permanent staining helped in making a definitive diagnosis and ruling out other coccidian parasites. Diagnosis of the parasite as was made based on the size and morphology of the individual sporocysts that were observed in the wet-mount preparations. This severe case of intestinal sarcocystosis in a healthy adult after eating undercooked beef shawarma meat is described.
CONCLUSION
The unusual presentation of intestinal sarcocystis described in this case is very rare. The clinical signs and size and morphology of both oocysts and sarcocysts observed in concentrated wet mounts of stool helped in the definitive diagnosis. The food ingested prior to the appearance of symptoms was important in making the definitive diagnosis of the parasite as , as well as the incubation period and treatment.
PubMed: 28663816
DOI: 10.1099/jmmcr.0.T00019 -
Revue Scientifique Et Technique... Mar 1990Monoclonal antibodies were raised against cystozoites of Sarcocystis muris and characterised. Twelve monoclonal antibodies reacted in the ELISA, Dot-ELISA and IFAT only...
Monoclonal antibodies were raised against cystozoites of Sarcocystis muris and characterised. Twelve monoclonal antibodies reacted in the ELISA, Dot-ELISA and IFAT only with homologous antigen. The other twelve showed cross reactions of various degrees with cystozoites of S. gigantea, S. tenella, S. arieticanis, S. capracanis, S. miescheriana and S. suihominis. Proteins of S. arieticanis, S. tenella, S. gigantea, S. capracanis, S. muris and Toxoplasma gondii were compared by isoelectric focusing and showed pronounced differences.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Cross Reactions; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Isoelectric Focusing; Sarcocystis; Species Specificity
PubMed: 2132150
DOI: 10.20506/rst.9.1.476