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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 -
Tropical Biomedicine Sep 2013Sarcocystosis, an unusual parasitic zoonotic disease, is caused by coccidian/ apicomplexan protozoa in humans and animals. The parasites usually develop in a... (Review)
Review
Sarcocystosis, an unusual parasitic zoonotic disease, is caused by coccidian/ apicomplexan protozoa in humans and animals. The parasites usually develop in a heteroxenous predator-prey life-cycle involving final (carnivore) and intermediate (omnivore/herbivore) hosts. Besides the intestinal, non-invasive form of the disease in which humans and animals are the definitive hosts for certain Sarcocystis spp., the invasive form has come to recent attention. In the latter, humans and animals serve as intermediate host harbouring sarcocysts in their muscle tissue. Already in 1991 sarcocystosis was seen as a potential emerging food borne zoonosis in Malaysia, and in 2011 and 2012 the largest cluster of symptomatic human muscular sarcocystosis world-wide was reported from Tioman Island, Pahang state. In this review, we focus on invasive sarcocystosis in humans and animals in Malaysia, review the recorded cases and epidemiology, and present hypotheses.
Topics: Animals; Foodborne Diseases; Humans; Malaysia; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis; Zoonoses
PubMed: 24189667
DOI: No ID Found -
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 -
Medecine Et Sante Tropicales 2015
Topics: Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis
PubMed: 26114199
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Oct 2014Species of Sarcocystis are Apicomplexan parasites requiring intermediate and definitive hosts to complete their life cycle. Humans are one of many natural host species... (Review)
Review
Species of Sarcocystis are Apicomplexan parasites requiring intermediate and definitive hosts to complete their life cycle. Humans are one of many natural host species and may serve as both intermediate and definitive hosts. However, the extent and public health significance of human Sarcocystis infection are incompletely known. In this minireview, we provide an update on the epidemiology and diagnosis of human sarcocystosis and propose some tools that could contribute to a better understanding of the clinical significance and epidemiology of Sarcocystis infections.
Topics: Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Global Health; Humans; Parasitology; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis
PubMed: 24759707
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.00955-14 -
Journal of Parasitic Diseases :... Dec 2016Toxoplasmosis, neosporosis, sarcosporidiosis (sarcocystosis) and trypanosomiasis are the common zoonotic protozoal diseases causing abortion which caused by... (Review)
Review
Toxoplasmosis, neosporosis, sarcosporidiosis (sarcocystosis) and trypanosomiasis are the common zoonotic protozoal diseases causing abortion which caused by single-celled protozoan parasites; , spp and respectively. Toxoplasmosis is generally considered the most important disease that causing abortion of both pregnant women and different female animals throughout the world, about third of human being population had antibodies against . The infection can pass via placenta, causing encephalitis, chorio-retinitis, mental retardation and loss of vision in congenitally-infected children and stillbirth or mummification of the aborted fetuses of livestock. Neosporosis is recognized as a major cause of serious abortion in varieties of wild and domestic animals around the world particularly cattle, the disease cause serious economic losses among dairy and beef cattle due to decrease in milk and meat production. While unlike toxoplasmosis, neosporosis is not recognized as a human pathogen and evidence to date shows that neosporosis is only detected by serology in the human population. Sarcosporidiosis also can cause abortion in animals particularly cattle, buffaloes and sheep with acute infection through high dose of infection with sarcocysts. On the other hand, humans have been reported as final and intermediate host for sarcosporidiosis but not represent a serious health problem. Trypanosomiasis by cause dangerous infection among domestic animals in tropical and subtropical areas. Several cases of abortion had been recorded in cattle and buffaloes infected with while, a single case of human infection was reported in India. Trichomoniasis and babesiosis abortion occurs with non-zoonotic and species while the zoonotic species had not been incriminated in induction of abortion in both animals and man. The current review article concluded that there is still need of wide scope for evaluation of the zoonotic impact and control of these diseases.
PubMed: 27876900
DOI: 10.1007/s12639-015-0661-5 -
Parasites & Vectors Mar 2018Members of the genus Sarcocystis (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) are intracellular protozoan parasites that infect a wide range of domestic and wild animals, resulting in... (Review)
Review
Members of the genus Sarcocystis (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) are intracellular protozoan parasites that infect a wide range of domestic and wild animals, resulting in economic losses in production animals worldwide. Sarcocystis spp. have indirect life-cycles where canids and felids serve as main definitive hosts while a range of domestic and wild animals serve as intermediate hosts, including South American camelids (SACs) such as alpacas, llamas and guanacos. These animals primarily occur in South American countries on Andean, elevated plains but in recent years, alpacas and llamas have become emerging animal industries in other parts of the world such as Australia, Europe and the USA due to their high-quality fiber, meat and hides. For instance, alpaca meat is becoming popular in many parts of the world due to its lower cholesterol content than other red meat, thereby it has the potential of a valuable product for both local and international markets. However, SAC meat can be degraded and/or even condemned due to the presence of macroscopic sarcocysts in skeletal muscles, leading to significant economic losses to farmers. The infection is generally asymptomatic, though highly pathogenic or even fatal Sarcocystis infections have also been reported in alpacas and llamas. Despite the economic importance of sarcocystosis in SACs, little is known about the life-cycle of parasites involved, disease transmission, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, control and public health significance. This review article provides an in-depth analysis of the existing knowledge on the taxonomy, epidemiology, clinicopathology and diagnosis of Sarcocystis in SACs, highlights knowledge gaps and proposes future areas of research that could contribute to our better understanding of sarcocystosis in these animals.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Animals, Wild; Australia; Camelidae; Camelids, New World; Europe; Red Meat; Sarcocystis; Sarcocystosis; South America; United States
PubMed: 29510746
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2748-1 -
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 -
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 -
Current Infectious Disease Reports Aug 2015There are over 150 known Sarcocystis species, and at least one is capable of infecting and causing disease in man. Extraintestinal (muscular) sarcocystosis and...
There are over 150 known Sarcocystis species, and at least one is capable of infecting and causing disease in man. Extraintestinal (muscular) sarcocystosis and intestinal sarcocystosis are the two known manifestations of disease in humans. In this series of six cases and review, we focus on the invasive extraintestinal ("muscular") form of sarcocystosis in humans. This disease, which until recently was rarely described, has become relevant particularly as an imported condition in travelers due to a recent series of outbreaks reported from Malaysia. Human intestinal sarcocystosis is ubiquitous across the globe. However, absolute numbers of probable and particularly confirmed cases are few, with only several hundred described to date. Characteristically, patients exhibit signs and symptoms either 1-2 weeks after exposure, or after 4-8 weeks. Whether people remain asymptomatic or develop disease apparently depends on the infecting species, host factors, and the inoculum size. The definitive host(s) remain uncertain, and identification of the animal reservoir(s) requires further research. A better understanding of the epidemiology of the disease, as well as its immunological determinants, is hampered by the lack of reliable serological diagnostic methods. Additionally, DNA seems to be contained very effectively within the encysted parasite, thereby rendering PCR detection unreliable. Physicians should suspect the condition in patients with suggestive symptoms and a possible history of exposure. Surveillance networks for imported infectious diseases are formidable tools to help detect and localize outbreaks.
PubMed: 26115699
DOI: 10.1007/s11908-015-0495-4