Intramuscular sarcocystis cysts detection in animals: a review article

Abstract

Sarcosporidiosis is a cosmopolitan zoonotic parasitic disease caused by small intracellular apicomplexan protozoa of the genus Sarcosystis. This parasite has a heteroxenous life cycle, involving: a definitive host, where Sarcocysts spp. develops in intestine, infesting the enterocytes, and an intermediate host, in which invades the muscle cells in order to form the typical sarcocysts in tissue. Sarcocystis species parasitize almost all vertebrates and are widely distributed around the globe. So far, 189 species of Sarcocystis have been identified; however, for the both definitive and intermediate hosts are known only 46% of the species. The purpose of this literature review is to present reported data on the prevalence of intramuscular Sarcocystis cysts in animals. Data from various studies suggest different variations depending on the species and the area where research was performed, such as in cattle (24–80%), swine (0.80-43%), goats (52-79%), and sheep (18-100%). The field research refers to the degree of intensity and extent of the skeletal muscles microsarcocysts in the following anatomical regions: the intercostal muscles, the diaphragm, tongue muscles, and dorsal and hamstring muscles. From all the Sarcocystis species found in animals, only two of them (S. hominis and S. suihominis) have zoonotic potential, the man can be intermediate host for their species and also definitive host for species mentioned. Considering the fact that the sarcosporidiosis is high-impact diseases among animals, data discussed in this paper emphasize the presence of intramuscularly sarcocysts, as well as the zoonotic risk in several regions of the world in the last decade.