Abstract
Background: Sarcocystis infection is a parasitic zoonosis, which may cause acute and fatal clinical diseases in susceptible cattle. When raw or undercooked infected beef is consumed by man, it could result in intestinal sarcocystosis. Aim: This study aimed at determining the prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in slaughtered cattle in Zaria, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in which oesophagus and diaphragm samples were collected from 200 slaughtered cattle and analysed by pepsin-hydrochloric acid digestion and stained with Giemsa. Histological sections of tissues were prepared and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Results: Eighty-five (42.5 %) were positive for Sarcocystis species. Sarcocysts ranged from 228.8 to 1215 μm in length and 46.93 to 114.40 μm in width. Sarcocysts were all microscopic in nature and 99.0 % had thin cyst wall ( 0.05). Seventy-five (88.2 %) and 56 (65.9 %) cattle had sarcocysts in the oesophagus and diaphragm respectively. There was a significant difference in the distribution of sarcocysts between the oesophagus and diaphragm (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study has established in the study area the prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in cattle using tissue digestion method and histology. The identified species were of veterinary and public health importance.
Highlights
Sarcocystosis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by species of Sarcocystis, an intracellular protozoan parasite in the Phylum Apicomplexa and Family Sarcocystidae
This study has established in the study area the prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in cattle using tissue digestion method and histology
The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Sarcocystis infection and to identify the species of Sarcocystis affecting slaughtered cattle in Zaria, Nigeria by using pepsin-hydrochloric acid digestion method and histology
Summary
Sarcocystosis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by species of Sarcocystis, an intracellular protozoan parasite in the Phylum Apicomplexa and Family Sarcocystidae. Sarcocystis, once regarded as a non-pathogenic parasite, has been found to be associated with disease conditions in both animals and man [3, 4]. There are three species of Sarcocystis affecting cattle; Sarcocystis cruzi, S. hominis and S. hirsuta. Sarcocystis cruzi is the most common [1] and pathogenic species affecting cattle leading to abortion, reduced milk yield, neurologic signs, loss of weight, hair loss and death (fatal cases), depending on the species and number of sporocysts ingested [1]. Sarcocystis infection is a parasitic zoonosis, which may cause acute and fatal clinical diseases in susceptible cattle. When raw or undercooked infected beef is consumed by man, it could result in intestinal sarcocystosis
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