Abstract
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.
Highlights
Sarcocystosis is a parasitic disease caused by intracellular protozoan parasites belonging to the genus, Sarcocystis (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae)
South American camelids (SACs), include alpacas (Vicugna pacos), llamas (Lama glama), vicunas (Vicugna vicugna) and guanacos (Lama guanicoe) and make up a total population of at least seven million. They are widely distributed in South America, with alpacas, llamas and vicunas ranging from southern Ecuador to northern Chile with high densities in Bolivia and Peru, and guanacos are found across southern Argentina and Chile [6,7,8]
These results indicate that herd management practices could greatly impact the exposure of camelids to Sarcocystis
Summary
Sarcocystosis is a parasitic disease caused by intracellular protozoan parasites belonging to the genus, Sarcocystis (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae). Members of the genus Sarcocystis have indirect life-cycles where definitive hosts such as carnivores or omnivores (e.g. humans), reptiles and raptorial birds become infected following ingestion of infective stages of parasites and following sexual development, excrete oocysts/sporocysts into the environment that could infect intermediate hosts. South American camelids (SACs), include alpacas (Vicugna pacos), llamas (Lama glama), vicunas (Vicugna vicugna) and guanacos (Lama guanicoe) and make up a total population of at least seven million. They are widely distributed in South America, with alpacas, llamas and vicunas ranging from southern Ecuador to northern Chile with high densities in Bolivia and Peru, and guanacos are found across southern Argentina and Chile [6,7,8]. The greatest numbers of SACs are raised by Andean families, playing a crucial role in their socioeconomic status as these animals are a good
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