Macroscopic and Microscopic Survey of Sarcocystis spp. Infection in Slaughtered Cattle and Sheep in Tabriz, Iran

Sarcocystis infection is one of the most common protozoan infections between humans and animals, which is caused by different species of Sarcocystis. The study aimed to investigate Sarcocystis infection in cattle and sheep slaughtered in Tabriz slaughterhouse by microscopic and macroscopic methods.

Diaphragmatic muscles of 500 cattle and 800 sheep were randomly selected for macroscopic and microscopic Sarcocystis cysts. A naked eye examination was done for macroscopic sarcocysts, while peptic digestion and Daub smear method were used for the microscopic cysts.

The overall prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. infection was 44.0% and 68.25% in cattle and sheep, respectively. The results showed that rate of infection of cattle with Sarcocystis spp. was 10.4%, 90.0%, and 22.3% by macroscopic, peptic digestion, and Daub smear methods, respectively. Meanwhile, the percentage of infected sheep was determined by macroscopic, peptic digestion, and Daub smear methods as 30.6%, 100.0%, and 44.1%, respectively (P < 0.05).

It is concluded that digestion is a perfect method for diagnosing sarcocysts in cattle and sheep. As well as, the high prevalence of microscopic Sarcocystis spp. in cattle and sheep of Tabriz, is suggested that meat should be cooked sufficiently, the people to be trained not to feed their dogs and cats with uncooked meat.