Sarcocystis is a genus of protozoan parasites that infect the muscles of intermediate hosts such as mammals and birds. It was first discovered in 1843. The parasites have an indirect life cycle involving a transport host and a definitive carnivore host. In the carnivore, the parasites mature and release oocysts that infect transport hosts when consumed. In muscles of transport hosts, sarcocysts form that can infect carnivores, completing the cycle. Most infections are asymptomatic, but some species can cause illness in horses and humans who act as accidental intermediate hosts. No effective treatments exist beyond preventative hygiene measures.
3. Geographical Distribution
These are parasites which live in a number of
hosts; therefore their distribution is wide, varied
and infect animals worldwide.
Most prominent cases are observed in:
North America
South Africa
Australia
Canada
4. Major Species
It has more than 130 recognized species so
far.
Some of them that are quite important are;
Sarcocystis cruzi( Ducks, cattle & birds)
Sarcocystis rileyi( Sheep, Pigs, & waterfowl)
Sarcocystis neurona(Equines)
Sarcocystis fusiformis(Humans)
The most common species is Sarcocystis
rileyi, which causes the disease known as
"rice breast disease" in waterfowl
6. Transmission in
Host
The mode of transmission from animal to
animal is incompletely understood.
For many years it was believed
Sarcocystis was transmitted by ingestion of
flesh containing sarcocysts.
Now another indirect method of infection has
been proven whereby carnivores and
omnivores pass an infective stage of the
parasite in their feces.
An animal is infected by ingesting material
contaminated by the infected feces.
10. Life Cycle
The Sarcocystis sp. parasites have an indirect life
cycle that requires a paratentic or transport
host animal (a bird), in which they live for a time
before they are transported to a definitive host
animal (a carnivore), in which they reach
maturity.
Birds ingest the eggs or oocysts of the mature
parasite in food or water that is contaminated by
carnivore feces, which contain the oocysts.
The oocysts develop in the intestine of the bird
into an intermediate form, the sporozoites, that
enter the bird’s bloodstream and infect specific
11.
12. Multiplication of these cells gives rise to a
second intermediate form, merozoites, that are
carried by the blood to the voluntary muscles,
where elongated cysts or macrocysts are
eventually produced.
The life cycle is completed when a carnivore
ingests the infected muscle tissue of a bird and
the parasite reaches maturity and releases
oocysts in the intestines of the carnivore.
The carnivore is infected only in its intestine.
Macrocysts do not develop in the carnivore, and
the Sarcocystis sp. parasite rarely causes the
carnivore illness or other forms of disease.
13. For some species, humans are the definitive
host i.e. the host in which sexual reproduction
is completed.
In this case there is intestinal sarcocystosis.
Humans may also act as accidental deadend intermediate hosts for several other
species and in these cases there is muscular
sarcocystosis.
In horses infected with Sarcocystis neurona,
the sporozoites enter the endothelial
cells and replicate asexually, developing into
tachyzoites, which then migrate to the
animal's central nervous system
14. Signs & Symptoms
Sarcocystis is a nonfatal, usually asymptomatic
infection.
There are no recognizable signs of the infection in
most living animals.
In heavy infections,
Lameness
Weakness
paralysis
Muscle pain
Mild fever
Painful muscular swelling
15. Diagnosis
Diagnosis is usually made by finding the
striated muscle after the animal's death.
Further diagnostic methods include;
Complement-fixation
Dermal sensitivity tests
Frozen muscle tissue
Muscle biopsy
cysts in
16. Treatment
No effective treatment is known. Since the disease
can be transmitted by the ingestion of feces
containing sporocysts.
Good sanitation and hygiene are important in
preventing the disease.
Cotrimoxazole
Primaquine
Both these drugs are appears to be a
logical -but unproven-choice till present….
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