STUDY IN THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SARCOCYSTOSIS SARCOCYSTIS CAMELI IN CAMELS IN AI-QADISIYAH PROVINCE

The aim of study was to investigate the prevalence of macroscopic and microscopic sarcocystosis of 312 camels slaughtered in Al-Qadisiyah province abattoirs. The developmental stages were studied in experimentally infected dogs with Sarcocystis cameli. For macroscopic sarcocystis naked eye examination was done while for microscopic type, the methods were employed (peptic muscular digestion, trichinoscopy, squeezing and histological examination) for the detection of infection in esophagus, heart, diaphragm and skeletal muscles. The percentage prevalence of macroscopic cysts were first recorded (0.64%) among the different organs examined. The rate of microscopic infection was (83.3%) in peptic digestion method followed by squeezing and trichinoscopy were 78.47 % and 58% respectively The highest rate of infection was recorded in the esophagus and the lowest in the heart. Histological examination revealed two different morphological cysts, the first one with thin wall and the other thick striated wall. The pre patent periods were 8-9 and 10-12day respectively, each infected dog-shed total about 32 * 10* sporocysts per gram of faeces. The peak of shedding reached 326*10* sarocystis per gram of faeces day12 post infection histological development stages of the parasite were detected in the small intestine mucosa of dog in days 6 and 12 post infection.

Investigation of Sarcocystis spp. in slaughtered cattle and sheep by peptic digestion and histological examination in Sulaimani Province, Iraq

Background and Aim: Sarcocystosis is a zoonotic infection caused by various species of Sarcocystis organisms with a worldwide geographic distribution. This study investigated the presence of Sarcocystis organisms in cattle and sheep slaughtered at an abattoir in Sulaimani Province in North Iraq. Materials and Methods: A total of 130 muscle samples were collected during May, June, and July of 2020, including 80 samples from sheep and 50 samples from cattle. Samples were examined visually for macrosarcocysts. The peptic digestion method was used to analyze fresh muscle tissue samples for detecting microsarcocysts followed by microscopic examination. Furthermore, muscle samples were fixed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histopathological examination. Results: In the gross examination, macroscopic cysts were not detected in both cattle and sheep; hence, all the prevalence data were obtained through microscopic observation of muscle samples. The peptic digestion method revealed the presence of banana-shaped bradyzoites in 90% and 92.5% of slaughtered cattle and sheep muscle samples, respectively. Organ-wise prevalence revealed that 95% and 92% of esophageal samples of sheep and cattle contained Sarcocystis spp., respectively. Moreover, 90% and 88% of sheep and cattle diaphragms were respectively infected. Histopathological examination of tissue sections revealed two morphologically distinct types of microsarcocysts, including thin-walled and thick-walled, in both sheep and cattle. Conclusion: The suspected Sarcocystis spp. were Sarcocystis tenella and Sarcocystis arieticanis in sheep and Sarcocystis cruzi and Sarcocystis bovifelis or Sarcocystis hominis in cattle. Infective stages of different Sarcocystis spp. are widespread in the study area environment.

Molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from free-range chickens reveals new genotypes in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotypic characteristics of Toxoplasma gondii isolated from free-range chickens in the metropolitan area of Goiânia, Goiás, in Brazil’s central-west region. The seroprevalence rate was found to be 96%, according to an indirect hemagglutination assay. Brain and heart samples were processed by peptic digestion for a mice bioassay. The tissues were homogenized and the resulting samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which revealed that 64% of them contained the parasite's DNA. The mice bioassay revealed 15 isolates, 8 of them tachyzoites isolates from the peritoneal lavage and 7 from brain cysts. T. gondii genotypes were determined through PCR-RFLP, using the following markers: SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, alt. SAG2, Apico and CS3. Three genotypes were identified, inclued ToxoDB #65, and the other two are not yet described in the literature. Hence, we conclude that the isolates obtained from the metropolitan area of Goiânia showed relatively low genetic diversity.

Prevalence of bovine sarcocystosis in slaughtered cattle in Duhok abattoir, Iraq

Background: Sarcocystosis or infection with Sarcocystis species is a parasitic zoonotic disease caused by cyst forming coccidian intracellular protozoa that caused by different species of Sarcocystis. The cyst forming parasite has obligatory two hosts life cycle including carnivorous as definitive host and omnivorous or herbivorous as intermediate host. The parasitic infestation causes serious health problems and economical loses because of abortion in pregnant animals, carcass condemnation after slaughtering due to severe emaciation and pathological lesions, low quality of meat, milk and wool, as well as restriction on animal importation by authorities.Methods: The present work was conducted to study the prevalence of sarcocysts infection in slaughtered cattle at Duhok abattoir, Iraq. Muscle samples from different organs comprising esophagus, diaphragm and heart were collected from 150 cattle aged from one to two years old. Different techniques were used for detection of macroscopic and microscopic types of sarcocysts. The techniques including inspection by naked eye, peptic digestion method, muscle mincing and squash preparation and staining with giemsa stain, as well as histopathological examination.Results: The overall prevalence of infected muscle samples was 76%. The infection rate of microscopic type of sarcocyst was 41.3% in heart, 92% in diaphragm and 94% in oesophagus. The histopathological examination of infected muscle tissues revealed mild infiltration of inflammatory cells and slight degeneration of muscle fibers. Significant difference (p≤0.05) was recorded between the prevalence rate of macrocysts and microcysts of sarcocyst but there was no significant difference (p≥0.05) in the prevalence rate of sarcocystis infection among different organs.Conclusions: The results of the current study indicated a high prevalence of sarcocystis infection among slaughtered cattle in Duhok province, Iraq, that could be due existence of large numbers of dogs and cats around the slaughter house which are involved in life cycle of the parasite and spread of the infection.

Recovery of Anisakid larvae by means of chloro-peptic digestion and proposal of the method for the official control

Anisakidae larvae belonging to the genera Anisakis and Pseudoterranova, are the most responsible for zoonosis transmitted by fish products (anisakidosis). Acquired by the consumption of raw or undercooked marine fish or squid, the anisakid larvae may cause pathogenic diseases like gastric or intestinal anisakiasis and gastro-allergic disorders. In accordance with current EU legislation, the fresh fish products must be inspected visually in order to detect the possible presence of visible parasites. It is recognized that the visual method is not accurate enough to detect the larvae of parasites in food preparations containing raw or practically raw seafood and it clearly emerges that the official system of control needs to be able to utilise an most efficient analytical technique. In this work, the authors have drawn up and validated an analytical method, which involves artificial digestion and the use of a heated magnetic stirrer, based on the EU Regulation n. 2075/2005. The larvae isolated are then subjected to morphological identification at genus level by using optical microscope. The method, proved to be suitable for the detection of live and dead larvae of anisakidae in ready-to-eat foodstuffs containing raw fish or cephalopods and it is fast and accurate. The method showed high levels of sensitivity and specificity, and the suitability of its use in official food control was confirmed. Its use should be incorporated systematically into specific monitoring programs for the control of foodstuffs containing raw fish products.