Sarcocystis species in bovine carcasses from a Belgian abattoir: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sarcocystis species are obligatorily heteroxenous parasites, of which some are zoonotic, representing a public health and economic impact. This study investigated the occurrence of Sarcocystis spp. in cattle sampled from a Belgian slaughterhouse.

Methods

A total of 200 carcasses were included in the study, sampled during 10 sampling days. The sedimentation method was applied to isolate the sarcocysts from both heart and diaphragm muscles collected from each carcass. Multiplex PCR, PCR-RFLP as well as cox1 gene sequencing techniques were applied serially on collected sarcocysts for species identification.

Results

Sarcocystis spp. were detected in 64% (128/200; 95% CI 57-71%) of the sampled carcasses. Female dairy cattle presented the highest Sarcocystis occu

SUBMITTER: Zeng H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8138977 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature