Prevalence of Sarcocystis in slaughtered cattle in Kashan by digestion method, 2019

Sarcocystis is one of the most prevalent protozoan parasite that infected humans and many animals worldwide. Cattle as one of the sources of meat products for the human is exposed to contamination with these parasites.The aim of this study was the determination of prevalence of sarcocystis in slaughtered cattle in Kashan region, 2019. In this cross-sectional study, 162 meat samples from 54 slaughtered cattle ( three samples from muscle, esophagus, and diaphragm of each cattle) were collected. After recording of data, about 15-20 gram of each samples were digested in digestion solution overnight at 27 °C according to Douby method. Two smears prepared from sediment and stained by Giemsa stain, and microcopy observed for Sarcocystis cystizoite. Totally, 94.4% of samples were positive for sarcocystis spp. Microscopic cysts were positive in 90.7%, 87% and 81.5% of muscle, esophagus, and diaphragm samples, respectively. The results showed no significant difference between different muscles. Only one case of the macroscopic positive sample was seen that simultaneous was infected microscopic. The present study showed a high prevalence of infection to Sarcocystis in cattle slaughtered in Kashan similar to another region of Iran. So conduct of preventive measures for the reduction of animal infection and Properly cooked meat before consumption are recommended for the prevention of human infection.