Serological and Traditional Detection of Sarcocystis Species Isolated from Human and Beef Meat in Diyala Province

Abstract

Sarcocystis is a protozoan, intracellular parasitic disease of the phylum Apicomplexa, it is
important disease in Asia, especially the western regions of the continent. It is considered one of
the important zoonotic diseases, the infection wide geographic spreading caused by various
species. The total Infection rate of traditional methods was 65 % (65\ 100) of sarcocysts isolated
from esophagus of 100 cattle were slaughtered at Diyala slaughter house during the period from
November 2023 to May 2024. Cattle age ranged from (2-5) years. Different traditional
techniques were made to detected sarcocystosis, peptic digestion technique was highly sensitive
technique 100% according all other traditional methods. Then Trichnoscopy were 30(30%) while
the squeezing less sensitive 26(26%) respectively. The majority of male animals recorded higher
infection incidence 75% while the female’s cattle rate was 53,8 from the total exanimated
animals. The result showed that the highest infection rate was recorded in animal of old age
above 4-year-old 100% with significant differences between the age groups. the bradyzoites of
Sarcocystis parasite were seen by examining the sediment of the digested muscle fluid as banana
shape with a spik end of front and rounded rear end and slightly clear nucleus positioned toward
the rear end, measurements 13.2× 2.8 μm. In human the total ELISA results of the blood samples
(male and female) showed total infected rate (15.28%). the male recorded highly infection rate
in 10(34.48%) while the lowest rate in female was (6.34% (The infection rate according to
male ages groups showed that (15-25) age highly infected (20.68%) .In females, the highest
infection rate recorded in (25-35) age group than other groups.in conclusion the sarcocystis
infection in cattle meat and human serum were elevated in Diyala areas and it has become more
effected on the health of society due to the consumption of imported or under cocked meat.
Therefore, more studies must be conducted to determine the propagate of the disease and attempt
control it distribution.