First detection and molecular identification of Sarcocystis spp. in small ruminants in North-West Tunisia

Abstract

Sarcocystosis is a parasitic disease caused by varying Sarcocystis species infecting humans and animals. It is commonly found in small ruminants causing pathogenic effects. This contributes to detrimental economic loss for local farmers and the local economy due this disease. Although the distribution of Sarcocystis can be found all over the world, the species infecting small ruminants in Tunisia is still unknown. Through this study, we aim to estimate the molecular prevalence of natural infection with Sarcocystis spp. in sheep and goats using molecular identification. Also, phylogenetic analyses were used to identify the different species of this parasite infecting small ruminants in northern Tunisia for the first time. DNA was extracted from 198 and 121, sheep and goats meat samples, respectively. The molecular prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. in sheep and goats was 58.6% (116/198) and 50.4% (61/121), respectively. Compared to the Noire de Thibar and cross-breeds, the Barbarine sheep had the highest infection prevalence (63.4%) (p = .004). Five of the 116 positive samples were sequenced identifying Sarcocystis tenella from sheep. For goats, the sequencing results showed that five positive PCR products belonged to Sarcocystis capracanis species.

Molecular Characterization of Sarcocystis Species Isolated from Sheep and Goats in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…In all previous studies, the absence of septa in S. arieticanis cysts [29] was probably due to the low number of cysts examined (n = 3). Previous reports throughout the world have recorded S. tenella infection in sheep from Brazil [18], Tunisia [30], and Iraq [31]. The cysts examined by TEM in the goat tissues in the present study had wall morphological characteristics of S. capracanis , with finger-like or palisade Vp [32].…”

A Heavy Infection Macro-cysts of <i>Sarcocystis</i> Spp. Case in a Najdi Sheep at Buraidah Slaughter House, Qassim, Saudi Arabia

“…are cyst-forming coccidia that infect numerous animals species, including several livestock species. It is commonly found in small ruminants causing pathogenic effects [11].…”

“…Furthermore, identification of sarcocystis spp. in sheep by PCR products of the 18S rRNA gene were successfully sequenced [9][10][11].…”

Sucrose Effects on Change of Histological Structure of Meat

“…Виявляють хворобу серед диких і свійських тварин, також у людей (Ortega and Cama, 2018;Morrondo at al., 2017;Kutty at al., 2015). Хвороба має латентний перебіг діагностують її під час проведення ветеринарано-санітарної експертизи продуктів забою сільськогосподарських тварин, виявляють саркоцисти у серцевому м'язі, скелетних м'язах, діафрагмі, стравоході, реєструють втрату живої ваги, якісних показників м'яса (Panziera at al., 2018;Amairia at al., 2018).…”

“…За умов наявності змін у м'язовій тканині (гідремія, виснаження, вапнування м'язової тканини, знебарвлення, дистрофічні зміни) тушу із внутрішніми органами утилізують. Внутрішній жир та сало, шкури, кишечник тварин усіх видів можна використовувати без обмеження (Amairia at al., 2018). Проте немає ніяких вказівок щодо обов'язкових температурних параметрів термічної обробки такого м'яса, щоб не завдати шкоди людині.…”