Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Veterinary Medicine Sciences
Official Journal of the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah

Microscopic and histological study of Sarcocystis species infection in slaughter camel in Al-Diwaniyah Province, Iraq.

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Duaa Mahammed Hassan 1
Noor Idan Jarad 2

1 Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Diwaniyah City, Iraq

2 Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Diwaniyah City, Iraq.

https://doi.org/10.29079/qjvms.2025.153873.1042
Abstract
This study concerns the genus Sarcocystis representing a group of intracellular mainly tissue parasites of carnivores, but some species are considered responsible for sarcocystosis in humans. These parasites are known to affect domestic and wild animals and can result in meat contamination with considerable economic impact. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of Sarcocystis in camels using microscopic methods and histopathological methods. This study was conducted in Al-Diwaniyah Province in Iraq. A total of 200 camels (male and female) of various age groups were sampled at a slaughterhouse in Al-Diwaniyah Province. Samples of esophagus and tongue tissues were taken from each animal, then subjected to histopathological analyses. Samples were stained histologically using the haematoxylin and eosin stain to determine microscopic structures. The results were examined using a light microscope. They revealed there were no macroscopic abnormalities in the Sarcocystis-infected camels. Histopathological examination of the esophagus and tongue samples revealed tissue lysis and the formation of cysts that clearly indicated a chronic infection. The widespread presence of Sarcocystis in camels in Al-Diwaniyah Province was confirmed, highlighting that any zoonotic potential of the parasite in this area cannot be ignored.

Keywords

Camels
Sarcocystis
Zoonotic
Crossmark
  1. Baranauskaitė A, Strazdaitė-Žielienė Ž, Servienė E, Butkauskas D, Prakas P. Molecular identification of protozoan Sarcocystis in different types of water bodies in Lithuania. Life. 2022;13(1):51.https://doi.org/10.3390/life13010051
  1. Bezerra TL, Soares RM, Gondim LFP. Sarcocystis Species (Apicomplexa, Eucoccidiorida) Parasitizing Snakes. Parasitologia. 2023.https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia3040032
  1. Castro-Forero SP, Bulla-Castañeda DM, Buitrago HL, Anaya AD, de Carvalho LM, Pulido-Medellín MO. Sarcocystis spp., a parasite with zoonotic potential. Bulg J Vet Med. 2022;25(2):175-86.https://doi.org/10.15547/bjvm.2019-0129
  1. Chen Y, Peng J, Zhu Z, Zhang W, Wang L, Xu J, et al. Development of a highly specific LAMP assay for detection of Sarcocystis tenella and Sarcocystis gigantea in sheep. Parasitol Res. 2024;123(9):1-8.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-024-08349-0
  1. Dubey JP, Rosenthal BM. Bovine sarcocystosis: Sarcocystis species, diagnosis, prevalence, economic and public health considerations, and association of Sarcocystis species with …. Int J Parasitol. 2023.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.09.009
  1. Dubey JP, Sykes JE. Sarcocystosis. In: Greene's Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. 2021.https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-50934-3.00095-1
  1. Dubey JP, Fayer R, Rosenthal BM. Sarcocystis of animals and humans. CRC Press; 2015.https://doi.org/10.1201/b19184
  1. Fayer R, Dubey JP. Protective immunity against clinical sarcocystosis in cattle. Vet Parasitol. 1984;15:187-201.https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4017(84)90071-2
  1. Fayer R, Dubey JP. Sarcocystis spp. in human infections. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2004;17(4):894-902.https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.17.4.894-902.2004
  1. Fayer R, Esposito DH, Dubey JP. Human infections with Sarcocystis species. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2015;28(2):295-311.https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.00113-14
  1. Giorda F, Romani-Cremaschi U, Marsh AE, Grattarola C, Iulini B, Pautasso A, et al. Evidence for unknown sarcocystis-like infection in stranded striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Ligurian sea, Italy. Animals (Basel). 2021;11(5):1201.https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051201
  1. Gjerde B, Schulze J. Molecular characterization of Sarcocystis species in Norwegian cervids. Parasitol Res. 2014;113(12):4133-46.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-3806-z
  1. Greenfield JB, Anderson MV, Dorey EA, Redman E, Gilleard JS, Nemeth NM, et al. Molecular characterization of Sarcocystis spp. as a cause of protozoal encephalitis in a free-ranging black bear. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2022;34(1):146-52.https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387211038389
  1. Hilali M, Fatani A, Al-Atiya S. Isolation of tissue cysts of Toxoplasma, Isospora, Hammondia, and Sarcocystis from camel (Camelus dromedarius) meat in Saudi Arabia. Vet Parasitol. 1995;58:353-6.https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4017(94)00727-T
  1. Hussein HS, Warrag M. Prevalence of Sarcocystis in food animals in the Sudan. Trop Anim Health Prod. 1985;17:100-1.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02360781
  1. Ishag MY. Studies on Toxoplasma and Sarcocystis from camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the Sudan. [Thesis]. University of Khartoum; 2003.
  2. Islam KU, Iqbal J. An update on molecular diagnostics for COVID-19. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2020.https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2020.560616
  1. Kirmse P, Mohanbabu B. Sarcocystis sp. in the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) from Afghanistan. Br Vet J. 1986;142:73-4.https://doi.org/10.1016/0007-1935(86)90012-6
  1. Aggar OA, Al-Zubaidi MTS. Molecular identification and phylogenetic confirmation of Sarcocystis species in slaughtered camels in Al-Najif Province, Iraq. Open Vet J. 2023.https://doi.org/10.5455/OVJ.2023.v13.i9.5
  1. Metwally DM, Al-Otaibi TT, Al-Turaiki IM, El-Khadragy MF, Alajmi RA. Identification of Sarcocystis spp. in one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) from Riyadh and Dammam, Saudi Arabia, via histological and phylogenetic approaches. Animals (Basel). 2020;10(7):1108.https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071108
  1. Mohamed RH, Elmahallawy EK. Epidemiological and histopathological investigation of Sarcocystis spp. in slaughtered dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Egypt. Vet Sci. 2020;7(4):162.https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci7040162
  1. Hamidinejat H, Hekmatimoghaddam S, Jafari H, Sazmand A, Haddad Molayan P, Derakhshan L, et al. Prevalence and distribution patterns of Sarcocystis in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Yazd Province, Iran. J Parasit Dis. 2013;37:163-5.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-012-0150-z
  1. Eslampanah M, Motamedi GR, Dalimi A, Noori A, Habibi GR, Aghaeepour K, Niroumand M. Study of camel and goat Sarcocystis by electron microscopic and PCR-RFLP. Vet Res Biol Prod. 2016;29:77-84. https://doi.org/10.22034/vj.2016.106301
Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Veterinary Medicine Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 1
January 2025
Pages 63-67

Submit Manuscript

Home

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Animal Ethics and Welfare Policy

Conflict of interest policy

Plagiarism policy

Guide for Authors

Peer Review Process

Reviewers

Article Processing Charge (APC)

Authorship Determination Policy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Appeals and Complaints Policy

Open access policy

Archive Policy

Copyright information

Contact Us