Sarcocystis spp. are obligate intracellular protozoan parasites which cause meat-borne parasitic disease. In Malaysia, sarcocystosis is seen as a potential emerging food-borne zoonosis after a series of large outbreak of human infections. Humans acquire infection either by ingestion of cyst in raw or undercooked infected meat or from sporocysts in contaminated food and water. The goal of this study is to identify the presence of sarcocystis parasites in meat of cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats collected from local markets in Selangor, Malaysia. Methods: A total of 64 skeletal muscles samples (57 cattle, 2 buffaloes, 4 goats and 1 sheep) were collected from local markets. The samples were cut randomly into three pieces, squashed firmly between two glass slides and then examined microscopically for the presence of cysts. Results: Three samples of meat (4.69 %) from cattle (1), buffalo (1) and sheep (1) were found to be positive for cysts. The cysts were confirmed by PCR as sarcocystis sp. Conclusion: The results showed low prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in meat collected from local markets. However, since there is a transmission among the livestock, extra precaution should be taken in consideration to prevent the spreading of sarcocystosis from animals to human.
Sarcocystis spp. are obligate intracellular protozoan parasites which cause meat-borne parasitic disease. In Malaysia, sarcocystosis is seen as a potential emerging food-borne zoonosis after a series of large outbreak of human infections. Humans acquire infection either by ingestion of cyst in raw or undercooked infected meat or from sporocysts in contaminated food and water. The goal of this study is to identify the presence of sarcocystis parasites in meat of cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats collected from local markets in Selangor, Malaysia. Methods: A total of 64 skeletal muscles samples (57 cattle, 2 buffaloes, 4 goats and 1 sheep) were collected from local markets. The samples were cut randomly into three pieces, squashed firmly between two glass slides and then examined microscopically for the presence of cysts. Results: Three samples of meat (4.69 %) from cattle (1), buffalo (1) and sheep (1) were found to be positive for cysts. The cysts were confirmed by PCR as sarcocystis sp. Conclusion: The results showed low prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in meat collected from local markets. However, since there is a transmission among the livestock, extra precaution should be taken in consideration to prevent the spreading of sarcocystosis from animals to human.