Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
Abstract
Keywords
Main Subjects
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Sarcocytosis is a common disease in humans and domestic animals caused by Sarcocytis species. The evolutionary cycle of this parasite includes the carnivorous host as the definitive host and the herbivorous or omnivorous host as the intermediate host. Cattle are considered intermediate hosts for three Sarcocystis species, including Sarcocystis cruzi, Sarcocystis hirsuta and Sarcocystis homonis. Dogs, cats and primates are definitive hosts of cattle’s Sarcocytis. These three species cause severe symptoms and disease in cattle, symptoms of which include jaundice, myocardial hemorrhage, hair loss, anorexia, weight loss, anemia, decreased milk production, abortion, neurological disorders and death. Five species reported from the buffalo including Sarcocystis fusiformis, Sarcocystis buffalonis, Sarcocystis levini, Sarcocystis dubeyi and Sarcocystis sciensis. Due to the importance of Sarcocystis as a common zoonotic disease in public health, in this study, the infection rate of Sarcocystis infection and molecular identification of its species by using COX1 and 18srRNA genes in slaughtered cattle and buffaloes of the abattoir of Urmia was investigated.
Materials and Methods
For this purpose, samples were taken from the intercostal muscles, diaphragm, esophagus, and thighs of 100 cows and 100 buffaloes slaughtered in the slaughterhouse of Urmia city in 2021. Approximately 50 grams of each of muscles were collected separately in nylon bags and, transferred to Urmia Veterinary University Parasitology Laboratory. Of the 100 buffalo carcasses examined, 49 carcasses belonged to male buffalo and 51 carcasses to female buffalo. Of a total of 100 carcasses examined, 55 carcasses were from buffalo aged three or less than three years (<3) and 45 carcasses were from buffalo aged three or older (>3). In addition, out of a total of 100 cow carcasses examined in this study, 66 carcasses belonged to male cows and 34 carcasses to female cows. Of the total of 100 carcasses examined, 49 carcasses were from cows less than two years old (>2) and 51 carcasses were from cows more than two years old. At first, macroscopic and microscopic evaluation were performed on samples. Then, DNA was extracted from homogenized tissues and molecular investigations were done using COX1 and 18srRNA genes.
Discussion
In the macroscopic examination, none of the samples obtained from cows were infected with sarcocystis, while this protozoan was isolated from 11 (11%) samples obtained from buffaloes. The infection rate in the impression smear method in cow and buffaloes samples were 27 (27%) and 16 (16%) and in peptic digestion method was 37 (37%) and 23 (23%), respectively. In parallel, molecular evaluation confirmed the presence of sarcocystis infection in 39 cases (39%) out of 100 cow carcasses and 26 cases (26%) out of 100 studied buffalo carcasses. The results of this study indicate a relatively high rate of infection in the province's cattle and buffalo populations. Therefore, it is recommended to provide control and prevention programs to prevent access to contaminated viscera of dogs and cats in the region and to avoid eating raw and undercooked meat.
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