Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Biology, College of Science, Zakho University, Zakho City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
2
Department of Biology, College of Science, Zakho University, Zakho City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq & College of Science, Nawroz University, Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
3
Department of Biology, College of Science, Zakho University, Zakho City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Abstract
Sarcocystis is an intracellular parasite belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa. More than two hundred species of Sarcocystis are capable of infecting different species of wild and domesticated animals and humans. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Sarcocystis species and their morphological characteristics in the esophagi muscles of ruminants slaughtered at Zakho abattoir, Zakho City, Kurdistan Region/Iraq. Esophagi muscle specimens’ of 1586 ruminants including, 764 sheep, 569 goats and 253 cattle were examined macroscopically and microscopically from April 2021to March 2022 to determine the prevalence of macroscopic and microscopic sarcocysts. Results revealed a total rate of infection with macrosarcocysts at 18.03 % (286 / 1586), with the highest rate 26.85% (254/946) in local breeds versus 5% (32/640) of imported ones. The highest rate among local breeds 90.91% (10/11) was in cattle, while the highest rate in imported breeds 9.13% (21/230) was among sheep. The overall rate in males was higher than in females. The detected macrosarcocysts relying on morphological characters were assigned as Sarcocystis gigantea, S. moulei, S. medusiformis, S. fusiformis, and S. hirsuta. Histological examination revealed the presence of microsarcocysts in the esophageal muscles of the three hosts which were assigned as S. tenella, S. arieticanis in sheep, S. capracanis in goats and S. bovifelis or S. hominis in cattle. The study results show the widespread of sarcocystosis among ruminants in this region that poses a threat to livestock and humans. This condition necessitates the development of preventive strategies to minimize or eradicate this parasitic infection.
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