Sarcocystis spp. in Romanian Slaughtered Cattle: Molecular Characterization and Epidemiological Significance of the Findings

Species of the genus Sarcocystis are recognized as protozoan parasites infecting a wide range of animals, including humans. This study aimed to provide data on the occurrence, genetic characterization, and epidemiological significance of Sarcocystis spp. in cattle destined for human consumption in R...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BioMed research international 2019, Vol.2019 (2019), p.1-6
Main Authors: Morar, Adriana, Plutzer, Judit, Imre, Mirela, Morariu, Sorin, Tîrziu, Emil, Dărăbuș, Gheorghe, Imre, Kálmán, Boldea, Marius V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cattle
Cattle Diseases - epidemiology
Cattle Diseases - parasitology
Epidemiology
Farming
Genetic aspects
Genetic Variation - genetics
Health risks
Humans
Infections
Medical research
Medicine, Experimental
Microscopy
Parasites
Parasitology
Protozoa
Public health
Risk analysis
Risk factors
RNA
RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - genetics
Romania - epidemiology
rRNA 18S
Sarcocystis
Sarcocystis - genetics
Sarcocystosis - epidemiology
Sarcocystosis - parasitology
Sarcocysts
Zoonoses
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Summary:Species of the genus Sarcocystis are recognized as protozoan parasites infecting a wide range of animals, including humans. This study aimed to provide data on the occurrence, genetic characterization, and epidemiological significance of Sarcocystis spp. in cattle destined for human consumption in Romania. A total of 117 heart samples from slaughtered cattle in three southwestern Romanian counties (Dolj, Timiș, and Gorj) were analyzed in order to detect sarcocysts, using fresh examination microscopic techniques. Subsequently, the isolated sarcocysts and/or cyst fragments (5–15 per sample) from each infected animal were molecularly characterized. Overall, 17.9% (21/117) of the tested animals were found to be Sarcocystis spp. positive by microscopy. Genetic characterization of Sarcocystis spp. isolates, based on sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene, showed the presence of a single species, namely S. cruzi. No correlation was found (p>0.05) between S. cruzi infection and the origin, age, breed, and gender of cattle, but the grazing farming system was positively associated (p=0.031) with the pathogen prevalence and can be considered a risk factor (OR = 3.6) in acquiring infection. To evaluate the possible public health risk, further investigation focused on the processing of other Sarcocystis-specific tissue matrices and evidence of human infections is recommended. This is the first study of bovine Sarcocystis infection in Romania.
ISSN:2314-6133
2314-6141
DOI:10.1155/2019/4123154