Sarcocystis spp. in minced beef in Germany

MORÉ, G.; SCHARES, S.; HERRMANN, D.; MAKSIMOV, P.; CONRATHS, F.J.; VENTURINI, M.C.; SCHARES, G.

Hannover

Congreso; DVG-Parasitologie-Tagung 2012; 2012

Asociación Alemana de Medicina Veterinaria (DVG)

Sarcocystosis in cattle is caused by Sarcocystis cruzi, S. hirsuta and S. hominis which use canids, felids or primates as definitive hosts, respectively. Sarcocystis sinensis, initially described in buffaloes, has also been observed in cattle, but, information on its distribution and definitive hosts is lacking. The aim of the study was to identify different Sarcocystis spp. in minced beef consumed in Germany using microscopical and molecular methods. To this end, samples of minced beef were collected in meat stores. Homogenized fresh meat samples (5 g) were examined by light microscopy and individual thick-walled cysts were recovered. Of all samples, 44.9% (35/78) were positive for Sarcocystis spp. by light microscopy, 33.3% (26/78) containing thin-walled cysts (S. cruzi) and 29.5% (23/78) with thick-walled cysts. A PCR-amplified 18S rDNA fragment of about 400 bp of 22 individual thick-walled cysts was sequenced. Sequences identities of ≥ 97% were observed for S. hirsuta (1 sample), S. hominis (2 samples) and S. sinensis (19 samples) when sequences were compared to those deposited in Genbank. Our results suggest that S. sinensis is the most prevalent thick-walled sarcocyst species in minced beef in Germany. Further studies are needed to identify the final host of S. sinensis and to develop more specific and sensitive tests for the identification of Sarcocystis spp. occurring in cattle worldwide