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Home / Equine Research Bank / Z Parasitenkd / [Prevalence and development of two Sarcocystis spp. in the h...
Zeitschrift fur Parasitenkunde (Berlin, Germany)1981; 65(3); 283-291; doi: 10.1007/BF00926722

[Prevalence and development of two Sarcocystis spp. in the horse (author’s transl)].

Abstract: The prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. in horses was investigated in a survey at the Munich abattoir during 1978/79. Muscle specimens (oesophagus, diaphragm, sublingual muscle, myocardium) were examined using tryptic digestion. Out of 200 horses 31 (15.5%) were found to be carriers of sarcocysts. No parasites were found in the myocardium. In three animals sarcocysts could be isolated and differentiated in fresh preparations. Cysts with 5 to 11 microns by less than 0.5 microns hairlike, unstable protrusions were classified as Sarcocystis equicanis, whereas those with 2.5 to 4.5 microns by 0.8 to 1.0 microns fingerlike, stabile protrusions were assigned to be S. fayeri. Histologically S. equicanis cysts were thin-walled and S. fayeri cysts were thick-walled and often striated. For both species the dog acts as final host. A mixture of sporocysts of both species measured: 12.0--14.4 (13.4 +/- 0.7) X 9.3--10.5 (9.8 +/- 0.4) microns. The prepatent period is 11 to 17 days. Two ponies experimentally infected with 100,000 sporocysts each did not show clinical signs. In fresh preparations and in histopathological examinations of biopsied (111th, 130th, 152th, and 165th day post-infection (p.i.) and postmortem material (167th and 189th day p.i.) different developmental stages of sarcocysts of both species were seen and the following pathological alterations observed: circumscribed non-purulent inflammation, moderate Zenker's degeneration of muscle fibres, and degenerated cysts, of which sometimes only parts of the cyst wall were left. In fresh preparations S. equicanis and S. Fayeri could be differentiated 111 days p.i. The observed disappearance of the sarcocysts is suggested to be a self-cleaning process.
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Publication Date: 1981-01-01 PubMed ID: 6797139DOI: 10.1007/BF00926722Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study explores the occurrence and development of two types of Sarcocystis parasites in horses, identified via muscular examination of slaughtered horses. The research also examines the pathogenic effects of these parasites and identifies dogs as their final host.

Research Objective and Method

  • The researchers wanted to identify the rate of Sarcocystis spp. in horses. The survey was conducted at the Munich abattoir in 1978/79.
  • The team investigated muscle specimens from the oesophagus, diaphragm, sublingual muscle, and myocardium of 200 horses, using a process called tryptic digestion.
  • No parasites were found in the myocardium, the muscular tissue of the heart.

Findings

  • Sarcocysts were found in 31 of the 200 horses (15.5%).
  • In three of the horses, sarcocysts could be isolated and examined further.
  • The cysts were classified into two categories: Sarcocystis equicanis, characterised by unstable protrusions, and Sarcocystis fayeri, defined by its stable but fingerlike protrusions.
  • From a histological perspective, S. equicanis cysts were found to have thin walls, while S. fayeri cysts were thick-walled and often striated.
  • The researchers identified that for both species, the final host is a dog.

Deeper Investigation

  • The researchers infected two ponies with a large number of sporocysts to study the effects – the ponies did not exhibit any clinical signs of illness.
  • In biopsied and postmortem material, different developmental stages of sarcocysts of both species were identified.
  • Pathological alterations such as non-purulent inflammation, moderate Zenker’s degeneration of muscle fibers, and degenerated cysts were observed.
  • The team was able to distinguish between S. equicanis and S. Fayeri 111 days post-infection.
  • The researchers suggest that the observed disappearance of the sarcocysts could be due to a self-cleaning process within the horses’ bodies.

Cite This Article

APA
Erber M, Geisel O. (1981). [Prevalence and development of two Sarcocystis spp. in the horse (author’s transl)]. Z Parasitenkd, 65(3), 283-291. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00926722

Publication

Zeitschrift fur Parasitenkunde (Berlin, Germany)
ISSN: 0044-3255
NlmUniqueID: 8710749
Country: Germany
Language: ger
Volume: 65
Issue: 3
Pages: 283-291

Researcher Affiliations

Erber, M
    Geisel, O

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Horse Diseases / parasitology
      • Horse Diseases / pathology
      • Horses
      • Muscles / parasitology
      • Sarcocystis / growth & development
      • Sarcocystis / isolation & purification
      • Sarcocystosis / parasitology
      • Sarcocystosis / pathology
      • Sarcocystosis / veterinary
      • Species Specificity

      References

      This article includes 14 references
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      2. Göbel E, Katz M, Erber M. [Light and electron microscopic studies to the development of muscle cysts of Sarcocystis suicanis in experimentally infected pigs (author's transl)].. Zentralbl Bakteriol Orig A 1978 Sep;241(3):368-83.
        pubmed: 103340
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      Citations

      This article has been cited 6 times.
      1. Marques C, da Silva B, Nogueira Y, Bezerra T, Tavares A, Borges-Silva W, Gondim L. Brazilian Horses from Bahia State Are Highly Infected with Sarcocystis bertrami. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 10;12(24).
        doi: 10.3390/ani12243491pubmed: 36552411google scholar: lookup
      2. Zeng W, Sun L, Xiang Z, Li N, Zhang J, He Y, Li Q, Yang F, Song J, Morris J, Rosenthal BM, Sun L, Liu H, Yang Z. Morphological and molecular characteristics of Sarcocystis bertrami from horses and donkeys in China. Vet Parasitol 2018 Mar 15;252:89-94.
        doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.01.024pubmed: 29559158google scholar: lookup
      3. Erber M. Life cycle of Sarcocystis tenella in sheep and dog. Z Parasitenkd 1982;68(2):171-80.
        doi: 10.1007/BF00935058pubmed: 6815916google scholar: lookup
      4. Gjerde B. The fox as definitive host for Sarcocystis sp. Gjerde, 1984 from skeletal muscle of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). With a proposal for Sarcocystis tarandivulpes n. sp. as replacement name. Acta Vet Scand 1984;25(3):403-10.
        doi: 10.1186/BF03547254pubmed: 6441474google scholar: lookup
      5. Matuschka FR. Infectivity of sarcocystis from donkey for horse via sporocysts from dogs. Z Parasitenkd 1983;69(3):299-304.
        doi: 10.1007/BF00927871pubmed: 6410602google scholar: lookup
      6. Ullah A, Geng M, Chen W, Zhu Q, Shi L, Zhang X, Akhtar MF, Wang C, Khan MZ. Effect of Parasitic Infections on Hematological Profile, Reproductive and Productive Performance in Equines. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 14;15(22).
        doi: 10.3390/ani15223294pubmed: 41302002google scholar: lookup
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