Sarcocystis
CZ: sarkocysty
EN: sarcocysts
Occurrence:
Meat and Meat Products
Fruits and Vegetables
Delicatessen
Category:
Parasites
Foodborne Disease:
intestinal sarcocystosis = humans serve as the definitive hosts, infections are often asymptomatic and clear spontaneously. Occasionally, mild fever, diarrhea, chills, vomiting and respiratory problems may occur.
When humans become infected with sarcocysts of „non-human species“, the infections are not intestinal but rather result in muscle cysts. Symptoms such as myalgia, muscle weakness and transitory edema may occur. In these cases, humans are dead-end intermediate hosts.
Description:
Sarcocystis hominis and S. suihominis use humans as definitive hosts and are responsible for intestinal sarcocystosis in the human host.
Humans may also become dead-end hosts for "non-human Sarcocystis spp." after the accidental ingestion of oocysts. Worldwide, but more common in areas where livestock is raised.
Pictures:
Source: large cyst of Sarcocystis containing bradyzoites (histological section)
Source: large sarcocysts in muscle (able to seen with naked eye), containing bradyzoites
Source: Life cycle of genus Sarcocystis
Source: Sarcocystis oocysts (with 2 sporocysts) in feces of final host
Source: Sarcocystis tenella sarcocysts on the surface of oesophagus
Source: Sarcocysts in muscle