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Prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. and Hammondia spp. microcysts in esophagus tissue of sheep and cattle, emphasized on their morphological differences

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Abstract

Sarcocystis and Hammondia are two obligatory protozoan parasites. These genera belong to cyst-forming coccidia group of the phylum Apicomplexa. They both need two different hosts to complete their life cycles. Felids and canids can act as definitive hosts, while herbivores, such as sheep and cattle, are the most important intermediate hosts. Reports verify that no important disease has been caused by Hammondia spp.; on the other hand, Sarcocystis spp. can cause some severe infectious disease in livestock industry such as abortion. Economic losses are another concern due to carcass condemnation during meat inspection in abattoirs and decrease in the quality and quantity of milk and wool production. Due to the Sarcocystis and Hammondia tissue cysts being similar, the distinction between these different genera is so important. In this study, the prevalence of Sarcocystis and Hammondia in the esophagus tissue of sheep and cattle slaughtered in one of the industrial abattoir in Iran was reported and an easy and rapid method for accurate diagnosing of Sarcocystis and Hammondia bradyzoites was explained.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pathobiology Department of Shahmirzad School of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Vali Asr area, Shahmidzad, Semnan, 35718-95589, Iran

    Maryam Rassouli

  2. Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

    Javad Ahmadpanahi

  3. Shahmirzad School of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

    Ayda Alvandi

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  1. Maryam Rassouli
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  2. Javad Ahmadpanahi
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  3. Ayda Alvandi
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Correspondence to Maryam Rassouli.

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Rassouli, M., Ahmadpanahi, J. & Alvandi, A. Prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. and Hammondia spp. microcysts in esophagus tissue of sheep and cattle, emphasized on their morphological differences. Parasitol Res 113, 3801–3805 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4047-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4047-x

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