Prevalence and Concentration of Sarcocystis spp. Microscopic Cysts in Sheep Muscles Using Percoll Gradient Centrifugation

Percoll gradient centrifugation can purify different parasitic stages from tissues or faeces of hosts. Sarcocystis tenella and Sarcocystis arieticanis develop microscopically visible cysts in sheep muscles. In this study, the distribution of microscopic cysts were determined in different muscles groups of sheep naturally infected with Sarcocystis spp. by using percoll gradient centrifugation. Sarcocystis spp. microscopic cysts were detected as 91% of sheep. S. tenella and mixed infections with S. tenella and S. arieticanis were observed in the tissue samples at a prevalence of 91% and 18.7%, respectively. Sarcocystis species cysts were most prevalent in the tongue muscle tissue at a rate of 80%. The cysts were observed a rate of 73%, 69% and 61% in the masseter, intercostal muscles and diaphragm, respectively. The relationship between the cysts present and the different muscles groups was significantly different (p<0.001). The number of microscopic cysts ranged from 4-476 (mean 235) per 5 grams muscle samples. Percoll gradient centrifugation should be considered as an alternative method for detection of Sarcocystis spp. microscopic cysts in host muscles.