Diagnostic aspects of cattle sarcocystosis in Ukraine
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31073/onehealthjournal2026-III-06Keywords:
sarcocystosis, cattle, compression microscopy, muscle tissues, post-slaughter diagnosisAbstract
Sarcocystosis of cattle remains a relevant parasitological problem in the system of post-mortem veterinary and sanitary control due to the predominantly asymptomatic course of infection and the limited diagnostic value of macroscopic examination. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of sarcocystosis infestation in cattle by means of macroscopic examination of muscle tissues and compression microscopy of stained sections, to determine the degree of involvement of different anatomical muscle groups, and to study the morphological and morphometric characteristics of Sarcocystis spp.
A total of 473 muscle samples (esophagus, myocardium, masticatory muscles, hind limb muscles, diaphragm, and intercostal muscles) collected during post-mortem veterinary inspection in December 2025 and January 2026 were examined. Diagnostic procedures included macroscopic inspection with serial incisions and compression microscopy of stained preparations, followed by morphometric analysis using digital microscopy and ImageJ software.
No macroscopic cysts of Sarcocystis spp. were detected during visual inspection. In contrast, compression microscopy revealed microsarcocysts in 105 out of 473 examined samples, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 22.2%. A pronounced anatomical unevenness of infection was established, with the highest infestation rates observed in the esophagus and hind limb muscles (up to 72%). Morphometric analysis revealed two main morphological types of microsarcocysts: oval and spindle-shaped, which differ visually.
The obtained results confirm the latent course of sarcocystosis in cattle and demonstrate the high diagnostic value of compression microscopy of stained preparations. The use of this method is essential for an objective assessment of infestation levels and for improving the effectiveness of veterinary and sanitary control of meat safety.
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