Cyst wall ultrastructure of Sarcocystis spp. isolated from slaughtered sheep in Qazvin, Iran

Editorial

Authors

1 Professor, Parasitology Department, Medical Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran

3 instructor, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Sarcocystis is a coccidia protozoan develops obligatory in two hosts consisting of the herbivores as an intermediate host (prey) and the carnivores as a host (predator). Depend on species, the size of cysts and structure of cyst wall in intermediate hosts are different. The ultrastructure of Sarcocystis cysts (Sarcocysts) could be a good indication for diagnosis of the parasite species. In the present study the ultrastructure of macroscopic Sarcocystis isolated from slaughtered sheep in Qazvin Ziaran slaughterhouse were investigated. The macroscopic cysts isolated from sheep muscles were fixed in 3% glutaraldehyde following washing with buffer phosphate. Ultrastructural charecters of the cysts were studied using transmission electron microscope (TEM400). The macroscopic cysts were located within muscles and were limited by a primary cyst wall (PCW). According to ultrastructural characters of PCW, two species of Sarcocystis, S. gigantea and S.medusiformis were identified as macroscopic cyst in sheep. The primary cyst wall of S.gigantea having cauliflower–like protrusions at 12000× magnification and S. Medusiformis having villous like protrusions at 7500× magnification.

1- Dalimi A, Khodashenas M, Morovati H. (1999) A study on morphology and ultrastructure of Sarcocystis isolated from buffaloes in Khozestan. Pajouhesh & Sazendegi. 43:47-49.##
2- Astrid MT. (1995) Current research on Sarcocystis species of domestic animals. Int J Parasitol. 25(11): 1311-1330.##
3- Collins GH, Atkinson E, Charleston WAG. (1979) Studies on Sarcocystis species III: the macrocystic species of sheep. New Zealand Vet J. 27:204-206.##
4- Crum JM, Fayer R, Prestwood AK (1981) Sarcocystis spp. In white-tailed deer. Definitive and intermediate host spectrum with a description of Sarcocystis odocoileocanis n.Sp. J. Wildlife Dis. 17:567-579.##
5- Donoghue PJ, Adans M, Dixon BR, Ford GE, Baverstiok PR. (1986) Morphological and biochemical correlates in the characterization of Sarcocystis spp. J.Parasitol. ; 33 (1): 114-121. ##
6- Dubey JP, Speer CA, Fayer R. (1989) Sarcocysosits of animals and man. CRC Press, Boca Raton. ##
7- Dubey JP, Lindsay DS, Speer CA, Fayer R, Livingstone CW Jr. (1988) Sarcocystis arieticanis and other Sarcocystis species in sheep in the United States. J Parasitol. 74:1033-1038 ##
8- Fayer R, Dubey JP, Leek RG. (1982) Infectivity of Sarcocystis spp. From bison, elk, moose and cattle for cattle via sporocysts from coyotes. J Parasitol. 68:681-685.##
9- Heckeroth AR, Tenter AM. (1998)18S rDNA-based PCR : The first test for in vivo diagnosis of acute Sarcocystosis in sheep.  Parasitol Int. 47(1): 223.##
10- Levine ND, Tadros W. (1980) Named species and hosts of Sarcocystis (Protozoa: Apicomplexa Sarcocystidae). Cyst. Parasitol.; 2:41-60.##
11- Mehlhorn H, Heydorn AO, Gestrich R. (1975) Licht- und elektronen mikroskopische Untersuchungen an cysten von Sarcocystis ovicanis Heydorn et al. in der Musculatur von Schafen. Z Parasitenkd 1975; 48:83-93 ##
12- Mehlhorn H, Hartley WJ, Heydorn AO. (1976) A comparative ultrastructural study of the cyst wall of 13 Sarcocystis species. Protistologica. 12: 451-467.##
13- Mertens CM, Tenter AM, Vietmeyer C, Ellis JT, Johnson AM. (1996) Production of a recombinant fusion protein of Sarcocystis tenella and evaluation of its diagnostic potential in an ELISA. Vet Parasitol. 65(3-4): 185-197.
14- Munday BL, Obendorf DL. (1984) Morphology of Sarcocystis gigantea in experimentally infected sheep. Vet Parasitol. 16:193-199.##
15- Nigro M, Mancianti F, Rossetti P, PoIi A. (1991) Ultrastructure of the cyst and life cycle of Sarcocystis sp. from wild sheep (Ovis musimon). J W Dis. 27(2): 217-224.##
16- Obendorf DL, Munday BL. (1987) Experimental infection with Sarcocystis medusiformis in sheep. Vet Parasitol. 24:59-65. ##
17- Odenlng K, Stolte M, Walter O, Bockhardt I. (1995) Cyst wall ultrastructure of two Sarcocystis spp. from European mouflon (Ovis ammon musimon) in Germany Compared with Domestic Sheep.  J W Dis. 31(4): 550-554.  ##
18- O’Donoghue P, Lumb R, Smith P, Brooker J, Mencke N. (1990)Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against ovine Sarcocysis spp. antigens by immunoblotting and immuno-electron microscopy. Vet Immunol  Immunopathol. 24(1): 11-25.##
19- O’Toole D. (1987) Experimental ovine sarcocystosis: sequential ultrastructural pathology in skeletal muscle. J Comp Pathol. 97:51-60. ##
20- Radchenko AI, Beier TV. (2004) Structural and functional characterization of cyst cells in Sarcocystis sp. (Sporozoa, Apicomplexa). Tsitologiia. 46(7):592-600 . ##
21- Slapeta JR, Modry, D, Votypka J, Jirku M, Lukes J, Koudela B. (2003) Evolutionary relationships among cyst-forming coccidia Sarcocystis spp. (Alveolata: Apicomplexa: Coccidea) in endemic African tree vipers and perspective for evolution of heteroxenous life cycle. Mol Phylogen Evol. 27(3): 464-475.##
22- Vlemmas I, Kanakoudis G, Tsangaris Th, Theodorides I, (1989) Kaldrymidou E. Ultrastructure of Sarcocystis tenella (Sarcocystis ovicanis). Vet Parasitol. 33(3-4):207-217. ##