title: The prevalence of sarcosporidiosis in Australian meat animals.
abstract: The prevalence of Sarcocystis infectious in Tasmanian sheep, cattle and pigs was assessed during February 1974. Serological results indicated that over 90% of sheep and cattle were infected. Macroscopic sarcocysts were found in 0.6% of lambs, 8.8% of 2- to 6-tooth (1 to 4 years old) sheep and 66% of full-mouth (4 years and older) sheep. The minimum prevalence in pigs, as determined by microscopic examination of muscle tissues, was 1.4% for animals less than 12 months old and 16.7% for animals older than 12 months. Abattoir figures, supplied by the Australian Department of Agriculture, showed that in 1972/73 the condemnation rate of sheep for sarcosporidiosis was 6 times greater in Tasmania than in New South Wales, Victoria or South Australia. The percentage of condemned carcases was lowest in Western Australia and Queensland.
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*