title: A survey of bovine, bubaline and swine sarcocystosis in the Philippines.
abstract: In a survey conducted from January to December, 1994, muscle tissues in 12 out of 22 slaughtered carabaos ages 8-17 years old and obtained from the Food Terminal Inc, Abbatoir in Laguna showed numerous white and creamy elliptic-shaped soft bodied macrocysts in the throat muscles. Microscopic examination of the throat and cardiac muscle tissues revealed the presence of fusiform-shaped microcysts. Our observations are consistent with previous reports incriminating Sarcocystis fusiformis as the most important etiologic agent of bubaline sarcocystosis in the country. In a survey of bovine sarcocystosis in muscle tissues of imported Australian cattle (Brahman Breed) and native cattle obtained from various slaughter houses in Manila and suburbs, prevalence rates of 17% (98/577) and 3% (1/31) were noted, respectively. Sarcocysts were predominant in skeletal muscles and to a lesser extent in cardiac, esophageal and diaphragm muscle tissues. Light microscopic examination of sarcocysts morphology suggests Sarcocystis cruzi (= Sarcocystis bovis), and Sarcocystis hominis (= Sarcocystis bovihominis) or Sarcocystis hirsuta (= Sarcocystis bovifelis) as the likely etiologic agents of bovine sarcocystosis in the country. Of the 225 swines examined, only muscle tissues from a 6-month old swine revealed very young sarcocysts (= metrocytes). A review of available documented studies on sarcocystosis suggests that to date, our findings may represent the first data on the prevalence of bovine and swine sarcocystosis in the Philippines.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Claveria
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Macabagdal
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Farolan
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Farrol
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gonzalvo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cadiz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ajero
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roque
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lozano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000469:parasitology*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000469:parasitology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000469:parasitology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000469:parasitology; D010679:Philippines / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012523:Sarcocystosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015047:Zoonoses