The prevalence of Sarcocystis species in sheep slaughtered in municipality slaughterhouse in Kırıkkale

Abstract

This study was undertaken for the determination of Sarcocysts species in sheep slaughtered in Kirikkale Municipality Slaughterhouse. For this study, oesophageal, diaphragm and intercostal muscles were collected from randomly selected 112 sheep out of 1131 sheep (814 sheep and 317 lambs) that were slaughtered from October 2005 to May 2006. The samples were examined for macro and microcyst of Sarcocysts spp. Macrocysts and microcysts were found in 58.92% of the overall samples. Microcysts were found in 47.32% and macrocysts were perceived in 20.53% of the sheep that were under examination. The distribution of the microcysts with respective to the age of the sheep was studied and it has been observed that 16.12% (5 in every 31 lambs) of the lambs under 1 year old and 59.25% (48 in every 81 sheep) of the sheep equal or older than 1 year old had possessed microcysts. Sarcocystis ovicanis (47.32%) and S. arieticanis (1.23%) were the species with the highest and lowest number of recurrences respectively. Macrocysts were observed in every sheep over one age. In addition, randomly selected oesophagi with macrocyst were examined histopathologically. Sarcocystis sporocysts were not found in dog feces.