Content area
Full Text
Abstract. The prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. in pork and wild boar sample from Transylvania area has not been extensively studied and many consumers are not aware of the possible risks that they are exposed to. This study was conducted on a total of 150 samples, of which 120 were represented by diaphragmatic pillars collected from domestic pigs raised in extensive systems and 30 by muscle tissue from wild boars. The method used for identifying the Sarcocystis spp. cysts was represented by classical trichinelloscopy, which normally can also detect these forms. From the total number of samples examined, 64% were found positive and 23% declared with massive contamination of the carcass. In conclusion we established that the pork meat produced in the traditional system represents a risk in consumers' contamination with Sarcocystis spp.
Key Words: pork, wild boar, Sarcocystis, diaphragmatic pillars.
Introduction. The first discovery of Sarcocystis spp. cysts was published in 1834 by Miescher who revealed their presence in the striated muscles of rodents, reason why they are also known as 'Miescher's Tubules'. Their occurrence was found to be higher in striated muscles and lower in the heart or brain of the hosts. They are looked for in the striated muscles of various animal species such as: pigs, horses, bovines, birds etc. Given the fact that the occurrence mechanism was not fully understood, the disease was considered to be unimportant. It was only in 1972 that the researchers have elucidated the life cycle patterns and the possible transmission routes to humans (Fayer 1972; Heydorn & Rommel 1972). From that moment it was established that this parasite has a two-host life cycle and the herbivores and omnivores are the intermediate hosts. The definitive hosts become infected with Sarcocystis spp. by ingesting the sarcocysts found in the muscles of the intermediary hosts (Dubey 1976; Levine 1977; Mehlhorn & Heydorn 1978; Stalhein et al 1980; Dubey & Feyer 1983; Tadros & Laarman 1976; Dubey et al 1989).
Humans acquire the disease by eating raw or undercooked meat which contains schizonts of Sarcocystis hominis and S. suihominis. The prevalence of this parasite in meat has been declared in many countries (Ginawi & Shommein 1977) but unfortunately an accurate investigation in Romania has not yet been published. The clinical...