Prevalence and distribution patterns of Sarcocystis in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Yazd province, Iran

Sarcocystis spp., are zoonotic cyst-forming coccidian parasites that cause sarcocystosis. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence as well as distribution patterns of Sarcocystis spp. infection in slaughtered one-humped camels of Yazd province, Iran. Muscles of 130 camels were investigated for either macroscopic or microscopic sarcocysts during summer 2009. No macroscopic cyst was observed in the animals at naked eye inspection. Of examined camels, 67 (51.5 %) were positive for bradyzoites of the parasite by pepsin-digestion method. The infection rates of infected animals were 55.22, 50.75, 38.81, 34.33, and 28.36 %, in esophagus, heart, masseter muscle, intercostal muscle and limb muscle, respectively. Esophagus was the most commonly infected organ. No significant difference in the rate of infection between male (52.08 %) and female (51.22 %) camels was observed. Logistic regression analyses showed that infection rates' risk increased with increment in age of camels. This considerable prevalence of microscopic Sarcocystis spp. in Yazd province camels reflects a significant role played by wild and domestic carnivores in the transmission of these parasites.