First molecular detection and characterization of Sarcocystis species in slaughtered cattle in North-West Tunisia

Sarcocystis spp. is one of the most prevalent foodborne parasites infecting both animals and humans. Consumption of raw or undercooked infected meat is a risk factor of human intestinal sarcocystosis. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Sarcocystis species infecting slaughtered Tunisian cattle in North-West Tunisia (Béja governorate). DNA was extracted from 150 beef meat samples and a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used for identification. The overall infection prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. was 38% (57/150). Two species were identified, namely S. hominis (25%; 39/150) and S. cruzi (12%; 18/150). For both species, the highest prevalence was in Thibar locality (52.9 and 17.6% for S. hominis and S. cruzi, respectively). The molecular prevalence of S. cruzi was significantly higher in animals aged between two and eight years (19.2%; 10/52). This is the first molecular identification of Sarcocystis species in Tunisian cattle. Further studies in both human and animal Tunisian populations are needed to rank this parasitic disease among others.