Sarcocystosis in cattle and sheep at Prague abattoir

A total of 288 animal oesophagi, including 154 from cattle and 134 from sheep of various age, were examined for the presence of sarcosporidians at Prague abattoir. The material from cattle was positive in 129 cases (84%) and all the three species of sarcosporidians hitherto described from cattle were identified: Sarcocystis cruzi, S. hirsuta and S. hominis. Among the sheep, 110 animals (82%) were infected. The macroscopic species S. tenella was found in 23 cases. The remaining positive findings were cystozoites and microscopic cysts of Sarcocystis including S. ovicanis (in 19 cases).