Unique report of two Sarcocystis species from Egyptian domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) – new host and locality

Abstract

Sarcocystis is an intracellular protozoan parasite in the phylum Apicomplexa. It is widely distributed all over the world. There are scarce reports about chicken Sarcocystis. From February 2016 to January 2018, a total number of 630 chicken carcasses, intestines and viscera were collected from different chicken markets in Menoufia and Gharbia Governorates, Middle region of the Nile Delta, Egypt and carefully inspected. Macroscopic and microscopic cysts of Sarcocystis spp. were found in the intestinal wall and mesentery of 5 birds. Histopathological sections revealed the presence of two shapes of the macroscopic cysts (oval and kidney shape). Their wall was striated and characterised by the presence of radial septa. It had compartments mostly of hexagonal shape, containing both bradyzoites and metrocytes in the periphery. The bradyzoites were banana-shaped and measured 20–30 × 8–10 μm with centrally or posteriorly located nuclei. Microscopic cysts of Sarcocystis spp. were detected in-between muscle bundles, with variable shapes (spindle and oval).

Epidemiological risk factors and phylogenetic affinities of Sarcocystis infecting village chickens and pigs in Peninsular Malaysia

“…However, there are no studies reporting the detection of antibodies against Sarcocystis in chickens. The molecular prevalence of Sarcocystis in village chickens in the current study was higher than that reported in free-ranging chickens in Egypt (0.79%) through macroscopic and microscopic examination of the heart, liver, lung, and intestines (Galila et al, 2021). However, a much higher prevalence was reported in free-range chickens from China (42.4%) following microscopic examinations of skeletal and heart muscles (Pan et al, 2020).…”