Sarcocystosisin Mithuns Bos frontalis - a report
SwapnaSusan Abraham1, C.S. Jayakumar 2 &
Jacob Alexander 3
1 Veterinary
Surgeon, Chief Disease Investigation Office, Pacha, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala, India
2 Veterinary
Surgeon, Zoo, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala,
India.
3 Veterinary
Surgeon, District Clinical Laboratory, Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala, India
Email: 1 swapnasusan2003@yahoo.co.in
Date
of publication 26 April 2009
ISSN 0974-7907
(online) | 0974-7893 (print)
Editor: Jacob V. Cheeran
Manuscript
details:
Ms # o1907
Received 13
December 2007
Finally accepted
12 December 2008
Citation: Abraham, S.S.,
C.S. Jayakumar & J. Alexander (2009). Sarcocystosis inMithuns Bos frontalis - a report. Journal of Threatened Taxa 1(4): 252.
Copyright:© Swapna Susan Abraham, C.S. Jayakumar& Jacob Alexander 2009. Creative
Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium
for non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate
credit to the authors and the source of publication.
Sarcocystis infection is
encountered normally during histological examination and so a diagnosis is
usually made after the animal’s death. In most animals sarcocystis infections are not
considered to be of any pathogenic significance. However, heavy infections have
caused mortality. In heavy infections,
lameness, weakness and paralysis have been reported.
Sarcocystis is worldwide in
distribution. It is found in many species including sheep, cattle, horse,
swine, dogs, cats, rabbits, mice, chicken and humans. Many wildlife species have been found to be
infected. However, reports in Mithuns (Bos frontalis) are
limited. Hence, this case is documented
to place on record the incidence in this species of animal.
Representative
tissue samples collected from Mithuns, from a herd of seven animals
at the Zoological Park, Thiruvanantha-puram, Kerala
for routine histopathological examination forms the
basis of this report. The herd was
severely affected with Foot and Mouth Disease with heavy mortality. Tissue sample sections were processed with hematoxylin-eosin stain.
Microscopic
examination of heart revealed presence of numerous sarcocysts(1-2/HPF) in the cardiac muscle (Image 1). Focal areas of hemorrhage, congestion, edema and
accumulation of fibrin between the cardiac muscle fibers was also
observed. There was also focal
infiltration with inflammatory cells and fragmentation of cardiac muscle.
In the present
case sarcocysts in large numbers were observed in
three Mithuns out of five samples of the same herd. Although no significant pathogenicityhas been reported, heavy infections have caused mortality and clinical signs
like intermittent pyrexia, loss of condition, abortion etc in cattle (Soulsby 1982). Sarcocystis associated with marked inflammatory response
and rupture of cardiac muscles was reported earlier (Bineeshet al. 2006). However, in the present
case the other cardiac lesions observed could not be correlated to the presence
of sarcocysts with certainty as the herd was severely
affected with FMD with causalities due to complications. Sarcocyts in Mithuns have been recorded in NandankananBiological Park, Orrisa. However, the prevalence in this species is
unknown.
Apparently the
disease is recorded in this species in our country and necessitates detailed
studies on the various facets of host parasite relationship.
References
Soulsby, E.J.L. (1982). Helminths,
Arthropods and Protozoa of Domestic Animals. 7th edition. ELBS
Publications, Tindall.
Bineesh,
P.P., S. Sharma, S.K. Kansal, H.S. Banga & R.S. Brar (2006). Sarcocystosis in
a chicken. The Indian Veterinary Journal 83: 809.