The prevalence of macroscopic sarcocysts in New Zealand cattle at slaughter

Authors: Mitchell MA
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 36, Issue 1, pp 35-38, Mar 1988
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cattle, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Disease surveillance, Epidemiology, Muscle/myology, Disease/defect, Parasites - internal, Protozoa, Infectious disease, Slaughter
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: A survey carried out to determine the prevalence of visible Surcocystis spp. infection in 108 slaughtered cattle in a South Island abattoir revealed 64% infected. Although all ages, genders, breeds and export grades were infected, only host age had a statistically significant effect on the infection rate. Infections were most common in the rectus abdominis and the psoas muscles (47% and 41% respectively). Most infections were light, with less than ten macrocysts seen, though infections of more than 50 macrocysts occurred. The average macrocyst length was 4.WO.10 mm (SE) (n = 233), the average cyst wall thickness 5.3 ± 0.2 µm (SE) (n = 45). It is thought that the actual prevalence of infection is higher than that recorded and reasons for this are discussed.

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