Diagnosis of Bovine Sarcocystosis by Conventional Methods

Sarcocystis species are considered as one of the most prevalent parasites of bovines. Sarcocysts occur either macroscopically or microscopically in the tissues of bovine intermediate hosts. Sarcocystosis being an occult infection, most of the time diagnosis in intermediate host by clinical symptoms is unreliable. In this study, the macrosarcocysts were observed in the infected muscle sample by naked eye examination. Suspected muscle samples were examined by muscle squash technique which showed the presence of microsarcocysts in the muscle tissue and bradyzoites were recovered through muscle digestion technique. The detailed morphology of the recovered bradyzoites was studied by Giemsa, Leishman’s and Diff Quick staining which revealed banana shaped bradyzoites with a clear nucleus towards the posterior end. The trypan blue staining indicated live (colourless) and dead (blue) bradyzoites and the gliding movement of the bradyzoites was recorded.