Sarcocystis spp in Belgium

The protozoan parasite, Sarcocystis spp. has an assumed very high occurrence in Belgium (detected in >90 % of bovine carcasses), and is often linked to the presence of eosinophilic myositis in bovine carcasses, a common cause of condemnation. Though for some spp. the life cycle is known, new molecular research indicates the complexity of the species and gaps in our knowledge of the life cycles (e.g. whether the human host is involved or not). This has repercussions on the zoonotic aspect of this parasite. Improved diagnosis and increased knowledge on the zoonotic importance and the environmental transmission of this parasite are essential for the development of control strategies..

This research is conducted in the framework of the PhD thesis of Hang Zeng.