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First molecular characterisation of Sarcocystis miescheriana in a pig carcass condemned during routine meat inspection in Poland
Abstract Introduction This article presents the fourth detection of macroscopic cystic lesions due to sarcocystosis in domestic pigs during routine meat inspection worldwide, and the first molecular detection of Sarcocystis miescheriana in a domestic pig in Poland. Pigs can become intermediate hosts for S. miescheriana by accidental ingestion of oocysts or sporocysts present in food or water contaminated by the faeces of canids (definitive hosts). Material and Methods The affected swine showed no clinical symptoms such as weight loss, dermatitis or dyspnoea suggesting sarcocystosis. The presence of grossly visible cyst-like lesions was noticed by veterinary inspectors during post-mortem meat inspection of pig carcasses at a slaughterhouse located in central Poland. Ten rice-grain-shaped white lesions were isolated from the muscle tissue for molecular analysis, and four other macroscopic cyst-like lesions were also isolated for histopathological and microscopy analysis. The molecular characterisation included amplification and sequencing of the cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial gene. Results The cyst-like structures were whitish, calcified, 1 cm long and 3 mm wide. The presence of S. miescheriana DNA was confirmed in all ten grossly visible cyst-like lesions. Conclusion This study shows that Sarcocystis spp. may be present in swine muscle tissue and cause lesions leading to carcass discard. Further analyses are needed to fully recognise the prevalence and impact of Sarcocystis spp. on animal and human health, especially taking into account the possible presence of the zoonotic S. suihominis.
Microbiological analysis of skin lesions of cod (Gadus morhua) from the southern part of the Baltic Sea
Abstract Introduction Since the middle of the 1980s, severe skin disorders have been observed in Baltic cod (Gadus morhua) each year. Available data on the spectrum of bacteria isolated from the clinical cases being limited, and evaluation of the microbial background of fish skin lesions being useful, a bacteriological examination has been undertaken. Material and Methods A total of 1,381 cod were caught during two voyages of the Baltica research vessel in the Polish exclusive economic zone of the southern Baltic Sea. After an examination which found lesions in 164 of the fish, a microbiological analysis was performed to isolate bacteria from them. The collected strains were phenotyped and genotyped, and their antimicrobial resistance was analysed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) techniques. Results Bacteriological examinations provided 850 isolates. The dominant microorganisms were mesophilic Aeromonas spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Shewanella baltica. Opportunistic bacteria potentially hazardous to human health were also isolated, e.g. Alcaligenes faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Vibrio sp. The MIC analysis determined the highest number of bacteria to resist sulphamethoxazole and amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. Conclusion Most of the collected bacteria were opportunistic pathogens for fish, widespread in the aquatic environment, and potentially threatening to humans.
Sarcocystis spp. - niedoceniony pasożyt o potencjale zoonotycznym związany z żywnością pochodzenia zwierzęcego
The protozoa of the genus Sarcocystis are worldwide distributed parasites affecting a wide range of animals. They life cycle requires two hosts: definitive and intermediate. Over 250 species of Sarcocystis have been described but three of them are known to have a zoonotic potential. These are: S. hominis, S. heydorni and S. suihominis. Domestig pigs and wild boars can be intermediate hosts for S. suihominis, wheras cattle for S. hominis and S. heydorni. Therefore, people can become infected after eating raw or insufficiently heat-treated pork, wild boar meat or beef. Human sarcocystosis is generally asymptomatic but in some cases can induce the syptoms of intestinal illness. People can also become accidental intermediate hosts after ingesting sporocysts from feces-contaminated food or water leading to muscular sarcocystosis. The cysts of Sarcocystis spp. (sarcocysts), which with some exceptions, are not visible and therefore they are rarely detected during routine veterinary meat inspection consisting of visual assessment of muscle tissue and digestion (in case of examination of pig and wild boar meat). The presence of visible cysts of Sarcocystis spp. can lead to meat condemnation and it generates economic losses for farmers. Food safety regulations require the control of the parasites presence in meat intended for human consumption but there are no regulations regarding the control of Sarcocystis spp. Nevertheless, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) encourage to monitor and characterise Sarcocystis ssp. in animal and foodstuffs.