SARCOCYSTIS

EDALYN R. CAPILI, R.N.

Metropolitan Medical Center
College of Medicine
Department of Parasitology
 TAXONOMY
Kingdom Protista
Phylum Protozoa
Class Apicomplexa
Order Eucoccidiida
Family Sarcocystidae
Genus Sarcocystis
Species bovihominis
suihominis
 PARASITE BIOLOGY
Sarcocystis can take several forms.
Zoite - simplest form
banana-shaped cell
pointed end is equipped for entering
the host cells
Sporocysts - composed of 4 zoites
Oval
Length: 9-16 m
Capable of surviving on the ground
and infecting the intermediate hosts
Sporozoites - formed from sporocysts
 PARASITE BIOLOGY
Sarcocysts - formed from sporozoites
Composed of large number of zoites
surrounded by a cyst wall
Zoites probably develop from
sporozoites after encystment
Macrocysts - sarcocysts that can be seen
by the naked eye
Microcysts - sarcocysts that remain the
same width as a muscle fiber and can
only be seen under a microscope.
LIFE CYCLE
 PARASITE BIOLOGY
Humans and other definitive hosts, are
infected by consumption of uncooked or
undercooked meat of an intermediate host
that contains sarcocysts.
Sarcocyst wall is digested, thus releasing
the zoites. They enter cells in the intestines
and change into male and female forms, the
union of which forms the sporocysts.
Sporocysts are passed out in the feces of
the definitive host.
 PARASITE BIOLOGY
Infection of the intermediate host occurs
when sporocysts are ingested.
Sporozoites penetrate intestinal epithelial
tissue and spread hematogenously to
various areas of the body, including the
brain.
Migration to brain results in neural tissue
damage, which may lead to behavioral
changes.
Sporozoites that enter muscle cells encyst
and develop into typical sarcocysts. In other
tissues, sporozoites become schizonts and
then encyst.
 PARASITE BIOLOGY
2 months after the infection, sarcocysts
are already mature and able to infect the
definitive host.
Human Intramuscular Sarcocystosis -
accidental ingestion of sporocysts that
results in direct infection of humans without
intermediate host
 PARASITE BIOLOGY
Oocysts of Sarcocystis in human feces
measure 15-20 m long by 15-20 m wide.
Oocysts sporulate in the intestinal
epithelium and contain two sporocysts,
each of which contains four sporozoites and
refractile residual body.
Due to the fragile nature of mature oocysts,
both sporulated oocysts and individual
sporocysts may be shed in feces.
Sporocysts will autofluoresce under
ultraviolet microscopy.
 CAUSAL AGENTS
Sarcocystis hominis and Sarcocystis
suihominis use humans as definitive hosts
and are responsible for intestinal
sarcocystosis.
Humans become infected by ingesting
mature intramuscular cysts in pork (S.
suihominis) or beef (S. hominis).
Humans may also become dead-end hosts
for non-human Sarcocystis spp. after the
accidental ingestion of oocysts.
HUMAN SARCOCYSTIS
INFECTION
SARCOCYSTIS OOCYSTS IN
WET MOUNTS
 SARCOCYSTIS OOCYSTS IN
WET MOUNTS VIEWED UNDER
UV MICROSCOPY
SARCOCYSTIS SARCOCYSTS
IN TISSUE
 ENCYSTED PROTOZOAN
PARASITES IN HUMAN FECES,
DIFFERENTIATED BY SIZE,
SHAPE, AND FEATURES
REFERENCES