Case Report of Sub-Clinical Sarcocystosis in Sheep - Cytological Examination as a Diagnostic Tool

Case Report of Sub-Clinical Sarcocystosis in Sheep - Cytological Examination as a Diagnostic Tool

Sarcocystis species is one of the most prevalent parasites of livestock. It infects mammals, including humans and birds resulting in loss of aesthetic value of meat though harmless on consumption. A carcass of 5 years old sheep from Yerraguntla village of Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh was submitted for necropsy to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science, Proddatur. Detailed postmortem examination was carried out and relevant samples were collected for examination. Cytological examination of heart impression smears revealed banana shaped structures with eosinophilic cytoplasm. Histopathological examination of sections of heart revealed many parasitic cysts containing numerous bradyzoites. Based on these findings it was diagnosed as sarcocystosis. It was concluded that cytological examination can also be used as a primary diagnostic tool for sarcocystosis at field level.