Microbiology & infectious diseases
Parasites-gastrointestinal (not liver)
Sarcocystis
Author: Nat Pernick, M.D.
Last author update: 30 August 2019
Last staff update: 5 October 2020
Copyright: 2019-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Sarcocystis[TI] pathology free full text[sb]
Table of Contents
Pathophysiology | Clinical features | Case reports | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) imagesCite this page: Pernick N. Sarcocystis. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/parasitologysarcocystis.html. Accessed April 25th, 2024.
Pathophysiology
- Humans serve as the definitive host for the intestinal form of sarcocystosis and shed sporulated oocysts and sarcocysts in their stool (Pritt: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites Blog - Answer to Case 530 [Accessed 30 August 2019])
- Humans acquire S. hominis and S. suihominis by ingesting undercooked beef or pork, respectively
- Rarely, humans may also serve as the intermediate host for some Sarcocystis species when ingesting oocysts or sporocysts in contaminated food or water
- In this form of disease, sarcocysts form within various muscles in the body, causing transient myalgias, muscle weakness and associated edema
Clinical features
- Most cases of intestinal disease are asymptomatic but infected individuals may experience mild watery diarrhea, fever and chills (Pritt: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites Blog - Answer to Case 530 [Accessed 30 August 2019])
Case reports
- Objects were seen on a wet mount of a concentrated stool specimen (Pritt: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites Blog - Case of the Week 530 [Accessed 30 August 2019])
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Oocysts contain 2 sporocysts; due to their fragile nature, they easily rupture so that free sporocysts are also commonly seen in stool specimens (Pritt: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites Blog - Answer to Case 530 [Accessed 30 August 2019])
Microscopic (histologic) images
Contributed by Bobbi Pritt, M.D. and Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp
Intestinal sarcocystosis: sporulated oocyst and sporocyst
Carbolfuchsin staining according to Heine
