Sarcocystis in Cattle

Definitive
Species Distribution Size of cyst Pathogenicity
Host/s
Sarcocystis World-wide Dog, coyote, Microscopic, Most pathogenic
cruzi red fox, racoon less than 0.5mm species in cattle it can
and wolf long. cause fever, anaemia,
abortion neurologic
signs and even death.

S. hirsuta Probably world- Cat Macroscopic, Mildly pathogenic

wide up to 8mm long
fusiform in
shape

S. hominis Europe Humans and Microscopic Mildly pathogenic to

some primates cattle
 Sarcocystis in Sheep
Definitive Size and Shape of
Species Distribution Pathogenicity
Hosts Cyst
Sarcocystis World-wide Dog, coyote Microscopic Pathogenic. Causes
tenella and red fox may be found in anorexia, weight
the central loss, anaemia, fever,
nervous system abortion, death. It is
the most pathogenic
sheep Sarcocystis
sp.
Sarcocystis World-wide The domestic Macroscopic, Only mildly
gigantea cat oval, elongated pathogenic.
measures up to 1
cm
Sarcocystis Europe, Dog Microscopic, up They are less
arieticanis Australia, to 0.9mm long. pathogenic than S.
New Zealand tenella
USA
Sarcocystis Australia Cat Macroscopic, Pathogenicity not
medusiformis and New filiform and known.
Zealand elongated up to
8mm long