Molecular Prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in Slaughtered Equids in Northern Tunisia.
Authors: Amairia Safa, Jbeli Mounir, Mrabet Slim, Mahjoubi Jebabli Leila, Gharbi Mohamed
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Sarcocystis and Toxoplasma Prevalence in Equine Meat Sarcocystis spp. and Toxoplasma gondii—two apicomplexan parasites with broad host ranges—remain poorly characterised in equids despite their zoonotic potential and relevance to both animal health and food safety. Researchers in Tunisia used PCR analysis to screen muscle tissue from 184 slaughtered horses, donkeys and mules at commercial abattoirs, identifying surprisingly high infection rates: 38% for Sarcocystis spp. and 39.7% for T. gondii, with 17.4% of animals harbouring both parasites simultaneously. Donkeys showed markedly higher susceptibility than horses and mules, with T. gondii prevalence reaching 66.2% in donkeys compared to 26.1% in horses (P < .001), whilst Sarcocystis infection also peaked in donkeys at 48.6%. Given that human toxoplasmosis and certain sarcocystosis can be acquired through consumption of undercooked infected meat, these findings underscore an underrecognised zoonotic risk in regions where equine meat forms part of the food supply and highlight the need for targeted epidemiological investigation, species-specific risk characterisation, and potentially enhanced meat inspection protocols to protect public health.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Equid meat, particularly from donkeys, carries notable zoonotic risk from T. gondii and Sarcocystis spp.; proper cooking temperatures are critical for food safety in regions where equid meat is consumed
- •Clinicians should be aware that equids in Northern Tunisia have high parasitic infection rates; consider these parasites in differential diagnoses for relevant clinical presentations
- •Donkeys show disproportionately higher infection rates than horses and mules, suggesting breed-specific or management-related susceptibility factors worth investigating
Key Findings
- •Sarcocystis spp. prevalence was 38% (95% CI: 31-45%) in slaughtered equids, with highest infection in donkeys at 48.6%
- •T. gondii prevalence was 39.7% (95% CI: 32.6-46.7%), with donkeys showing highest infection at 66.2%
- •Coinfection with both parasites occurred in 17.4% (95% CI: 11.9-22.9%) of animals
- •Donkeys had significantly higher susceptibility to both parasites compared to mules and horses