Comparative Evaluation of Different Diagnostic Tests for Bovine Sarcocystis in Telangana Region of India

Bovine sarcocystosis is a widely prevalent disease, causing significant impact on animal and public health throughout the world. During this study, oesophageal and diaphragmatic muscle samples collected from 100 cattle and buffaloes slaughtered at Chengicherla slaughter house, Hyderabad, were subjected to macroscopic and squash examination and pepsin HCl acid muscle digestion techniques. The sera of the animals were also screened for anti-Sarcocystis antibodies by IFAT. Gross macroscopical examination revealed the presence of macrocysts in 16.0 and 0% of oesophageal and diaphragmatic muscles, whereas squash and HCl pepsin method muscle digestion techniques revealed microcysts is 8.0 and 0% and bradyzoites in 76.0 and 52.0% of the samples, respectively. Immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) showed higher sensitivity in the diagnosis of bovine sarcocystosis followed by muscle digestion, macroscopic examination and squash techniques with positivity rates of 82.0,76.0, 16.0 and 8.0%, respectively. The present study suggests IFAT as a sensitive and specific test when compared to conventional diagnostic methods for ante mortem diagnosis of bovine sarcocystosis.