Identification and prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. cysts in bovine canned meat

One hundred and twenty eight cans of beef in jelly (64 cans prepared with meat coming from animals bred in Argentine and 64 cans with meat coming from animals bred in Brazil) were histologically examined to evaluate the prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. and the microscopic lesions of the muscular tissue. Morphology of tissues was well preserved in all samples examined. The prevalence and infection density of Sarcocystis spp. was lower in Brazilian beef (positive rate 6.25%; average infection density 0.08) compared to Argentinean beef (positive rate 23.44%; average infection density 0.98). Most of the cysts (92.65%) had a thin wall consistent with Sarcocystis bovicanis. The prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. cysts was never associated with microscopic muscular lesions. This study validates histological examination to identify canned tissues and to estimate parasitic prevalence in canned meat. This study demonstrates a lower amount of Sarcocystis spp. than described in previous studies on meat from other countries. Sarcocystis spp. are considered harmless in cooked meat, nevertheless a low prevalence can be included among quality parameters as an indication of good sanitation of the meat.