Overview of zoonotic porcine Sarcocystis infection in India

Pig farming is very common throughout the world and large numbers of people are associated with it directly or indirectly. Pigs are also source of many zoonotic diseases especially parasitic diseases. Sarcocystis is one of the important coccidian protozoan parasite of pig. This parasite has broad host range and can induce infection and clinical signs in both carnivorous and herbivorous host. Humans acquire infection by ingestion of cyst or eating raw and undercooked infected meat. Three species of Sarcocystis viz. S. suihominis, S. miescheriana and S. porcifelis are found in pigs. Among these S. suihominis is zoonotic in nature and causes intestinal infections in humans because of consumption of raw infected pork. Pigs usually become infected by contact with contaminated human faeces. The objective of this review is to highlight importance of Sarcocystis in pigs and its zoonotic potential, along with recent advancement in the diagnosis from meat samples.