Sarcocystosis infections in humans and animals are caused by single-celled protozoan parasites in the family of Sarcocystidae. Sarcocystis spp. have an obligatory 2-host life-cycle with a prey animal serving as the intermediate host and a predator serving as the definitive host. While most species are infective only to animals, humans can act as incidental intermediate hosts in a variety of spp., and as definitive hosts in two species, S. suihominis and S. bovihominis.

Human muscular Sarcocystosis infections tend to be rare, and intestinal infections are often asymptomatic or very mild. Because the parasite is transmitted either fecal-orally or by the ingestion of undercooked meat containing sarcocysts, transmission can be easily intervened by simple changes in hygene practices.

TAXONOMY