EOSINOPHILIC MYOSITIS AND MUSCULAR SARCOCYSTOSIS IN THE CARCASSES OF SLAUGHTERED CATTLE AND LAMBS

  • 1 March 1986
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 47  (3) , 587-593
Abstract
Fifty-three bovine and 7 ovine carcasses condemned for having eosinophilic myositis were evaluated. Four (7.3%) of the bovine carcasses had a few, large local lesions in skeletal muscles (category A), and 49 (92.7%) of the bovine carcasses and 7 (100%) of the ovine carcasses had multiple, small, disseminated lesions in tongue, esophagus, heart, diaphragm, or skeletal muscles (category B). Tissue from carcasses of category B were evaluated for bacteria, viruses, selenium, and pathologic changes. Pathogenic bacteria and viruses were not isolated and selenium concentrations were normal. In category B, all carcasses had granulomas; of the 49 bovine carcasses and 7 ovine carcasses, 38 (77.6%) and 7 (100%), respectively, had one or more granulomas with opened dead sarcocysts. The data indicated that opened sarcocysts killed the host myocyte and adjacent myocytes and stroma, thereby initiating granuloma formation.