Objective: Evaluation of IFAT and abattoir methods for identifying and study of buffalo sarcocystosis(Sarcocvstis fusiformis). Samples: A total of 398 serum samples were taken from buffaloes before slaughtering for IFAT studing the rate of sarcocystis infections and the results compared with meat inspection and laboratory finding (macro and micro cyst).
Procedure: Before slaughtering, blood samples were taken from jagular vein for serological examination by IFA method. After slaughtering, esophagus, diaphragm, heart and skeletal muscles were examined for macroscopic cyst of sarcocystis .For microscopic cysts, the samples were taken from each one of these tissues for impression smear (Dob smear). The macro cysts were identified as S.fusjformis. Bradizoites of this sarcocyst were used as antigen in IFAT and rabbit antibuffalo conjugated serum for this test was prepared in central laboratory of faculty of veterinary medicine, University of Tehran (Dr.Reza Rastegar central laboratory) using standard method.
Results: The results showed that macroscopic and microscopic infection rates of animals is 18.6% and 53,5°/a respectively. In this study, maximum rate of infection include macroscopic and microscopic finding was in eosophagus and minimum in heart muscle. Any significant differences were observed in infection rates due to sex: The infection rate in adult group was significantly more than young buffaloes. A significant correlation was observed between antibody titer and the rate of macroscopic and microscopic infection (P<0.05), increasing the antibody titer till 1:640 had positive correlation and more than this titre viceversa. All of slaughtered animals had atleast 1:40 titre and most of them were in 1:640 titer group (25.9%) and the lowest prevalence was in 1:10240 titer. (1.5%).
Conclusion:According to the results, the IFAT is a suitable test for studing sarcocystosis in buffaloes and is useful for further studies about this economically important parasite in Khoozestan province
)