Sarcosporidiosis--an overlooked zoonosis. Man as intermediate and final host.

Trichinoscopical investigation in 1971 revealed a prevalence rate of Sarcocystis infection of 2.8 percent in 49,000 sows and boars, and 0.67 percent in 60,000 bacon pigs. The investigation revealed ten percent infected stocks, showing that sarcosporidiosis is ubiquitous. Trichinoscopical examination of 112 specimens of human muscle tissue revealed four cases of sarcocystis infection corresponding to 3.6 percent-i.e., the rate of infection was comparable to that found in sows and boars. Man, when acting in the role of the final host, often exhibits severe symptoms of indigestion. Sarcocystis infection in the intermediate host may cause abortion. Could this happen in human cases as well? The fact that man acts as an intermediate as well as a final host indicates that sarcosporidiosis is a zoonosis.